You may be familiar with the company that highlights its expertise with the tagline, “We know a thing or two, because we’ve seen a thing or two.” That phrase could equally be applied to the ministry of Wayne and Linda Slay. Wayne’s currently serving as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Josephine, Texas, where the Slays share wisdom from years of experience, including a 43-year marriage, with a growing flock of millennials who are thronging to the church due to Wayne’s fatherly influence. While Linda prefers a role in the background, her support and willingness to jump in wherever she’s needed has kept their ministry humming.
“She helps make a small church run,” Wayne said.
The little town of Josephine, located about an hour northeast of Dallas, is a community of young families. Wayne says he sees people wanting to have a good marriage, but what they really need is a plan of how to have one. They need somebody with Godly wisdom and direction.
“They are looking for answers but getting bad advice from the world,” Wayne said. “That’s why marriage ministry is important to me, so many things could be an easy fix. I preach a series on difficult things in marriage or parenting to help them navigate.”
When he sits down to coach couples, Wayne puts them at ease, telling them, “You are not going to tell me anything I haven’t heard before. There’s nothing new under the sun. Your marriage is not unique. We all struggle with the same things. When they hear how others have dealt with things, it gives them hope. They realize their marriage isn’t as bad as they thought it was.”
He sees couples who don’t know how to communicate and, unfortunately, many who have had affairs or have brought baggage into second marriages. Wayne and Linda recently introduced Re-Engage to three couples in Josephine, the start of what they hope will be a growing ministry there.
