Stephanie Edge is our guest blogger today. What a challenge she gives each of us as leaders of women. Stephanie Edge is the Director of Women’s Ministry, Poplar Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, TN and a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She is an Associate Professor at Union University in Jackson, TN. Stephanie graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. She also received an Advanced Women’s Ministry Certificate as well as completed a Th.M. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Christian Education. She has a passion for God’s Word and enjoys ministering to women.
 

You will be like me as you read this post from guest blogger, Stephanie Edge, and say AMEN to this eternal lesson she shares with us today...

"I will never forget one of the first lessons I learned in ministry: He is More than Enough!   
The amazing thing about God’s principles is that they are eternal.  The same ministry lesson I learned years ago still is applicable for today and I am reminded of it often. (Ps. 119:160, NIV)

Fifteen years ago, seven college students and I were invited to do a lock-in for youth at a local area church. The campus college ministry was starting anew and the students who were willing to tackle this opportunity were fresh out of their youth programs, but eager to serve and to make a difference. We literally stepped out in faith and prayer as our combined ministry experiences and abilities were minimal. The pastor of the youth came to speak to the college students the week prior to the lock-in. His message was timely and still resonates with me today. It was the story of the feeding of the 5,000. This miracle was actually recorded in all four gospels. (Mt. 14:17-21, Mk. 6:35-44, Lk. 9:13-17, Jn. 6:6-13)

The story is rather simple, but the results were extraordinary. Jesus, once again having compassion on the crowds, was found teaching and healing those in need. The disciples who had witnessed what Jesus had said and done approached Him with a very practical need. It was getting late and the people would need something to eat. However, Jesus responded shockingly – “You give them something to eat.” (Mt. 14:16) After a brief reality check, the disciples answered, “But we only have five loaves and two fish here.” (Mt. 14:17) The disciples surveyed their assets and were quick to acknowledge their lack.

However, they failed to consider Christ’s sufficiency. “Bring them here to Me,” He said. (Mt. 14:18) Jesus then took what they had (five loaves and two fish), blessed and broke them. He gave portions to the disciples who then served the crowd. The story concludes. “Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces! Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.” (Mt. 14:20-21)

The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 was not to be limited to that particular occasion, but rather serves as an eternal ministry principle.  You see, I witnessed the exact same type of miracle with those college students as we stepped out in faith to minister. Our stories were parallel. Just as Jesus took the little the disciples had, blessed it, and it became more than enough, we presented ourselves before Him and offered all that we had, mainly enthusiasm, and it was more than enough to meet the need at hand.

I have continued to witness Christ’s sufficiency as ministry opportunities have transitioned from youth and college students to women. I am still experiencing the same miracle today that was demonstrated in the feeding of the 5,000. We, as leaders, continually come before Him offering all that we have and are. Jesus takes that offering, although meager, raises it to the Father and blesses it, and it is more than enough. Actually, He is More than Enough!"

For further reflection, ponder these verses:

Jn. 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”
Eph. 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Other Helpful resources:

Believing God

Recently we hosted a summit for leaders who serve in our state convention offices (Southern Baptist). Selma Wilson, our vice-president and leader of B & H Publishing Group a division of LifeWay Christian Resources shared 10 valuable lessons with us about being women in ministry in a mostly male ministry world.  She has gained the respect not only of our leadership at LifeWay but across the Southern Baptist convention nationally. God has not only used her in powerful ways, but she has done it as a woman, and with grace that models leadership for us all.

This is part of a series of posts discussing these 10 points one at a time. You will be blessed as we all were when she shared them with us.  Again, here are all 10 points in a list.

1.    Be Yourself
2.    Prepare to Lead
3.    Love the People…Build the Team
4.    Respect the Past (People, History, & Work)
5.    Listen & Learn
6.    Find Your Leadership Voice ( And Use It!)
7.    Be Seen and Heard (Communicate, Communicate, Communicate)
8.    Submission & Leadership
9.    Humility & Leadership
10.    Perspective…It’s not About You!


