When her husband, Ross, relocated from being a parish pastor at a local church to that of the Principal of a Seminary (theological college), her role changed again and now it is much more like being a sounding board and partner for her husband, rather than a traditional role of 'minister's wife'.
This interview of Bev Clifford by the Australian Missionary News IPTV may be viewed at http://tv.bushorchestra.com/Mission/videopages/bev_clifford.html or www.safeworlds.net
In response to the first question from Australian Missionary News IPTV anchorwoman Delma Tronson, Bev explained that she grew up in North Sydney and her family worshipped at North Sydney Baptist Church.
It was here that she taught Sunday School, became a youth group leader, and met her future husband, Ross Clifford, who was also a leader. This experience and training stood them both in good stead later, when Ross entered theological college.
They have now been married for 35 years.
Delma Tronson was particularly interested in developing the theme of how Bev might encourage working spouses who have little choice but to work to meet the bills. The first thing Bev advises, is to find a job you can love and enjoy doing. It then becomes a pleasure to go to work and opens a whole new world of people and friendships.
As a Christian, it also provides a different network of people, some of whom are Christians, others who are not, where good natured and honest discussions take place. Work can become something of a Mission field once you've become friends with those associates. And of course, it helps to pay the bills.
As the spouse of the Principal of the Baptist theological college, Morling College, in NSW, which happens to be the largest Seminary in Australia, Bev said that she attends all significant functions at Morling to support Ross, and they open their home two to three times a year to meet new students.
In the College situation, there are professionals who are employed in a host of support roles, so she does not need to be 'hands on' to help with day to day tasks in the same way as she was in the Parish. Now her major role is to support Ross in his professional duties, and to act as a sounding board for him to talk away on his ideas and new insights so they can germinate. Bev says that she has found this to be a very valuable servant-hood ministry to her husband.
As their lives are so busy, Bev Clifford said they guard their annual holiday fiercely. During the 20 years when their children were growing up, they enjoyed going to the same place each year, and they have many treasured memories.
Now, with the children off their hands with children of their own, she and Ross make a point of going somewhere completely away from Morling. This is a replenishment time for them, to rebuild their energies for another year, where they can talk together and also look at the broader picture of their comings and goings.
But above all the roles she has played in life, Bev Clifford said the most astonishing gift is to be a grandmother; and that her daughter entrusts her with her own two little daughters whom she and Ross love and treasure to bits.