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Mothers have basic needs unique to their stage of life. Help mothers in your women's ministry recognize their needs and see that each one can be ultimately satisfied by Christ:
1. Significance: "Sometimes I wonder if mothering matters."
Moms need to know their role has value and makes a difference in the lives of their children. But ultimately, they need to realize that their work as a mom will never be enough to earn the consistent significance they're looking for - God alone provides true purpose and significance.
2. Identity: "Sometimes I'm not sure who I am."
Because mothers' attention is focused primarily on their children, they may feel they've lost touch with who they are. But when they see themselves as God sees them, they can drop the burden of feeling they aren't good enough and focus on being all God created them to be.
3. Growth: "Sometimes I long to develop who I am."
Mothers often convince themselves that now is the time for them to nurture their children and they must put their own lives on hold. But they are better moms when they find time and energy to keep themselves as well as their kids growing.
4. Intimacy: "Sometimes I long to be understood."
Intimacy in relationships can't be put on hold while kids grow, even though relationships must adapt. Moms need to pursue intimacy in their marriages, friendships, and with God.
5. Instruction: "Sometimes I don't know what to do."
Mothers aren't born knowing everything about mothering! They need information and practical wisdom regarding parenting, relationships, finances, personal development, and appropriate choices. As a women's leader, you can be a trustworthy provider of this help by pointing to Scripture for the truth and guidance they'll need.
Check out our newest event from LifeWay Women, dot mom. This event is for moms of every age! You won't want to miss the debut of this brand new conference in September 2011! Linda Anderson, author of Mom to Mom, will be teaching a breakout session at dot mom. Don't miss this!
Sometimes in a small church, we feel like we just can’ do lots of ministry like a big church. And you know what, that’s really true. In fact no church can just copy the ministry of another regardless of size. God uses all sized churches (80% or our churches across the country run under 200 on Sunday) to have huge impact for the Kingdom.
Guest blogger Deb Douglas has served in various sized churches, from very small to quite large. She knows what it is to do ministry in a small church. Enjoy her thoughts today as she shares how small churches can make a difference! Then refer Women Reaching Women which includes the chapter, Small Church Issues.
A little taste of chocolate can have a great big impact. So can a small church! Small churches face unique challenges, but there is also a unique purpose for each small church ministry. Each church and each women’s ministry has an opportunity to reach the women in their area of influence.
Here are some little tastes to get you thinking in a new way:
1. Redefine success.
Success is not how many people attend an event or study, but how each attendee’s life is transformed! Focus on changed lives instead of numbers! Join with other churches to host special events or weekly Bible studies. Note: Check with your pastor before entering into a partnership with another church. Remember he is the shepherd God has placed over your church!
2. Focus on what you do well.
All women’s ministries have one thing they do exceptionally well. What are you doing well? Spend your energy on that ministry. Ministries do not have to compete with other churches for the number of programs or events! Focus on what God has gifted your ministry to do well. One size does not fit all and that is a good thing!
3. Seek out opportunities to impact your community in big ways.
Look for ministry needs your women can meet. Show the love of Christ by meeting those needs.
· Give out free water at ball tournaments or county fairs.
· Rake leaves for homebound persons.
· Make quilts for a homeless shelter.
· Lead Bible studies in assisted living communities.
· Concentrate on making women feel like family by inviting them to join in the preparation for events.
4. Do things well.
A well put together ministry attracts others to join. You do not have to spend a lot of money to achieve excellence. Try these ministry stretchers:
· Have fund raisers.
· Hand-deliver invitations to events and Bible studies to add a personal touch to the invitation!
· Purchase decorations and paper products at clearance sales or outlets.
· Shop garage sales and second hand stores for decorations.
· Share your prettiest objects from home or borrow from others! Hint: Turn off the lights and use candles with mirrors to completely change the atmosphere of a less than perfect setting.
· Grow! Sounds simple doesn’t it? But growing the ministry is hard work. It requires being intentional in building relationships with women, a consistent effort, and dedication to reach women. Remember, ministry is hard work for all churches!
To encourage growth, provide incentives to your women who invite others to attend. Give a price break for Bible study members who bring a friend.
There are women everywhere desiring close relationships: a relationship with Christ and relationships with other women. They are waiting to be invited. Seek to discover how these women in your area can be reached. A small church environment can be welcoming and less threatening than a larger church for some women. Use the warm, cozy atmosphere as a plus!
One size does not fit all, a good thing? Yes! Embrace your uniqueness, your purpose, and your size!
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.
In Women Reaching Women we discuss the issue of possibly including in your ministry a dream team and how powerful this can be.
