EP 292 – Resources for Replant Wives with Dr. Darlene Dryer
This week on the Replant Bootcamp, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Darlene Dryer, founder of ReplantWife.com. Dr. Dryer brings a wealth of insight and compassion to the unique challenges faced by women walking alongside their husbands in church replanting and revitalization.
Drawing from her own experience and deep understanding of ministry life, Dr. Dryer and her team are committed to educating, equipping, and encouraging replant wives—many of whom serve in overlooked and under-resourced contexts.
Key Resources for Replant Wives
- ReplantWife.com: The go-to hub for blogs, podcasts, book recommendations, and event information—including a new series of prayer books written specifically for replant wives.
- Private Facebook Group: Offers weekly encouragement, connection, and community.
- Breakout Sessions at Replant Events: Special gatherings for pastor wives are planned at upcoming events in Mississippi (September) and Daytona (October).
Introducing the Replant Wife Book Club (Virtual Cohort)
A new initiative to meet replant wives right where they are—often stretched thin and isolated.
- Purpose: To foster spiritual and emotional support for wives who rarely have the margin or means for formal training. The cohort addresses shared challenges like ministry fatigue, budget constraints, and lack of team support.
- Format: Meets once a month over four months—structured for sustainability.
- Key Focus: Combatting “extreme isolation”—mental, emotional, and geographical—by cultivating deep conversation and community.
Book Lineup:
- Educating – Reclaiming Glory by Mark Clifton
Helps wives understand the biblical and strategic nature of church replanting, building a common language between husband and wife. - Encouraging – A Place to Belong by Megan Hill
Re-centers the heart on Christ and the joy of loving the local church. - Equipping – Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety by Elyse Fitzpatrick
Offers tools for managing emotional burdens and counseling pressures often faced by pastor wives, including healthy boundaries and mental wellness.
Common Struggles Faced by Replant Wives
- Exhaustion: From absorbing the emotional toll of their husband’s ministry challenges.
- Bitterness: Resulting from past hurts, unrealistic expectations, or criticism.
Dr. Dryer recommends writing “letters of grace” (not to be sent) as a pathway toward healing—an act of releasing pain without minimizing it.
Dr. Dryer’s New Ministry Season
- Dr. Dryer’s husband, Josh, now serves as the Associational Missional Strategist in Eastern Polk County, Florida—one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.
- Dr. Dryer is now focused on planting churches among French Creole and Spanish-speaking communities, while also equipping legacy congregations to host multicultural church plants.
Advice to Replant Pastors (Husbands)
- Stay Communicative: Keep the door open for honest, vulnerable conversations.
- Show Appreciation: Regularly affirm your wife’s partnership and sacrifices.
- Encourage without Pressure: Let your wife use her gifts freely—without the unrealistic expectation of being the “perfect pastor’s wife.”
Replant Summit Breakouts for Wives
Wives attending the Replant Summit will have access to two dedicated breakout sessions:
- Identifying Your Gifts and Calling in Your Local Context
- Fighting Isolation Through Intentional Friendships
Pastors—bring your wives! Discount codes are available to waive their registration fees, because investing in them is investing in your ministry.
Connect with Dr. Dryer and learn more at ReplantWife.com.
Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for social media or email promos.
pastors wife, replant spouse, replant wife, replant wives, spousal perseverance, spouse, women
