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November 2011
As the Christmas season is upon us, sometimes as leaders we feel so overwhelmed with family, church needs, personal feelings, that we fail to enjoy the beautiful season God has given us to celebrate the birth of His son. Read guest blogger Deb Douglas’ insight to help us navigate it well this year.
One little fitting on a hot water tank failed and my house is in chaos for the holidays. Sheet rock ripped from the walls, floors torn out, dust on every surface, and furniture moved to safer locations. I am battling down the overwhelming sense of panic wondering how my granddaughter’s first Christmas is going to match my dream Christmas in the midst of this chaos. Christmas as a minister to women is a challenge but when personal challenges mount on top, Christmas becomes a looming deadline rather than a joyful season.
I know God will use this Christmas season of chaos to teach me something amazing, but the obsessive person within me screams, “Lord your timing does not work with my schedule!” Honestly, I do not want to learn this lesson right now but I have no choice but to submit to God. Not just because He is all-powerful but because I have no other choice. This is beyond my ability to cope. I need Him to cope. I need Him to make it through a normal Christmas in ministry, but this year I will have to learn a whole new level of depending on Him. Depending is how I will survive.
Walking that fine tightrope of balancing ministry and family is stressful during a normal season, add in Christmas celebrations and it's precarious. I constantly must leave my time management at His feet. When I submit to Him, living out my call works. I’m still busy, but I make it through knowing He is at work.
As I write, personal chaos is impacting the ministry. I cannot be in two places at one time; it’s either church or home. My pastor is being understanding but my heart is not. “There’s people to see and ministry to do,” it screams but instead I am waiting on the arrival of another contractor.
Ministry would be much easier if God gave us everything we needed when He called us, but we would miss the joy of knowing that He is at work in us. It’s that joy that gets us through chaos, the faith of knowing He has worked in past and He will work through this circumstance too. Job got through His continual trials by being stubborn in his faith; circumstances or others did not sway him. I need to be stubborn in faith this Christmas.
How to be stubborn in my faith at Christmas?
1. Pray! Pray for my mind to be focused on Godly priorities. Pray for my heart to be in tune to the joy of celebrating Christ’s birth.
2. Look for and submit to the lessons God is teaching in the midst of a chaotic season.
3. Continually remind myself to let go on my expectations.
4. Seek forgiveness for my impatience.
5. Determine to be joyful!
May your Christmas be merry, bright, and stubborn!
Dr. Deb Douglas, is the Minister to Women, First Baptist Church, Bossier City, LA and also serves as one of our LifeWay Ministry Multipliers. Deb launched her first women's Bible study at the age of 20. Her passion is encouraging and equipping women to serve. She is the Minister to Women at FBC Bossier City and a conference/retreat speaker, strategic planning consultant, and freelance writer. Deb graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Arts in Christian Education/Women's Ministry and a Doctor of Education in Ministry degree from NOBTS. She is the wife of Paul, mom of Jared and Katie, and mother-in-law to Emily.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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I can’t help but reflect back over 2011 and all that God has done. There have been some difficult 
times but the blessings have far overshadowed anything else.
Here are some of the things I am grateful for:
· 2011 Women’s Forum that God just blessed more than we ever expected!
· Shingles during the forum that with so many praying didn’t affect my physical well being at all! That’s a miracle. Then the rash faded away without ever blistering!
· Provision for my daughter and granddaughters through an extremely difficult marital separation and subsequent death of our son in law.
· Restored and new relationships in our family.
· A wonderful retired husband who has made my life incredibly easy with all he does at home!
· Two very special daughters that have made life incredible no matter what we were going through.
· A son-in-law who is a huge teddy bear of a guy!
· Seven beautiful precious grand children who all live close.
· A new puppy this past year after losing our sweet Zeke. Mo has been such a ham and the most affectionate dog we’ve EVER had!
· Turning a new decade but not feeling it!
· Six month trial of being able to wear nice jeans to work!
· A team of LifeWay women who love to serve the Lord and minister to women!
· Supervisors who support and believe in me and the ministry I represent.
· Mentors who continue to pour into me and change my life.
· Mentees who make me feel like God is still using me.
