Elizabeth Gonzales
Tobago Correspondent
Apostle Josanne Aliby-Dyer has faced more challenges in her 39 years than most mothers do in a lifetime.
As the senior pastor at Restorers of the Breach Ministry in Tobago, alongside her husband, Apostle Dwain Dyer, she has dedicated over 20 years to gospel ministry.
But the true test of her resilience has come in balancing the demands of motherhood with the calling of ministry.
With four caesarean sections under her belt—one more than the typical limit—Aliby-Dyer has had to learn how to strike a delicate balance between leading her church congregation and being the best mother to her four children, ages 11, nine, three, and a seven-month-old baby.
Yet, through it all, her faith and unwavering commitment to family have been the driving forces behind her success.
“For the last pregnancy,” she told Sunday Guardian WE magazine, “I wasn’t sure I would survive. My child is here; I’m alive because God kept me, and he’s blessed me with the four children I’ve prayed for after four years of waiting.”
So, this Mother’s Day holds a special significance for her, as it marks her first as a mother of four, a milestone she never thought possible.
After being diagnosed with polycystic ovaries when she got married, she was told she may never be able to have children. “I thought I would never have children because that is what was said to me,” Aliby-Dyer recalled.
But she refused to give up hope. “Then I prayed about it, and on the fourth year of marriage, God blessed my womb with my first daughter.”
That first child was the start of an incredible journey. Over the next several years, Aliby-Dyer went on to have three more children—two daughters and a son.
“I waited. I thought it would be impossible, but God came through,” she said.
Balancing the demands of ministry and motherhood has required Aliby-Dyer to be intentional and disciplined. “I thank God for youthfulness and support. My in-laws have been there, and that has helped me a lot. Over time, I would have had to learn to make things a priority.”
Aliby-Dyer’s journey to motherhood has also deeply impacted her gospel ministry. Having struggled with infertility herself, she is now able to offer hope and empathy to other women facing similar challenges. “There are women without children who would come through our doors, some of whom would have been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries. Others may have been diagnosed with fibroids or another condition that prevents them from having kids. I first use my testimony to really give people hope. So many of them now have children of their own.”
Aliby-Dyer’s desire to support other women has even led her to become a first-time author. Her book, “Kairos” (the Greek word that means seasons or times), chronicles her journey to motherhood, from the waiting and praying seasons to the letting go. “In that book Kairos, becoming a mother, waiting to become a mother, documents the waiting season, the praying season, and the letting go seasons I’ve had to endure. I believe while I was waiting, God was drawing me into a season where he would help me to help other women.”
Her own experiences have also made her more understanding and accommodating of families in her church. “I know church is sometimes strict and requires a level of order, but when there are kids involved, there must be understanding for a crying baby, a fussy baby. You won’t hear me say to any member, ‘Take that child outside or quiet that child down.’ I know now what it feels like and the frustration to quiet a child down when someone is preaching. It has helped me to understand and, furthermore, find solutions for mothers.”
Along her journey, she learned to maximise the midnight hours, using that time to write, study, and meditate when her children are asleep. “In the day, I’m a full-time minister. I would do ministerial services when my kids are in school; that strikes the balance.”
And her love for her family is what truly keeps her centred. “What gives me balance is my love to serve my family. I grew up in a very old-fashioned type of home where I admired my mother’s passion and dedication to ensure the family is taken care of.”
As Aliby-Dyer celebrates her first Mother’s Day as a mom of four, she has a message for other women who may be struggling: “Find the right support, continue to pray, and understand the significance of bearing the challenges that arise during the waiting season.”
And for mothers in ministry, her advice is to make family a top priority. “We hear the stories of pastors’ kids because sometimes of the neglect that can happen, from our commitment to ministry, day after day, night after night. Make motherhood a priority and strike a balance. Also, have a time of worship and fellowship with your family. It’s important that we don’t only come to church but that we bring church home.”
Aliby-Dyer described her journey as a mother thus far as fulfilling and a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and a mother’s love.
As she balances her duties as a pastor and a parent, she hopes that the experiences she had during her journey will inspire women all over the world who are pursuing their dreams while also valuing the important responsibility of motherhood.