Faith, Family, and Legacy Interview Series | Part 5: Family II

We’ve heard from Curt and his wife, Christie, about how their faith has shaped their lives and their parenting. Today, we meet again with Megann Marcellino to hear more about how she balances life, motherhood and family upon her foundation of faith.

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The topic of parenting and family has many opinions and challenges. There is comfort in knowing other moms have similar challenges. Megan has spoke about her desire to see mothers and women stand together, building each other up, rather than casting judgment.

“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”—1 Thessalonians 5:11

Question: What has been your biggest challenge as a mom in ministry? 

>>>LEARN MORE ABOUT MEGANN’S JOURNEY HERE!<<<

Megann answers this question, along with what it was like growing up as a daughter of a Rabbi in a previous article.

Now, let’s hear from Megann as she shares more about her role as a ministry-working mom.

Question: What is it like for you as a woman in a leadership position?

Answer: There are always challenges—for everyone. Whether it’s as a woman, a youth, or a Rabbi’s kid, there have been, and probably will continue to be, many challenges. What I have learned is to press through in kindness, in boldness, and be confident that I’m doing what the Lord has called me to do. I need to be consistent and persistent.

 Question: Did your role in the ministry change after you became and wife and/or mother?

Answer: There wasn’t too much of a change when my husband, Paul, and I got married. He came alongside of me and stood with me, supporting me. It would have been a great challenge had that not happened.

My role changed a bit more after becoming a mom. My focus and drive has been different.

 Question: How do you balance work and family?

Answer: [Megann laughs] I don’t! I’m still learning and struggling with that daily. I don’t have the key to that. However, I think a struggle for all women, regardless of personal or political beliefs, is being valued; right, wrong or indifferent.  

Even in the midst of progress, I feel like society puts an expectation on women that we have to do it all. We have to work, and we have to be the primary caretaker at home. There is a lot of pressure on young women, even when their families support them.

I think that even in the midst of a world that is so highly sensitive to “rights,” women are drowning under what has become a social expectation of being the “boss lady,” while at the same time they struggle to not be labeled as controlling or manipulative, and still remain a “Pinterest perfect mom.”

Who can do it all? We can’t! No one can. 

Question: What does a typical daily schedule look like for you?

Answer: I get up and have quiet time with God, my morning meeting and devotional. I spend some time with Ariebella, then off to work. When I get home I typically order out. [Megann laughs]

 Question: Are there areas of parenting you find yourself repeating that you learned from your parents, for good or for bad?

Answer: My parents were strong disciplinarians, and I don’t look back and resent that. I’m strong-willed, so I needed the structure.

Sometimes my dad struggled with work life early on, because ministry is hard, you’re dealing with people’s needs, and there are always needs. That was my childhood.

This isn’t so much the case with Ariebella, because I’m not a pastor. I just want her to see she is my primary focus, and we try not to have work related conversations around meals. 

Another thing my dad did when I was little, was take me on work trips, and we do that with Ariebella now. We want to give her these experiences when she is young so she is well rounded.

 Question: Can you tell us what it was like the first time you took Ariebella to a church service?

Answer: [Megann laughs and sighs] Oh, wow—she was two weeks old and I was still emotional after recently giving birth. It was a dedication and she cried… and was so loud!

I felt like all eyes were on me… every mom knows that feeling. It was so embarrassing. All I could do was think about people saying to themselves, “This is Rabbi’s daughter and granddaughter.” We stepped out and tried to correct, but it was still a battle.

 Question: What advice would you give to mothers bringing their children to services?

Answer: Just do it, even though it can be uncomfortable. My parents did that. They were consistent and didn’t change that even if it was difficult sometimes. It’s important to be disciplined and demonstrate that this is what you do as a family. As Ariebella grows she will see that a spiritual life is a priority.

 The takeaway: As Megann humbly shared her challenges and the pressures of being a mom in today’s world, it should speak to each of us as a way to identify and realize that we are not alone in our daily struggles.

God’s Word says to resist the devil and stand, “…steadfast in the faith knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:9).

We should not be surprised at these common challenges among Believers, and specifically mothers, but instead, “…comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

It is our prayer for you as Believers, to stand together and fight the good fight of faith. If you need prayer today, we would love to meet with you through our prayer ministry. Let us join together, encouraging one another through Spirit-led prayer.

Check back with us soon as we move into the final part of the interview series, Leaving a Legacy. Read how the Landry family discusses the importance of legacy, and how they plant roots both within the family and in the nation of Israel in spiritual and practical ways.