· Leaders all across the country who are seeking ways to reach women for Christ!
· A church that is all about growing the kingdom and teaching the Word!
· My Sunday morning small group of women whom I LOVE teaching.
· Prayer warriors who hold me up especially in tough times.
· Wednesday night couples small group where we eat, laugh, fellowship, pray for each other and seek to grow in Christ together.
· As always, chocolate and the beach! This past September the Lord, in the midst of a tough time personally, gave us the absolute best week on the beach I think we have ever had!
· More, more, more than I can ever thank God for! What a faithful Father He is!
Now, it’s your turn! Use your small group time, or just time with your family to reflect on all God has done this year. Pray about what He will bring in 2012.
Recently at a YOULead women’s leadership training, we had a panel of leaders answering questions submitted by attendees. Several past and upcoming posts address those and try to help answer them.
Today’s question is: How do we blend the “older” WMU (Woman’s’ Missionary Union) women into the “new” younger women’s ministry??How can we see ourselves as ONE women’s ministry not two separate ones?
If you are in a Southern Baptist Church, you recognize WMU (or Women on Mission which is the women’s age level missions group in WMU). If you are not, perhaps at one time your main ministry with women was a service or missions focused group. Over the last 20 years or so, many other aspects to ministry with women have been added and at times that can develop into a “me” or “them” mentality.
One thing is we are all about kingdom work! Right? If so, the question to ask is, how can WE reach more women for Christ and help them grow in Christ so they find their place of service in the kingdom. Getting leaders of various women’s groups together on their knees to pray and ask God’s direction can break down barriers.
This article can be helpful as well to show the different aspects of ministry to and with women and how you and how you can connect with each one for resources in the various areas of discipleship, missions, and evangelism.
For another past blog post concerning women and missions, check out the following:
How to Balance Women's Ministry and Missions In Your Church
Other helpful links:
If you were able to join us at the 2011 Women's Leadership Forum, you were blessed with the opportunity to get to hear from one of women's ministry's most prized leaders, Esther Burroughs.
Below you will find the link to an audio file that will give you access to our final session of the Forum this year as Esther reminds us that we truly are "All In This Together"
"All In This Together" -Esther Burroughs
See you next year at the 2012 Women's Leadership Forum!
I recently got an email from one of our LifeWay Women’s Ministry Multipliers sharing about some marketing related to ministry with the younger women in her church. The name of this group is SHE. Right now they are studying Women Making a Difference in Marriage: Building Love, Joy and Commitment by Lana Packer and love it.
When their promotional leader was trying to figure out how to get the young women’s attending here are the questions she was asking:
Who is SHE?
What does SHE look like?
What does SHE want or need?
What does SHE need that she doesn’t even know she needs?
Who is missing in your Women’s Ministry?
Who are her friends?
Who is speaking into her life? (influences)
Who can reach her?
Do you want her to come here to your church?
Or are you willing to go to her? If so, where would you go?
Ministering to the Unconvinced: Time and energy are limited…how can SHE be convinced that we have something to offer her busy life?
Now as I was thinking about this, I see how it relates to young women, but I also see these are fabulous questions to ask any group of women that we’ve not reached yet. Just wanted to pass this along to you. I believe it will help you as you seek women who need to know and grow in Christ.
Some days I struggle with just being grateful. Ministry days can be tough, then add personal issues and, whew! Guest blogger Jennifer Landrith, senior pastor’s wife at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN, encourages us to start our mornings differently!
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name, make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him. Glory in His holy name, let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Psalm 105:1-4
If I could only start every day with this verse by remembering to begin my day with thankfulness and praise to God! Many times my day will start with, “Please help me with this or “give me_________”. My prayers and my day go much better when I focus on God and what He has done instead of on me so much. Don’t get me wrong, we can bring our needs to God but sometimes I feel my prayer time ends up being all about me and less about thanking Him and praising Him for what He is doing.
