ARCHIVE
March 2010
Pam Gibbs, Girls’ Ministry Specialist at LifeWay wrote this recently after our girls’ ministry web cast:
I looked across the landscape of my church on Sunday morning. In front of me were teenagers. Behind the organ was a woman with grandchildren. Behind me I could hear a toddler who was obviously unhappy about the need to sit still for more than three seconds. My mind immediately began to think about how to connect these generations together. And then, I immediately thought of our recent Web cast with Amy Pierson as we talked about discipleship and mentoring girls.
Amy Kendrick Pierson, girls’ minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, is a disciple and a discipler. She’s passionate about girls’ ministry but even more passionate about helping girls and young adult women discover and apply God’s Word personally.
We talked about the differences between mentoring and discipleship (you can mentor without discipling, but you can’t disciple without mentoring.) We talked about big ol’ mama CheezIts (you had to be there!) and being real and honest before girls. We even discussed whether girls should be co-discipled by a guy and a girl simultaneously. Interesting stuff.
I came away with a renewed passion for mentoring and discipleship. I came away remembering the people who discipled me. And I came away thinking that I love the fact that the way discipleship works best—among women and between women—is the way God set it up in the first place (Titus 2). I love that about God.
If you weren’t able to join us for that conversation on March 23 with Pam Gibbs, Amy Pierson and Chris Adams, you can still listen to it and see the presentation online. Just go online here. Let me know if you crave CheezIts after you listen. I’ve started craving them as I’ve typed this post!
Listen to what some young adult women are saying. How does this help you reach and lead young women into the future?
What Are Young Women Saying? #6 from Chris Adams on Vimeo.
What are YOU doing to reach out to young women?
Ever wonder how to know if someone is compatible as an accountability partner? And whether they are truly seeking to spend the time in spiritual disciplines and growth? Here are some questions you might ask.
1. Are you comfortable around this person? Is she open? Does she put you at ease?
2. Do you trust her with personal issues?
3. Does she challenge you spiritually?
4. What fruit can you see in her life from her walk with Christ?
5. Do you know her to be a woman of the Word?
6. Can she be honest about your successes and areas that need improvement?
7. Does she seem open to committing to prayer and time spent together?
8. Is she full of the Holy Spirit?
9. Is she committed to God's work?
10. Has God led you to this person for accountability during this time?
Pray for God to send you a friend who will be your accountability partner even as you serve as hers. If you want to learn more about forming that kind of relationship (and even helping the women in your ministry develop these partnerships) check out Heart Friends: Beginning and Maintaining a Small Accountability Group.
Other articles that will be helpful to beginning a Small Group Accountability Ministry:
Tips for Starting an Accountability Group 4/9/2004
Building Accountability as a Women's Ministry Leader 7/28/2005
Lesson 4 of our “Life Lessons for Leaders” has huge implications for how well the ministry is supported and encouraged from the leadership of the church. You might be a paid staff member as you lead women, but most of you are volunteer lay leaders seeking to minister to and with women. Connecting well with your staff, which is probably predominately male, will be a huge asset as you seek to develop the ministry.
Hebrews 13:17 tells us to, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch
over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and
not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” (HSCB)
Whether we agree 100% with our pastor or other staff leader you relate to, we have a responsibility to submit to their authority. It is not only an umbrella of authority they represent, they also provide an umbrella of protection as we serve the church. They also provide a “whole church” perspective that is important as we lead women. Otherwise it would be easy for us to focus just on our area of ministry and forget the big picture of ministry.
As women’s leaders, one of our jobs is to provide a female perspective to the male leadership. The women in our church, and these male leaders need that so that they will see what women need and will respond to regarding salvation, growth, and service. But “how” we do that will truly make a difference whether or not they hear us.
In Mixed Ministry, the authors (two women and a man) do a fabulous job of helping us know how to work together as very different sexes to effectively build the church. They share ideas on how to communicate with each other effectively, how to respect and support each other¸ and how to not feel threatened by each other. Great read for women’s leaders as well as men on staff.
In Women Reaching Women in the chapter on Beginning a Women’s Ministry I shared 11 tips for sharing your vision with the church staff:
1. Be specific in sharing goals and objective.
2. Contribute the female point of view in a respectful manner.
3. Be available to assist in other ministries of the church as needed.
4. Know and follow church policies.
5. Listen to the staff (even ASK their opinion and expectations).
6. Know what is expected in staff meetings if you attend.
7. Choose the right time to address church staff by making appointments.
8. Be specific and take a short list of items to discuss.
9. Submit calendars early for women’s groups and activities.
10. Include the pastor’s wife or other staff wives as advisors on your team if they are willing.
11. If whatever you desire to do hinders the church or Kingdom in any way, DON’T!
What a privilege to serve as women’s leaders in our church. Ask God how best to honor him as you walk along side the staff God has placed at your church.
Perhaps you can add your own ideas to this list. Please include them in the comments box on this post.
For more help read How to Improve Women’s Leadership and Church Staff Relationships (1/22/07)
Listen to what some young adult women are saying about mentoring. How does this help you reach and lead young women into the future?
