Side By Side began in 1988. Robin Morgenthaler was preparing to move to Rochester Minnesota for her husband, Tim, to begin his residency. She knew there would be an international presence at the Mayo Clinic, as people come from all over the world to study and train there. She also knew that God had planted a vision in her heart, one that would involve ministering, evangelizing and equipping women who, like herself, were in Rochester while their husbands were in training. She envisioned a Bible study that would teach, support and encourage women with the idea that they would take what they learned in Rochester about God to whatever community they found themselves in after training.
That vision became a reality. Thirty years later, what began with six women and ten children in an old farmhouse in Rochester has become the official ministry of the Christian Medical and Dental Association for women married to physicians and dentists. They come from different backgrounds and different denominations, and they are in different stages of medical training. Some have never attended a Bible study before, while others have been in Bible studies all their lives, but the common bond between them is that we are all married to doctors or dentists.
Why minister to medical wives? Many people would consider them to be in little need of an outreach ministry, but the situation is quite the opposite. There is a false perception that if you are married to a doctor or dentist, you must surely have the "perfect life." But life as a medical spouse can be difficult and many struggle with resentment, exhaustion, loneliness and isolation. They've often been uprooted from their families and moved away from home, in order for their spouse to build his career. Those who have children often feel like a single mom with almost all the child-rearing responsibility falling on them. Many women are just barely hanging on.
That’s where Side By Side comes along. We believe there is something unique about the support other medical wives can offer each other. Though some of our members would never come to a "Bible study," they'll come to a place where people understand what they are going through, where they find friends, surrogate family members, and where they find help and companionship. Our goal at Side By Side is to help meet the physical and emotional needs of these wives and in doing so demonstrate the love that Jesus has for them.
That vision became a reality. Thirty years later, what began with six women and ten children in an old farmhouse in Rochester has become the official ministry of the Christian Medical and Dental Association for women married to physicians and dentists. They come from different backgrounds and different denominations, and they are in different stages of medical training. Some have never attended a Bible study before, while others have been in Bible studies all their lives, but the common bond between them is that we are all married to doctors or dentists.
Why minister to medical wives? Many people would consider them to be in little need of an outreach ministry, but the situation is quite the opposite. There is a false perception that if you are married to a doctor or dentist, you must surely have the "perfect life." But life as a medical spouse can be difficult and many struggle with resentment, exhaustion, loneliness and isolation. They've often been uprooted from their families and moved away from home, in order for their spouse to build his career. Those who have children often feel like a single mom with almost all the child-rearing responsibility falling on them. Many women are just barely hanging on.
That’s where Side By Side comes along. We believe there is something unique about the support other medical wives can offer each other. Though some of our members would never come to a "Bible study," they'll come to a place where people understand what they are going through, where they find friends, surrogate family members, and where they find help and companionship. Our goal at Side By Side is to help meet the physical and emotional needs of these wives and in doing so demonstrate the love that Jesus has for them.