GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Cassandra Barham is the wife of the Reverend Gareth Barham, assistant pastor at the Patmore Gospel Assembly Church in St Catherine, and she will be the first to tell you that the post has its tests.

"It has its challenges; but at the same time it is rewarding, I would say. Rewarding in the sense that you are behind a man of God; someone who is dedicated to God and whose passion is to lead, to guide and to counsel. So it provides the opportunity to me, as a wife, to really be that support behind him; and it is also a gateway for me to launch out in areas of such reaching," said Barham.

Barham said it was very important for a pastor's wife to ensure that she gave him all the support he needed in ministry.

"For him to function effectively in ministry can also be dependent on his home, his background, his environment; and that is key, although at times he has to be intrinsically motivated as well. When the pastor has a very strong support team it makes a difference," she said.

She said wives should always be behind their husbands 100 per cent, because if he (pastor) is able to build his home and to model good leadership within his own home, then that will speak volumes as to how he can go to the general public.

On another note, Barham believes that a praise-and-worship team is of significance in the church. She said such a team in the church is like an engine in helping to get worshippers going as they worship God during services.

"When persons come to church in certain frame of mind, our goal is to help them let loose and to feel free worshipping God; and also creating an atmosphere in which hearts should be blessed. so it is key in the church, because singing worship is an important aspect of the church," she said.

Barham, has served as president of the youth group at her former church and is a past student of the Bethel Bible College in Mandeville.

MARRIED TO: The Reverend Gareth Barham, assistant pastor at the Patmore Gospel Assembly Church in St Catherine for the past four years. She has one son, Jediah.

CURRENTLY: President of the Ladies Ministry. She has been serving in that capacity for the past three months.

HAS BEEN: A Christian for the past 11 years.

FAVOURITE HYMN: Great Is Thy Faithfulness.

FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSE: Psalms 37 verse 5:

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

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