In ministry it can be the same way, we tend to get caught up in what we need at church or what the next thing to do on our list is and don’t just stop to be thankful. When we practice having a spirit of thankfulness instead of being so self focused, there are many benefits and here are a few:
1. We have a positive outlook.
2. We are aware of God in our daily life and how He is at work.
3. We don’t tend to be as critical or find ourselves wallowing in self -pity.
4. We are better able to handle those difficult situations or difficult people that may come our way when we start our day with a grateful attitude
If you are going through a tough time right now and find it hard to be thankful for where you are, then begin to thank God for the things He has done in your life in the past. He has blessed us with so much – life, beautiful leaves on the trees, the promotion, a spouse, an encouraging email, the church, the sunshine, a good night’s rest, friends, etc… The list is endless once you start. Try it today by thanking God as you go through this day for the little things and the big things that come your way. See if it doesn’t make a difference in your relationship with God and others.
“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Jennifer is the wife of David, who serves as the senior pastor at Long Hollow Baptist, Hendersonville, Tennessee, where they have been for 15 years. They have three children, Rachel, Sam and Josh. Jennifer serves on the Women’s Leadership team and teaches Bible studies for women in her church. She is a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier, conference leader helping ministers’ wives and co-authored the Bible study for ministers’ wives, In Our Shoes: Real Life Issues for Ministers' Wives. She has been a minister’s wife for over 20 years and has a passion for encouraging other wives in ministry as they serve.
If you missed this informative and timely web cast for girls ministry leaders you can still watch here!
Inside Look at Outside Expectations (Eating Disorders and Body Image) with guest Constance Rhodes, and hosted by Chris Adams, Women’s Ministry Specialist & Girls Ministry Specialist, Pam Gibbs. This is as live web cast so you will be able to send in questions to be addressed during the webcast.
This is the second of a two part leadership post. Please read Part 1 first.
Inviting Leaders:
Once you discover a woman you believe is the one for a ministry, use these ideas to find out if she is the one God is calling.
· Interview-Basically sit down with her over coffee or lunch and find out what God is doing in her life currently. Ask her if God has been talking to her about anything in particular. It’s so fun when she responds with exactly what you were thinking!
· Define Job-tell her what the ministry position entails. Be honest about the amount of time it might take, the people she would work with, etc. Visualize the goal with her and tell her why you would value her on the team. Perhaps she might want to observe that ministry first if she’s unfamiliar with it.
· Seek Prayer-Get her to pray about it. Ask her to have her family pray with her about it and the time it might take for her to invest in this ministry. Don’t ask her for an answer before she prays, but once in a while someone will respond that she has already been praying about this very thing and this is truly her answer.
· Support Response-whether she says yes or no, thank her for praying and following God’s leadership. No pressure and no guilt laid here! If she said no, ask her to continue to pray with you about who God is calling. If she says yes, let her assist first in the area of ministry then begin to hand over more responsibility. Then have her ask someone else to assist her as she shares the ministry!
God has the right leaders in the right churches. We just have to discover who they are and help them connect with the ministry callings God has placed in their hearts as they match the ministry needs we experience in our church and community.
The Team that Jesus Built, Janet Thompson
As a women’s leader, you should always be on the lookout for potential leaders. One thing ALL believers are to do is to serve. We can help in the process as we build relationships with women, find out where they are spiritually and then helping them not only grow but to find their place of service in God’s kingdom. Notice I didn’t say “place of service in women’s ministry”. Our assignment isn’t just to put women to work in a particular ministry, but to help them find their God-giving calling and passion and then equip them to live that out.
Women’s ministry is where we will connect with women of all walks of life. As we intentionally begin to disciple women, we will be able to give them opportunities to get their feet wet in leadership and service. Here are some steps in the process to help you discover and invite women to serve.
Discovering Leaders:
· Pray-ask God to direct you to women ready to take the next step in their spiritual journey. If you especially need team members in specific areas, ask God to be specific in who He has for those spots. If you want to start a ministry and God hasn’t raised up the leader, wait on His timing. Otherwise you fill the position before He finishes preparing the one He was getting ready for that ministry position. He will match ministry and leaders much better than we can!
· Ask-talk to your pastor and other staff members about women they come in contact with. They may meet new members and discover their gifting before you have a chance to do so. Be ready to follow up on any names they pass along to you.