What are Young Adult Women Saying? #5 from Chris Adams on Vimeo.
What are YOU doing to reach out to Young Women?
“Will you disciple me?”
“Will you mentor me?”
“Can we meet and maybe you can show me how to read my Bible like you do?”
“Can you teach me how to hear from God?”
If you’ve been in ministry very long, you’ve probably heard these questions—or a variation of them. The concept of mentoring or discipling is not a new one. In fact, it’s been around since biblical times (check out Titus 2!). Scripture sets forth our mandate for discipling others.
But here’s the big question: what does discipleship look like in girls’ ministry? How do you differentiate (or do you?) between discipleship and mentoring? Or even counseling? The terms are thrown around, but with such different concepts in mind, we need to get on the same page, with the same direction and the same vision.
So let’s talk about it—on Tuesday, March 23rd at noon, through a web cast.
Amy Pierson, girls’ minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, will be joining us soon to discuss this topic. She a disciple and a discipler. She’s passionate about girls’ ministry but even more passionate about helping girls and young adult women discover and apply God’s Word for ourselves. She is also the author of the new girls’ ministry book Table for Two: Doing Life and Savoring Scripture Together.
Want to join us? Good. Join us on Tuesday, March 23rd at noon for the Girls Ministry: Mentoring Girls Webcast.
Other articles on Girls' Ministry:
Growing Girls into Godly Women 7/22/2006
4 Opportunities to Reach Teen Girls 9/22/05
5 Steps to Starting a Girls Ministry 9/8/04
Listen to what some young adult women are saying. How does this help you as you reach and lead young women into the future?
What are Young Adult Women Saying? #4 from Chris Adams on Vimeo.
Here's another great article about connecting young adult women.
What are YOU doing to reach young women?
The first day of spring is March 20! I don’t know about you, but I am SO glad. Winter is my least favorite season (as you know if you keep up with me on Twitter or Facebook!) Spring brings such an awakening of all things for me.
As you think about new things, fresh starts and moving into a new season, how are you preparing as a leader? Are you thinking about things you still have yet to learn? Perhaps you are looking for ideas for reading.
Jaye Martin, women’s program leader at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, has graciously shared with us the Bibliography for Ministering to Women compiled by the Women’s Leadership Office at Southern. As we continue to grow as leaders of women, we must continue to sharpen our minds and hearts in various areas that I think you will see on this list.
Blessings as you read!
Women's Bibliography Southern.pdf
Clocks are about to “spring” forward. Are you ready? I am looking forward to longer days (or at least longer daylight hours even if I can’t add a few hours to the day!). But even when it’s not time change weekend, our lives are in continually change.
How many of you are facing or have recently faced a major change in your life? Don’t we prefer lives to follow traditional pattern. You know, life the way it's supposed to be: birth, childhood, school, college, job, marriage, family, retirement, aging, and death. In that order! Right!
Truly I am a creature of habit, very comfortable with routines, plan A as opposed to plan B, and a somewhat predictable life. Of course, that is not the life I’ve experienced for the most part. I have discovered that interruptions to that “perfect” order can be disturbing. Often we work hard to get past barriers and obstacles in order to get on with life as we think it's supposed to be (whatever that is!).
Life rarely works out the way we think it will and we face inevitable changes, times of struggle, pain, joy and growth. Some of these are ordinary and others turn world upside down. All are opportunities for growth, for God to “show off”, to grow in all ways, and to develop a story that ministers to others.
So, how do you deal with change, especially with crisis and difficulties that cause change, such as death of a loved one, illness, job loss, broken relationships……
In an old book Future Shock this statement was made: "Change is avalanching upon our heads and we are grotesquely unprepared to cope with it." Change can be frightening because we don't know what result will be and we tend to be afraid of the unknown. Change disrupts our routine and brings unpredictability into our journey. The question not whether we will have change, but how we will react to changes we will definitely have.
Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary once made the statement "Change is inevitable, but adjustment of optional." So how can we face change with grace and joy and accept it as natural, healthy, spiritual growth opportunity in life?
In Experiencing God this is called a crisis of belief. We can't do it on own but it becomes a turning point where we must make a decision and what we do reveals what we believe about God. The author, Henry Blackaby, says, "You can't stay where you are and go with God" God's revelation is our invitation to adjust our life to Him. The tendency is to skip adjustment (process of growth) and go from believing to obedience, but if we want to follow Him, we don't have that choice. We must be willing to pay price of adjustment to follow His will.
We must focus on our unchangeable God because at every change point in our lives, He has important things to teach us about ourselves and others, and most importantly, about who He is: the only one who is changeless, constant and perfect. James 1:17 says, Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. We also know that His Word never changes (Matthew 24:35, Psalm 119:89)
Here are some practical tips for dealing with change:
1. Let change happen-recognize and understand change is normal.
2. Realize anxiety is normal as well!
3. Don't keep feelings to self but open lines of communication and share what’s on your heart.
4. Rely on others for support.
5. Be active and stay healthy physically and nutritionally.
6. Let go of old and look forward to new as you focus on what gained, not just what is lost.
Proverbs 3:5-6 is a familiar passage, but one that truly does give us an anchor to hold to when we are not sure what’s going on. Continually withdraw to spend time with Him when life gets out of focus and you aren’t sure what’s about to happen. Learn to praise him in the midst of uncertainty.