Today we will look at #7: Be seen and heard

Have you ever said something over and over, then one day someone says, “I never knew about that?”  I remember when I was serving on a church staff that we would advertise something in everyway possible: church bulletin, church newsletter, posters, fliers. Believe it or not, those were the days before email, web sites, facebook and twitter! Now, I read everything I can get my hands on almost, and I always “wrote” in my daytimer (our iPad of the 80’s and 90’s) important dates and events. I thought everyone else did the same thing, but as I worked with women, I discovered for the first time that my spiritual gift of administration was one reason I was OCD about that kind of thing.

Additionally, we need to share the ministry impact with our team, the women in the church, and our supervisors…often and continually.  Selma reminded us to give reports of our work even if no one is asking about it. Find a way to communicate in every form possible. One medium is not sufficient. You must use multiple mediums to make sure your message is heard. Those we lead and serve under need to see how God is working in our ministries…what HE is up to and how lives are being changed.

In what creative ways do you communicate what’s going on in your ministry? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
 

Other helpful Resources:

Jesus on Leadership, Gene Wilkes

Mixed Ministry: Working Together as  Brothers and Sisters in an Oversexed Society, Edwards, Mathews, & Rogers

Women Reaching Women

Transformed Lives

Today our guest blogger is Debbie Stuart, Women's Ministry director at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX.

You will be encouraged as you read what Debbie has to say about the hard pathways we all experience in our walk with Christ...

Today’s post is written by guest blogger, Debbie Stuart. Women’s Ministry Director, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX and is a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She earned her Women's Ministry Advanced Certificate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary   and is a member of the Association of Women’s Ministry Professionals . In addition to being a conference and retreat speaker and Bible study teacher, she was the founder and director of Network Extravaganza in the Shreveport, Louisiana area. She is married and has two young adults.

Guest blogger Sheila West will truly challenge all of us as leaders with this very insightful post. Read prayerfully!

"It was one of those days. We all have them.  The demands of the day were greater than the time or energy that I possessed. As I backed out of the driveway I found myself crying out to the Father in utter desperation:  “I really need your help! I can’t do everything I have to do all by myself.” Instantly, I was taken aback by the accuracy of my statement.  I desperately needed the Father to hold my fragmented life together: relational demands, business challenges, and ministry opportunities.  And yet a few minutes ago, I didn’t have the time to give Him my undivided attention.  

The memory of the morning did an instant replay through my mind. It began with my daily “quiet time” that was anything but quiet. I had no more than sat down with a Bible, pen, and life journal in hand than I heard the buzzer on the washer calling me. I had been so efficient getting a load of clothes started before coming to my “Dwelling Place” (the place I stop the busyness of life to be with the Father – or so it should be).  I started to get up and change the clothes when I had a check in my spirit.  Racing through my mind were times I sensed the Father calling me to come to Him and yet I had ignored the “beep” because things had to be done. Rethinking priorities, I sat back down.
After a few short minutes, I thought about something I needed to do for a ministry project. Efficiently not wanting to forget, I jumped up and headed straight for the computer.  Once again, I sensed a check in my spirit as if the Father were saying    “Do I have to be a project to get such a sense of urgency out of you?” 

At that moment, the reality hit me between the eyes that I was taking multi-tasking to a new level.  I was actually multi-tasking with God. My moments with the Master were no longer the quiet time of undivided devotion but crammed into the middle of other competing demands. While sitting with Him, I was jumping ahead to the day’s problems and my plans. In my attempts to get things done, I was trying to cram in my time between buzzers, meetings, or text messages.  To cap it off, I was even multi-tasking my listening. I often flip-flopped from listening for a personal Word from the Lord to forming a teaching plan.  

I began thinking how much I was missing out on by not spending time in wholehearted devotions with the Master.  “Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You. Psalms 143:8 (HCSB) is the real desire of my heart.  And I am sure many of you long for the same thing.