· Survey-use surveys and new member information to find out about the gifts, interests and passions of women. Again, always follow up on what you learn from this information. Even if you don’t have a current spot that fits, find a place to begin working with these women until the spot and the calling fit.
· Observe-Continually watch the women in your church. Where are they already serving? Where do you see them faithfully growing? You will learn much as you just keep your eyes and ears open and ask women questions to gain insight into their lives.
· Ask-sometimes you may needs lots of extra hands for a short term ministry (greeters, helping register women for Bible study, making contact to promote a ministry, etc). For those things, just ASK! Through small groups, in newsletters, on Facebook and Twitter, and on your web site. This is not appropriate for all positions, but when you need a lot done in a short period of time, this works great. Our church sent out an email to all our women asking for them to provide home cooked dishes for our singles moms event. All they have to do is cook and drop it off at the church.
Look in unusual places, get to know women and their personal and ministry goals and interests. Help her find niche even if it’s not in women’s ministry!
Watch the following blog post for how to “invite” leaders to serve!
In today's society, more and more families are experiencing painful situations with children who rebel against them, but the church is positioned to reach out to these families and show them the love of Christ during their ordeal.
You and other women in your ministry can care for mothers of prodigal children in your church and community with 10 simple actions:
1. Pray.
Be faithful in lifting these mothers up in prayer. Some days parents of prodigals are barely making it.
2. Show your concern in tangible ways.
Don't be afraid to call, write, or bake a cake - but let them know you care.
3. Point out positive things about these children when you have the opportunity.
Your sincerity and perspective will help these mothers refocus since sometimes, they may be face-to-face with only the negative.
4. Be sensitive as you share about the joys your children bring you.
Obviously, these mothers didn't set out for their children to rebel. They don't resent your family's joys and success, but sometimes oversharing can provide a foothold for negative thought patterns.
5. Let these mothers know they are not alone in their journeys.
Encourage transparency among the women in your church (no matter what struggles they have) to let moms know they don't have to hide or be ashamed of the issues they're facing.
6. Help mothers network together.
If there are women in your church who have already experienced a relationship with a prodigal child, ask them to take special care to minister to mothers of prodigal children. You might even consider asking women who have faced this to begin a support group for women currently dealing with prodigals. (Likewise, if there is a father who has dealt with a prodigal child, he would be a great candidate to reach out equally to another father facing the same issues.)
7. Encourage them to care for themselves and other relationships as well.
Show them practical, positive things they can do to nurture themselves, their husbands, and other family members as well as the prodigal child. Those ideas can be as simple as spending quality family time or making sure they maintain their quiet times and Bible study with God.
8. Listen.
Let moms talk when they need to, and then just pray.
9. Keep using these moms in ministry roles as they are able to give of their time.
These ladies may need a ministry outlet where they can see God working in and through their lives. Service in such a role can help balance out what's not going right in their relationships.
10. Keep yourself informed on other ways to reach women in crisis.
Many resources on basic lay counseling and ministry are available for you to read and use as mothers of prodigals may come to you for help.
Two recommended leadership books are A Trusted Friend: When It Matters Most and Transformed Lives, which has an entire chapter dedicated to reaching the hurting woman. LifeWay also offers series of online helps about key topics and lay counseling, including the downloadable resource (or you can order the PDF already printed), Women Reaching Women in Crisis: Prodigal Children.
If you know mothers of prodigal children, God has placed you in a valuable role to encourage and pray for them as a women's leader and sister in Christ. Seize the opportunities you have to minister to these women, and believe God to move powerfully in their lives for His glory and their good.
Recently at a YOU Lead women’s leadership training, we had a panel of leaders answering questions submitted by attendees. Several past and upcoming posts address those and try to help answer them.
There are quite a few answers and formats for what this leader asked so here goes:
1. You have been created especially to do what God has called and led you to do. So, make sure you are living out your calling. Sometimes we are “put into positions” that God has NOT called us to fill! Ask for discernment and clarifying of your personal call to serve Christ.