Philippians 4:4 tells us to rejoice when???? Keep a surrendered will, just as Jesus did in the garden before his crucifixion. Claim His promises that speak to you during your journey and you will ALWAYS find him faithful.
What do you do to navigate change in your life? Share your tips in the comments.
Now I don’t know about you, but I know I often do not show my husband the respect that he needs and deserves.
Shaunti tells us to respect his judgment instead of always questioning his ideas. I remember when Pat and I first got married, I questioned every decision he made. I always had a better way of doing something. Winning each battle was important to me since “I was surely right!” Shaunti says we are to respect his abilities to figure things out for himself. She also tells us to respect him through our communication, and maybe one of the most important ones, respect him in public. I always hate to see women put their husbands down in front of others. It makes me wonder how she talks to him in private!
She concludes the chapter on respect with this comment, “Just as we love to hear “I love you,” a man’s heart is powerfully touched by a few simple words: “I’m so proud of you.”
My husband is a great handyman. He can fix almost anything and has saved us thousand of dollars in repair bills over the 38+ years we’ve been married. Every time he does, I go on about it, not just to make him feel good, although I want him to feel good, but because I really am grateful he can fix so many things. I talk to women all the time whose husbands don’t fix anything around the house. We actually have a friend that has to borrow my husband’s screwdriver!
How do you show respect to the men in your life?
Festival of Marriage ; Toward a Growing Marriage; The Great Marriage Experience
Listen to what some young adult women are saying. How does this help you as you reach and lead young women into the future?
What Young Women are Saying #3 from Chris Adams on Vimeo.
You may also want to check out this article on connecting young women into the Women's Ministry.
What are YOU doing to reach young women?
I am sure you have many women and other family members in your church who have loved ones in the military. If you live near military bases you have even more opportunity to minister to these wives.
Sara Horn is the founder of Wives of Faith and the author of GOD Strong: A Military Wife’s Spiritual Survival Guide.
She has a heart for military wives, partially because she is one. Click here to read her article on how we can make a difference for these women.
Sara will also be a part of our 2010 Women’s Forum at Ridgecrest as she shares more ideas with women’s leaders.
How are you ministering to military wives?
Listen to what some young adult women are saying. How does this help you as you reach and lead young women into the future?
What are Young Women are Saying? #2 from Chris Adams on Vimeo.
What are YOU doing to reach young women?
When you became a leader, did you think it would be easy? I am not sure I thought it would be easy, but I sure didn’t’ think it would be as hard as it’s been! I mean, we’re serving God, as His calling…why would that be anything but blessed all the time? Truly, leadership has been more blessed than I dreamed it would be, but also more difficult than I ever thought.
If you scan the book of Joshua, you see so many incredible leadership principles. Let’s look at 3.
1. Leadership Takes Courage: Take a quick look at chapter 1. You see several times God tells Joshua to “be courageous and strong.” Why does he tell him that? Must have been something scary going on…a difficult task. (You even see these words from Moses to Joshua if you back up one book and read Deut. 31:6-7.) Moses was commissioning Joshua to go take the Promised Land. He and the Israelites would finally face those giants that had scared them off 40 years before. This time they would make it, but it wouldn’t be easy. So, Moses encourages Joshua with those words. Don’t you imagine those under Joshua’s leadership were saying, “you want us to do what? Pack up and move in 3 days? How? There’s a big river and big giants over there.” But, the command was to go, and go they did. What “giants” in ministry are you facing right now?
2. Leadership Takes Obedience: It’s hard to be obedient in difficult assignments unless we have courage. In Chapter 1:16-17, the Israelites said they would do all that Joshua had commanded them to do. They even repeat the words, “be strong and courageous.” Maybe they are learning! In Chapter 3, they reach that first main obstacle, the Jordan River, in flood stage no less! Ok, how are we going to do this one, Joshua? God instructs the priests to go in front and step into the water. What happens when they do? (hint: Joshua 3:15-16) God provided as they obeyed, not before the priests put their toes in the water but AS they did. What is river is God asking you to put your foot in? Trust Him to part the waters as you walk in obedience to whatever He has already told you. I love the comment T. W. Hunt makes in his study, From Heaven’s View, “When God gives us a command, we don’t need to understand His directive, we need to understand His authority!”
3. Leadership Takes Remembrance: In Chapter 4:1-7 we see what the people do after they all cross the Jordan safely. They build a memorial so that all who saw it would ask what it means. The people, and subsequent generations, would recount the story of God’s faithfulness and provision. They would remember from now on the wonderful works of the Lord. As leaders, we must tell the stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives, through the good and bad times. How else will others see through us how God uses all things for our good and His glory?
Learn from Joshua about courage, obedience and remembrance. Teach it to others!
