Calm in the Chaos: How to Raise Ministry Kids in a Chaotic World with Heather Oldham

Life in ministry can feel like constant chaos—balancing church responsibilities, family needs, and the everyday mess of raising kids. If you’ve ever felt the tension between ministry demands and motherhood, you’re not alone.

In this episode of the Ministry Wives Podcast, host Amy Petersen sits down with Heather Oldham—ministry wife, mom of five, and church planter’s wife—to talk honestly about parenting kids in the whirlwind of ministry life. Heather shares her personal story of growing up in a pastor’s home, raising her own family in the church planting context, and learning to find calm in the chaos.

Together, Amy and Heather explore practical ways to model peace for your children, stay connected when correction is needed, and cultivate a home where ministry kids feel loved, secure, and part of the mission—not in competition with it.

Whether you’re in the trenches of raising littles, navigating the teen years, or simply craving encouragement in the messiness of ministry, this conversation will remind you: Calm isn’t the absence of chaos—it’s the presence of Christ’s peace.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode with Heather Oldham:

How to model emotional regulation in times of high stress
Practical ways to engage your kids’ hearts through curiosity
Tips for helping your children name and process their emotions biblically
Ways to see discipleship happening in the everyday moments
And more!

Resources & Links Mentioned:

“Raising Church-Planting Kids: Be Their Calm in the Chaos” by Heather Oldham

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