2. Get a one LifeWay’s women’s leadership books and use as a personal development tool. Then teach it to your team members, chapter by chapter. Or get copies for the team and divide the chapters up. Have different leaders present the material in each chapter as a way of training each other. Look at Women Reaching Women, Transformed Lives or Women Reaching Women In Crisis as possibilities. Also, look at Bev Hislop's books, Shepherding a Woman's Heart and Shepherding Women in Pain.
3. Attend and/or take you team to a training opportunity. Check out local ministries to see when they offer training. One resource is your Southern Baptist state convention leader whether you are in an SBC church or not. See link here for contact information. Check out any LifeWay training event, especially YOU Lead and our Women’s Leadership Forum .
4. Read women’s ministry blogs. LifeWay Women offer two blogs. One for leaders Women Reaching Women and one for all women, All Access. Watch what other women’s leaders and author are writing (I am not listing others here as I know I will leave out someone!).
5. Watch web casts such as LifeWay Women Live . Each month we address various topics that are beneficial to women’s ministry leaders. We already have 2012 scheduled and ready to go and are beginning planning 2013!
6. Many seminaries now offer women’s ministry leadership training. Check out these seminaries for information. Also check out Western Seminary .
7. Read, read, read. As long as we read and learn, we will grow as a leader. And the MOST IMPORTANT reading of course is the Bible. As you grow spiritually, your leadership grows as well!
Ministers’ Wives don’t miss this special web cast just for you! We will be interviewing minister's wives LIVE from our National Women's Leadership Forum!
Don't miss this special webcast on Thursday, November 10th at 9:30 a.m. (Central Time)
LifeWay Women Live AT WOMEN’S FORUM: Ministers’ Wives GET REAL to Connect All Generations of Minister’s Wives! with guest ministers’ wives Rachel Lovingood, Jennifer Landrith, Pam Case, Leighann McCoy and Brandi Wilson. Hosted by Chris Adams and Paige Greene.
While serving in ministry is a privilege it also comes with unique challenges. Join some real ministry wives to discuss the very real life issues facing us today. If you are minister's wife and you are joining us in Nashville at the Forum, make plans to join us in the live audience. If you can't make it to the Forum this year, join us at 9:30 a.m. for this special webcast!
Click here to register for the web cast!
Shirley Moseswill be retiring at the end of this year from her current consultant position. She shares her journey with us and shows us how to allow God to move us out of one way of ministering into another.
Leaders know the day will come when you much ask yourself, “How do I leave successfully so the ministry can continue on without me?” Each of us will experience God's calling us to leave one place of service to go to another place of service. I think as women in leadership, it is especially difficult to leave a leadership role because we are so relational and those we lead become very close to us and a large part of our life.
So the question remains: how do we let go to follow God?
1. Commit those you have led to God
When Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, he chose to stop and say his farewell to those Ephesians he had led. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace... Acts 20:32b If you were to read on in Acts 20, you would find that Paul knelt down with all of them prayed and wept. I tell you this to let you know that yes, it is OKAY when we cry as we leave.
2. Give the successor your blessings
Those you lead need to know you have confidence in your successor. You need to encourage the women to support her. Pray publicly and privately for her and the ministry to continue strong.
3. Create a smooth leadership transition
When it is time to leave, we need to face that final transition head-on. I'm reminded of Moses when he passed the mantle to Joshua. Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in The presence of all Israel, Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land... Deuteronomy 31:7
4. Remember the ministry belongs to God; we are just the caretakers. So praise him.
How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Psalm 116:12-14
5. Let Go and Let God
Please understand that things will change. Don't expect things to stay the same with the ministry; when God brings change, it is good. If the ministry belongs to God, it is up to God to determine what he will do with that ministry. I would like to leave you with this last thought to encourage your heart and keep you moving forward.
6. Get excited about what God has for you next!!!
Shirley Moses is an author, Women’s Ministry Team Advisor at Hagerman Baptist Church in Sherman, Texas, and the Women's Ministry Consultant Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, retiring at the end of this year. She also serves currently as a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier, helping train women’s ministry leaders across the country. Shirley contributed to our leadership book, Transformed Lives: Taking Women's Ministry to the Next Level and is co-author of Heart Friends: Beginning and Maintaining a Small Accountability Group
