Leighann McCoy helps us get our year off to a great start with this encouraging message about what doesn’t change in women’s ministry. We have no idea what is ahead for us personally or for our women’s ministry in 2012 so it’s nice to know a few things about ministry to women that stays static!  Remember, outside these 3 things, there is lots of room for tweaking and even “chunking” elements of the way we’ve always done it!  Enjoy Leighann’s thoughts!

I don’t know about you, but as a women’s ministry leader I’ve spent the past few years reeling in what felt like a rip tide of change. I went to conferences where I heard that women are looking for authenticity and purpose. I read blog posts where they begged us to stop hosting our decorated banquets, and I sat in staff meetings where I was challenged to give up women’s Bible studies as I knew them so that we could simplify our programs.

I’ve never actually been in a rip tide, but I’ve studied the posters planted in the sand on Florida’s panhandle beaches. And according to their instructions the only way to survive a riptide is to “go with the flow” rather than fight against it to swim directly back to shore—you just swim with the current a bit until the force no longer pushes against you. Rip tides do not expand the entire width of the beach and eventually you will get beyond them and be able to make your way to shore without any resistance at all.

I swam with the tide of change for two years and just let the women’s ministry at my church carry on. But this past fall I discovered that I’d made it to the edge of my sanctified rip tide. As I set my feet on the soggy sand of the shore I realized that no matter what changes come in 2012, these three things will remain the same:

1.      Women will always need one another.

2.      Women will always find answers in God’s Word.

3.      Women will always love chocolate.

Women will always need one another. We’d stopped having our retreats three years ago. But as I was speaking to a small group of women gathered in the Zion National Park in Utah, I remembered why we used to have retreats. All over the room women were chatting in small groups of 2 and 3 and sharing their stories. They were connecting more than they ever would over a Styrofoam cup of coffee on a Sunday morning. Sharing soup and crackers Friday night and cut up bananas and oranges Saturday morning created an atmosphere where ministry took place. Women were sharing things they’d kept hidden for years. Others were confessing fears about their near and distant futures. God was working. I’m not saying that the only way to foster an atmosphere for women to connect is to host a retreat, but it’s a good way! As for me and my house…we’re having a retreat the first weekend of February in 2012.

Women will always find answers in God’s Word. We know how God speaks to us through His Word. But do the women we serve know what a treasure they have in the Word of God? Unfortunately for us, Bible study has been diluted to about 35 minutes on a Sunday morning with a teacher who studied 45 minutes Saturday night and delivers her insights to women she barely knows as they perch on cold metal chairs spread across the expanse of a white walled room.  In 2012 I am gathering 8 women in my home. Together we are going to work through the chronological study Bible so that we can have a comprehensive understanding of this amazing collection of books we call “God’s Word.” THEN, in 2013 each of those women will gather at least 5 women in their homes and do the same thing. In 2014 each of those 40 women will gather 5 and by 2015, 1000 women in the reach of our ministry will have read the Bible through in a year and have a personal experience with the Word of God.

Women will always love chocolate. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! He has given us all that we need to entice and encourage women to connect with one another and with Him. Many years ago when I wasn’t that terribly concerned with trends and statistics, I led our women’s ministry to host a chocolate buffet. We dressed to the hilt and served chocolate and encouraged the women at our church to connect with one another and to sign up for Bible studies. It worked, so we’re doing it again. I figure that if back then, when the only M&M candies we could serve were either plain or peanut, then surely now when we can serve plain, peanut, pretzel, cinnamon, coconut, peanut butter, dark and milk, then chocolate can still be one of our best women’s ministry friends.

I hope that you have plans to lead the women you love to connect with one another and with God’s Word in 2012. And I hope that you will savor some chocolate along the way.

Resources:

Chronological Bible Discipleship

Readers Guide to the Bible Chronological Reading Plan

Leighann is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the senior pastor's wife at Thompson Station Church, Thompson Station, Tennessee, a mother of three, a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier and a writer and speaker. Currently, she serves on staff at Thompson Station Church as the prayer and women's minister, and is a frequent speaker at women's events and prayer conferences. Throughout her ministry, she has served in several denominational positions relating to children and women's ministries. She is the author of nine books, most recently being Spiritual Warfare for Women, published by Bethany House. In addition to her website and personal blog, you can read more about her ministry here.