So, I’ve been thinking, “What radical life-changes could happen if…?”  What if multi-tasking gurus became willing to resist the tendency to default to multi-tasking with God?  If you are one, you know what I mean.  It is powerful to pray and walk, to ride and sing praise songs, to listen to the Word in the car, to have ongoing conversations with God all day long.  But there is more!  I’m just saying,  what if this year became filled with more of those sweet, sweet moments with just you and the Master, all alone in a quiet place? What if you linger there long enough for His thoughts on specific issues to become your thoughts?  What if single-minded moments sent you away wrapped up in the reality of His faithful love?  What if your time with Him gives you the faith to trust Him more and more for the events of the day?  Would there be more peace in the midst of the busyness?  More power for practically applying God’s Truths? More discernment for setting our agendas? More faith in the face of adversity?

All I’m saying is, “I’ve been thinking, what if…?”

Sheila West has been involved in Women's ministry for over 25 years, serving as Director of Women's Ministry for over 20 years in the local church. She is presently on the Leadership Team for Heritage Community Church, in Lady Lake, Florida, including coordinating women's ministry. She is the founder of Real Living Ministries, a speaking, teaching, and leadership development ministry to women. Sheila has appeared on numerous Christian radio and television broadcasts, including The 700 Club, and 100 Huntley Street. She is the author of Beyond Chaos, published by NavPress, and is a LifeWay Ministry      Multiplier. She and her husband, John, are the parents of two, and the proud grandparents of eight.

This true story from our guest blogger Linda Lesniewski.

Linda Lesniewski is the Women's Minister at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas and the mother of four young adults and grandmother of four little girls. She is a contributor to the book Transformed Lives: Taking Women's Ministry to the Next Level published by LifeWay. She has authored A Little Book About Knowing A Big God for children, Women at the Cross, published by Revell, and Connecting Women: A Relational Guide for Leaders in Women's Ministry, published by Baker Books.

 "I had a life changing and ministry changing experience almost a decade ago. It resulted from a mission trip to a third world country. My assignment sent me to the home of a pastor and his wife. Within a short time I realized the pastor's wife was experiencing a personal crisis. With patience, prayer, and the assistance of an interpreter, I learned that she believed she was dying and no one would tell her. The doctors told her she was well even though she didn’t feel well. I soon discovered she'd had a hysterectomy and had received no information or hormonal support for the resulting menopausal symptoms.

This pastor’s wife struggled with the responsibilities of leading the women of the church as well as the children’s missions program,  while coping with these symptoms and depression. Her only resources were her faith and a small worn Bible. She considered even a pencil or a piece of paper a luxury. In addition, her feet ached with bunions yet she and her husband regularly walked to visit church members in her only pair of shoes—shoes with hard soles and heels. The old scooter they owned needed repairs, but they had no funds.
 
On the flight home I felt guilty about the abundance of resources I had access to for ministry. I also pointed out to the Lord this woman’s plight and the challenges she faced as she ministered. I told the Lord how unfair it all was. I had shelves of Bibles, internet access, a car, DVD's for leadership equipping, a budget for ministry, training opportunities, medical resources for personal health....
 
It was then God interrupted my complaining with a gripping directive from His Word, a principle from Luke that I knew but hadn’t applied to my own life or ministry, Much will be required of everyone who has been given much (Luke 12:48)HCSB. This dear woman was only accountable to God for the resources He’d entrusted to her. But the same principle was also true for me. Within moments, I reversed my whining. "Lord, that's not fair either! I didn't ask to be born in a prosperous country or to have access to educational opportunities and ministry resources.” The concept of God entrusting me with these things and the responsibility of stewarding all He had entrusted to me burned into my mind and heart as I saw myself standing before the throne of God giving account of how I had used them. I sat quietly the rest of the flight home. And, I've lived much more intentionally since that trip. I’ve strived to be more aware of everything at my disposal and to look for ways to multiply its effectiveness.

What resource has God entrusted to you that you haven’t yet utilized? What opportunities have you passed over? Do you have talents or skill sets you haven’t developed? When each of us expands the traditional concept of financial stewardship to every resource God has made available to us, how we see and do ministry will be forever changed!"