“Dream Team: This team, made up of women from all seasons of life, may only meet once or twice a year. It may be called the assessment or think-tank team. These women provide the stimulus to continue to look to the future for growth, change, and ministry development.” (women reaching women p. 112) The purpose is for innovation and change to keep the ministry fresh.
Stephanie Edge, Director of Women’s Ministry, Poplar Heights Baptist Church, Jackson, TN and an Associate Professor at Union University in Jackson, TN., is our guest blogger today. Keep reading to hear about Stephanie's experiences with a dream team.Anyone who has ever achieved excellence or greatness started with a dream. Do you know God’s dream for your women’s ministry? Does your women’s ministry need to be refreshed with a new vision? Consider gathering a group of women to help you dream His dream for your women.
What is the function of a dream team?
• To brainstorm a variety of ideas
• To think creatively
• To access and discover the needs of the women
• To tap into the resources of your women’s ministry
• To give direction to the women’s ministry team
• “To focus on emerging trends and patterns and determine how these will affect ministry.”—Julie Woodruff, Women’s Minister, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tenn.
Fresh Ideas
Here are some fresh ideas from the Dream Team at Long Hollow Baptist Church (link) in Hendersonville, Tenn. Consider incorporating these in your ministry.
It’s All in a Name: Identity Matters
Does your ministry have a name or perhaps need a new one? Take the time to christen your women’s ministry. Women need to belong. By simply naming your ministry, you can cultivate a sense of belonging and identity. Women will want to participate.
Watch Your Language: The Power of Inclusiveness
Communication is key. What message are you sending about your ministry? Are your activities open to all? Are you effectively communicating this availability? Make sure you are not excluding women by the very language you use. Be creative, be inclusive, and watch your ministry grow.
Look Around: Learn from the Culture
In today’s culture, we can find helpful insights for ministering to women. Check out the latest magazines, television commercials, Web sites, advertisements, and fashion trends. Great ideas for marketing and events abound. Take advantage of these resources.
God desires your ministry to be a ministry of excellence. Dare to dream God’s dream for your women’s ministry and allow Him the opportunity to make this dream become a reality. The future is bright!
“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.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, HCSB)
Women Reaching 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.
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The issue in this blog post today is one we all have and maybe are dealing with as women’s leaders: getting women to do more than attend something to life change and “doing” something with what they are learning. Read today’s post to see what one church did. Today’s guest blogger is Rachel Lovingood, author of In Our Shoes, as well as a minister's wife and ministry leader at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN. Check out Rachel's personal blog here.
Do you ever look around your women’s ministry and wonder why it seems the same? Why the same ladies are doing Bible Study, going to events and living the same way?? This is a common issue in churches around the country and there are probably lots of good answers and reasons why this happens. Women are creatures of habit. We like to control our environments and keep things manageable. The problem with that kind of thinking is that it eliminates the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst.
If we want to keep things the same and stay manageable then keep on doing the same things we’ve always been doing. BUT (there’s always a big but somewhere) if you want to shake things up. Get women out of their comfort zones and start seeing transformed lives then maybe it’s time to do things a little differently.
At our last women’s event (which we made open to other churches) we invited our speaker to teach on Biblical womanhood and then we challenged all the ladies present to share their faith for 21 days. Biblical womanhood and evangelism. Really? That’s 2 kinds of tough subjects. They aren’t very touchy feely and there was more conviction than pats on the back BUT from that time forward we have seen more excitement and energy in our women. Ladies have been coming up to me at church to tell me about the last person they were talking to about Jesus and who they are looking to share with next. That’s exciting.
I want to suggest that instead of avoiding teaching on the hard truths that when we, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, teach Truth, women will eat it up. They recognize it for what it is and they want more of it. Challenging women to live differently then giving them resources to help them will yield life change.
One of the greatest reasons why we see our women returning to the same lifestyle even after strong conviction is that they have no idea how to put that truth to work in their lives. It’s our job to help them see how their faith connects with their everyday lives. As part of our 21 day challenge we created a devotional journal that they could use as a tool. Something to keep them moving toward the goal.
It’s time to start raising the bar for ourselves and for our women. The world is after them like never before. Why should we sit back and accept the same old status quo kind of faith? Our God is bigger than that. Let’s believe Him for what He says He will do!!!
