Monte and Margaret Rhoads
Monte and Margaret Rhoads have been part of the 26 West Church family for many years. They joined 26 West shortly after it started in 2012, and have been involved in many facets of the church over the last 10+ years, including Margaret joining our staff in 2020 as the Women’s Director.
When they married at 17 and 20, Monte had been in a wheelchair for 2 years as a result of a serious car accident at the age of 18. This couple had no idea how God would use them or what He would teach them.
Over the course of their 44 years as husband and wife, two pillars have led and shaped their lives together as a married couple, and in their individual walks with Jesus: commitment and family.
The Rhoads’ have walked some difficult paths. Living with a physical challenge while maintaining a marriage and raising three daughters creates all sorts of opportunities to rely on Jesus.
Some of the challenges Monte and Margaret have faced as husband and wife could have easily caused them to give up, but their commitment to each other and trust that God would make a way is what kept them coming back and moving forward.
In their own words “everyone faces challenges; whether a marriage crisis, a child who’s questioning or even abandoning their faith or a physical illness or challenge; it’s inevitable. It’s what we do and who we turn to that determines the how well we survive those challenges.”
Through the ups and downs, Monte and Margaret have remained committed to trusting in Jesus and hoping in His promises; knowing that His ways are better, even when it’s hard to understand. James 1:22 & 25 has anchored their family and provided hope in enduring tough times: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. But do what it says. In doing this—you will be blessed in what you do.”
Raising kids to love Jesus is not an easy task. Margaret and Monte understand that parenting takes time and intentionality. From an early age for their girls, they established patterns in their daily lives together: praying each morning as a family, incorporating other families into camping trips and game nights, listening to their kids with open ears and no judgment often times until late at night, and trying to stay on the same page with discipline and consequences. These patterns created security and expectation, which in turn created a safe space where their girls felt loved, cared for, and heard.
Margaret and Monte have learned that grace is key in their marriage, and was just as important in their parenting. Shame has never been an option. When shame is present, it allows room for the enemy to celebrate. When living from a place of grace, the enemy is defeated because grace is the gift Jesus gave us. Grace gives room for repentance, forgiveness, and correction in a loving way instead of a way that will potentially cause more pain and distance from God.
As a church, we recently prayed over 18 children and their parents as they dedicated their kids to the Lord. It was a sweet moment of witnessing how God is already at work in the lives of so many young people.
Raising your kids in the way of Jesus, will bring challenges and trials of all kinds. Margaret and Monte want to encourage parents to remain steadfast in Jesus, committed to one another, and intentional with their family time. Always keep the door of connection open. Always be quick to ask (even your adult children) for forgiveness when the Holy Spirit convicts, and always seek Jesus when things feel off. When rough waters rise, (and they will) seek out Godly wisdom from others, ask for help, put pride aside and don’t be embarrassed to utilize the wisdom right here in the 26 West community. Church family, don’t be discouraged, the road isn’t easy, but God walks with you every step of the way.