If you missed  this live informative web cast: Women's Ministry in Transition with women's ministry leaders Deb Douglas, Martha Lawley, Julie Woodruff, and LifeWay Women Event Project Coordinator Lauren Farmer on September 6th, you can still watch the live recording here.

Women's ministry is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of women in our culture. Gain insights into simplifying the framework of discipleship that leads to transformational ministry. Discuss the importance of assessing and encouraging spiritual growth as we prepare for Christ's return. Join Chris Adams, Pam Case and Paige Greene as they speak with some key women's leaders about learning to deal with transition in our culture and ministries with women.

      Guest blogger Debbie Stuart serves as Director of Women’s Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. As a leader for many years, she has seen ministry to women change often. Read her wise words about making change to benefit the lives of the women God brings into your life and ministry.       

When my family and I moved to a new home from a house we'd lived in for 10 years, it was quite a task! We had to decide what to pack, what needed cleaning, and what to throw away. On top of that, we had to make plans for things in our new home.

Just like my family had to do those things to move to our next house, ministry leaders should figuratively pack, clean, throw away, and plan in order to move forward in ministry.

Here are four steps to help you take your existing women's ministry to the next level:

Step One: Pack Up.

God undoubtedly wants you to "pack up" and take certain things with you to the next level of ministry with Him. In addition, you also need to make sure your personal and your leadership team's spirits are "packed full" with His Spirit so you can discern His leadership in your ministry.

The best way to do both these things is to spend time alone with God first, and then spend time with your team discussing what He's said regarding the ministry.

·  Arrange to get away for a set amount of time and give the Lord some undivided attention in regards to your women's ministry.

· Ask the hard questions: Will you still do whatever God asks of you in ministry? Are you still the leader He has chosen for this time in this ministry?

· Ask for insight. With a clean heart - and clean sheet of paper - ask the Lord to reveal to you His design and ideas for this specific ministry. Jot down what He brings to mind.

·Ask for passion. Recommit yourself to this service. Dedicate and devote everything you've got!

·Ask others: What's working? What would God have you keep as you learn to maximize the ministry? What are new ways your ministry can excel? What parts of the ministry are lacking and need some attention?

Step Two: Clean Up.

Carve out time with your team to clarify, recommit, define hopes and expectations, and so forth.

· Revisit each team member's commitment level and calling to this ministry on an individual basis. Ask her to share where she is, what she believes her present calling is, her input into making the ministry stronger, etc.

·Replace team members who cannot give or follow 100 percent. Based on your discussions and interaction with your leadership, determine if the make-up of the team may need to change. Pray for God's wisdom if a leader indicates she'd like to step down or if you believe a new leader is needed.

· Refuel spiritually by studying, praying, and talking together.

· Remind the team about God's vision for women's ministry.

· Renew your commitment to the Lord first and then to the team.

Step Three: Throw Away.

Whenever you move, you discover things you've kept but don't really need. Sometimes it's the same way in ministry. If it's not contributing toward the God-given vision for your ministry, it may need to be thrown away. Pray through changes that could be made.

· Take a hard look at what ministry offerings may not be what God has for your particular ministry. Ask the Lord if He wants you to leave those behind before moving on with Him.

· Some things are no-brainers for the trash pile! Get rid of any personal agendas, pride, or unconfessed sin. You and your team must commit to each other and to the cause of Christ first and foremost.

Step Four: Plan for the Future.

Now that you've packed up, cleaned up, and thrown some things away, can you envision your ministry operating on a new level? During this transition time, and as your ministry continues to grow and change, use these ideas to lay a foundation for the future God has in store:

· Communicate the additions/changes to the ministry. Give it a new look; ask questions; talk it up!

· Host a celebratory, motivational fellowship for all your ladies. Spend time explaining where the ministry is and where your team believes the Lord is leading you to go. Above all, remind them that each one of them is valued and needed.

· Raise the level of expectation. Don't be satisfied with status quo - expect big things from God! You and your team's level of enthusiasm about what God is doing will filter down to the ladies in your church.

· Think of ways to energize the women. In your ministry, try out something unexpected and different, and make it fun for your ladies. Putting a new twist on a "typical" women's ministry event or activity can bring a fresh excitement.

· Add a new ministry offering. As God leads, do something you've never done before - organize a mission project; try a new outreach event; the possibilities are endless!

