A Mother’s Legacy: Faithfulness in Ministry

She did not plan on being a pastor’s wife, but after five years of marriage and two children, things changed. Margaret Robertson not only embraced her calling, she consistently reminded people that God is faithful.

Her husband, Ted, sensed the call of God to vocational ministry and began studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1964. For a time, she lived on James Island with their two children while he studied and worked at Wake Forest.

At first, Margaret did not feel she was qualified to be a pastor’s wife, but along the way she taught Sunday school, worked with GAs, Acteens and WMU, and found time to volunteer with Meals on Wheels.

She and Ted served several churches, and then they worked together for 15 years when Ted was director of missions for Barnwell-Bamberg Baptist Association.

“For someone who did not want to marry a preacher, she proved herself to be well-qualified,” said Ted.

After 61 years of marriage, Margaret passed away this past December, but her witness of God’s faithfulness and provision continues.

In 2006, she wrote: “Even after retiring, God has continued to provide. God was faithful when my parents died six months apart, and He gave us strength to see our daughter through her cancer surgery and chemotherapy.”

Sarah Timm was the Robertsons’ firstborn and the only girl in a family of three boys. She is a 16-year cancer survivor. She said, “My mama was my GA and Acteens leader and taught me to be a Great-Commission-thinking Christian. I have attempted to follow her example of godly parenting to my four children — all followers of Jesus and demonstrating it in their homes and ministry opportunities.”

Sarah, who learned these words of a song from her mother: “May all who come behind us find us faithful,” pointed out, “My mama served God with a willing and faithful heart, including the day she died.”

Margaret’s testimony of God’s faithfulness and provision was echoed by her husband. “She was a great example of motherhood for all her children,” he said.