Sometimes when you are dealing with a difficult situation, the best person to listen to you and give you advice is someone who personally knows where you’re coming from and what you’re going through.

Kathi Holcomb, who has been a pastor’s wife for 21 years, said this was one of the biggest factors behind the decision to have “Coming Forth as Gold,” a conference sponsored by the Bethany Hope Center and specifically designed for ministers’ wives.

“Having been in this position for many years, I know that ministers and their wives sometimes need someone to minister to them, too,” Holcomb said. “It’s easy to get caught up and not stop from time to time to focus on the things you’re struggling with or the things you need.”

Holcomb, who serves as the director of the Bethany Hope Center’s retreat lodge, said the conference will focus on overcoming trials of all kinds that ministers’ wives might face.

“There are any number of trials that can be present in our lives,” she said. “Financial troubles, physical health, feelings of isolation or loneliness, feeling overwhelmed – any of these things can be a problem and it’s important to realize that trials will come, but, as it says in Job, you can come out of the situation shining like gold.”

Holcomb said the conference will focus on biblical principles that show how to handle trying times.

“Sometimes ministers and their wives think everything about their life has to look good and like everything is fine,” she said, “but I think it’s important to look at the doctrine of suffering the Bible teaches and learn what the Bible teaches about adversity.”

Holcomb said she believed it was especially important to focus on ministers’ wives because they’re journey can be lonely at times and no one would understand that better than other ministers’ wives.

“Most of the time a minister’s family is received with open arms at a new church, but you can also run into the situation where everyone already has their circle of friends and while they’re nice to you, you don’t ever really feel like you belong,” she said. “Just having a support system of people who know how that feels and know how to help you deal with it can be important.”

Holcomb said God never goes back on any of his promises and she hopes to convey that through the conference.

“God uses trials and adversity to teach us, train us and shape us in His image. We need to experience this and learn from it in order to reach the victory.”

The conference will be held Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Golden Central Baptist Church in Golden, Miss. Cost is $25 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. All ministers’ wives are encouraged to attend.

For more information contact Kathi Holcomb at 256-460-9253 or Shea Lowery at 256-810-4908.