Starting something new can be exciting, especially when it comes to women’s ministry.
If you are like me, you have so many ideas and your love for people feeds your excitement to gather them together and minister to them. At the same time, it can be overwhelming to begin a ministry to women in your church or even to revamp one. If you find yourself leading women in your local church and need advice, help or support, I hope this article will add a few things to your toolbox!
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5 initial steps
Here are my top 5 recommended tools:
1. Seek the Lord first and always. Seek Him through prayer and faithful study of the Bible. He who has called you is faithful to carry you through. He created you and orchestrated all things so that you might be where you are for a purpose. Walk with Him, remain in Him and never stop seeking Him.
2. Conversations. Have conversations with your pastor, church staff and any other women who are ministering to women in your church. We do not want ministry to women to be siloed in our churches. We want unity in vision, mission and goals. Talk to your pastor about your burden and vision for women in your church. Share your heart and your ideas with him, then listen. God has appointed him to lead your church for a reason. Keep them in the know as you plan.
3. State leader connection. As your state women’s Ministry Consultant (in Mississippi), I am here as a resource, a cheerleader, a ministry partner and a friend for you! As you need help throughout the process, know that my greatest desire and joy is to walk alongside you as you seek to follow the Lord’s call to minister to the women in your church. I am here to pray with you for a burden for your women, a vision for your ministry and impactful discipleship strategies for your women. I am here to encourage, empower and equip you to follow God’s call however I can.
4. A Team! Pray through your ministry and identify areas where women could help and serve such as outreach, teaching, prayer, events, in-reach or another specific ministry. Gather women with character and commitment from all ages, stages of life and race. Then lead your team through a conversation in scripture about spiritual gifts and give them a spiritual gifts test to help identify how the Holy Spirit has gifted them to serve the body.
5. Vision, needs and goals. Your vision for ministry to women is formed by your church’s mission statement, the needs of women in your church, and your goals. What are the top two to three needs of women in your church and what goals can you set to address them? Once you have your vision and your goals set, plan within them. Every event, Bible study, gathering, activity and project should align with them. If it doesn’t, you do not need to do it.
Ultimately, the best tool your church has in ministering to women is you. The Lord has placed you where you are for such a time as this. Walk in obedience with faith and confidence, even if you cannot see the whole picture.
Full article.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Braelyn Weaver and originally published by Mississippi’s the Baptist Record.