· Design a fresh look for the ministry. Have a logo created. Get your newsletter redesigned. Use available display space in your church to put "faces" with the ministry through photos, testimonies, and more. Make the ministry visible among your church and your community.

· Survey women formally or informally about the ministry. Ask for insight, ideas, and input. You might also get ideas and good thoughts from other women's leaders in your area, Web sites, and so forth.

By taking these four key steps in your women's ministry, you'll be ready to move to the next level with God to reach women for Him.

 Debbie Stuart is Women’s Ministry Director, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX and a LifeWay Ministry Multiplier. She earned her Women's Ministry Advanced Certificate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary  and is a member of theAssociation 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.

Don’t miss this inspiring and informative web cast: Women’s Ministry in Transition with guest women’s ministry leaders Deb Douglas, Martha Lawley, Julie Woodruff, and LifeWay Women Event Project Coordinator Lauren Farmer on September 6, 12:00-1:00 PM Central Time. You will be able to send in questions to be addressed during the webcast.  Click here to register!

 Women's Ministry is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of women in our culture. Gain insights into simplifying the framework of discipleship that leads to transformational ministry.

Discuss the importance of assessing and encouraging spiritual growth as we prepare for Christ’s return. Join Chris Adams, Pam Case and Paige Greene as they  talk with some key women’s leaders as we deal with transition in our culture and ministries with women.

National Women's Leadership Forum

Jimmie Davis, is the director of girls’ ministry at First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, NC. She is also author of  Girls’ Ministry Handbook and Girls’ Ministry Idea Book. She has spent years working with girls and raising up leaders among the teen girls she has invested in. I will give you her top ten ideas and add some comment to each.

Listen to her thoughts about growing girls into godly women:

Today's postmodern teenage girls face a variety of issues and pressures from the world, but how are churches influencing them to become godly women? Women's and youth leaders are stepping up to the plate to address that need through girls' ministry. Girls' enrichment ministry is an intentional and organized method to spiritually transform the lives of teenage girls, moving them from large open groups to smaller closed groups, while equipping them to be godly women. Many times it's couched as a sub-ministry under student ministry, women's ministry, or both.

Girls' ministry is a proactive way to instill godly values in young women while addressing the needs and issues they are facing. It can also be seen as a preventative type of ministry. When girls establish their identities and values on God's Word as teens, they are well on their way to becoming godly women and avoiding the pitfalls (and consequences) so many of their peers may fall into as adults.

Before you consider expanding your church's women's ministry to include a girls' ministry, look at the needs of today's postmodern teenage girls:

1. Self-Image
Girls today are prone to low self-esteem. Some are pressured into promiscuity and alcohol or drug use. Many find themselves dealing with eating disorders, self-mutilation, pregnancy, unhealthy Internet relationships, even confusion over sexual orientation.

2. Decision-Making
Teenage girls need to learn how to make wise decisions as they become women. Much of women's ministry today is crisis intervention. Many crises are brought on by unwise decisions made during the teenage and college years. Girls are maturing earlier, being exposed to temptations earlier, and losing their innocence earlier than in past generations; therefore, we must reach them for Christ earlier.

3. Application of Scripture
Girls need to know the truth of God's Word and how it applies to their lives as women. By impressing on them the importance of reading, studying, memorizing, and applying God's Word to their lives at a young age, you will help them move along the path to becoming a godly woman.

While these three aren't exhaustive of all the needs of girls, many can be traced back to these essentials. Girls' ministry may also provide for these other needs:
·    close-knit relationships with other girls,
·    female role models,
·    validation of feelings,
·    affirmation,
·    awareness of hormonal issues,
·    emotional security,
·    physical security,
·    understanding of the male mind,
·    acceptance,
·    genuine love,
·    boundaries, and
·    help in working through problems (such as abuse, eating disorders, unwanted pregnancy, and STDs).

As you pray about how your church might reach teenage girls, take time to talk to other youth and women's leaders. Research trends and habits among teenage girls. Ask God to show you how He'd have you proceed, whether that means simply organizing a youth girls' event or if it means launching a full-blown ministry. With God paving the way, a girls' ministry can be a powerful tool in His Kingdom.

 

Other Helpful resources for Girls’ Ministry:

LifeWay Girls Ministry Blog

Girls' Ministry Web Course

 You and Your Girl Events

Check out these two new books:

Table for Two

 True Princess