Rachel is the Next Generation Pastor’s wife and a women’s leader at Long Hollow Baptist Church,Hendersonville, Tennessee, as well as a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She co-authored the Bible study for ministers’ wives, In Our Shoes: Real Life Issues for Ministers’ Wives by Ministers’ Wives. She uses her passion for Christ, her energetic style and her sometimes crazy sense of humor to encourage and teach women to find the answers they need from the only true source of wisdom—the Bible. She is a wife (of a minister), a mom (of three fantastic kids), a friend, a writer, and a teacher. Her experiences working in youth ministry as well as women’s ministry in various churches across the country have developed in her a deep love for women and a mission to help enable them to live victoriously in spite of the struggles they face.
Now's the time for summer planning for the women of your church. Instead of scaling back or taking the summer off, consider experimenting with a fresh and flexible schedule that accommodates the often-sporadic pace of summer.Where Do I Start?
For the summer, the most important thing to consider is how much time you should plan for realistically. Here's a simple formula to jump-start your planning:
· Add the number of weeks between the end of school and when teachers return to school in the fall.
· Subtract the week of Vacation Bible School (or any other similar church-wide activities that might compete for church members' time). Remember, you want to support other ministries, not compete.
· The remaining weeks equal the time you have for your summer scheduling options. You'll probably discover six to seven weeks available for women's ministry planning.
Once you have a time frame in mind, consider the following three areas as you plan women's ministry activities:
· Bible study, Recreation, Ministry
1. Reach new groups of women.
Home-schooling moms, school teachers, and school support staff are three groups of women who especially enjoy having access to Bible study opportunities during the summer months. By making special efforts to reach out to this group with a study that fits their schedule, you'll build bridges and help them feel just as valued as women participating in fall or spring studies.
2. Consider a drop-in approach.
For ladies who typically enjoy an in-depth study, try different approach. Crazy summer schedules often call for a more open and flexible study, so check out some lighter studies that can work in a "drop-in" format. Bible Studies By Demand, for Women - Vol 1 and Bible Studies by Demand for Women DVDs - Vol. 2 or vol. 3 are great options.
3. Try shorter formats.
If your women's study groups typically commit to one study for an entire semester, check out four- and six-week study options: Bible studies for women . There are some shorter studies which are a great way to try something different while still providing discipleship time for these ladies.
4. Encourage home studies.
As another summer Bible study option, you might encourage women to "check out" studies from the church to lead a small group for their friends and neighbors in their homes. Home Bible studies are a great way to build seeker-sensitive relationships with others in the community, and God can use these home-based groups to help women plug into your local church.
5. Host "play days."
Backyard picnics, city parks, and backyard pools provide a sampling of inexpensive ways moms with young children can get-out-of-the-house and spend time with Christian friends. All it takes is someone to schedule and publicize the event.
6. Wrap up the summer or kick off the fall with a banquet.
By August, an organized gathering like a banquet with a focus of fun and laughter heralds the end of summer. It also provides a great opportunity to preview upcoming fall activities in your women's ministry.
7. Organize a retreat or campout.
Consider a mother/daughter retreat or campout. You won't have to compete with school activities, and mom gets to spend one-on-one time with her daughter and her own friends. An easy retreat is now available with Loving Well: Retreat in a Box by Beth Moore . It includes everything you need to plan and conduct a retreat.
8. Welcome women to the community with a coffee.
According to the real estate industry, summer is the most popular time for families to relocate. It's also a good time to offer a "newcomer coffee" for women new to the community. Leaving behind old friends is one of the greatest stressors of a move, and most women welcome a chance to make new ones. Since the summer season is a common time for mission trips and all types of community ministry to take place, why not take advantage of it? Here are four ways to get your ladies involved in ministry and outreach this summer:
9. Lend a helping hand in your church and/or community.
With the help of your ministry/missions committee or other leaders in your church, find out if a local Habitat for Humanity home could use some construction help. It's a great opportunity to organize work day for your women and express God's love to the community. Also, check within your church for individuals who have special needs around their home that they can't tend to themselves. Painting, cleaning, yard work, or just an old-fashioned sing-along at the home of a shut-in would provide a wonderful opportunity for women to work in groups as small as two or three. Be sure to take digital pictures and share them to promote future work days. In addition to helping out around the community, think about hosting a work day at church for women's ministry (or another ministry). Summer is a good time to clean out the women's ministry closet or decorate your meeting rooms – anything that would help welcome women when they return in the fall.
10. Perform the ever-popular "random acts of kindness."
Brainstorm an outreach using "random acts of kindness," such as delivering cookies to the fire or police department, free car-washes, or distributing bottled water at parks can be fun (and even better if you can stay anonymous!). When possible, leave cards with a message of God's love.
With a little creative planning, your women's ministry can use the summer days to disciple, evangelize, and touch the world with Christ's love.
4Groups- Build Great Groups for Great Growth Conference
