Fresh Ideas For Women's Ministry

Creative Plans and Programs that Really Work!

Diana Davis

• Publisher: B&H Books
• Year: 2008
• Print ISBN: 9780805447231
• eBook ISBN: 9780805463958
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

Picture this: women of all ages arriving in droves to the church building, excited that their weekly ministry together is about to begin. Syndicated columnist and pastor's wife Diana Davis knows this can happen wherever the women's ministry program is purposeful, of top quality, and fresh. Fresh Ideas for Women's Ministry compiles her enthusiastic knowledge of church organization to help others with creating and sustaining a vibrant, outward-focused ladies' program. Part resource book, part planning tool, it all adds up to a proven plan that joyfully blends discipleship, missions, fellowship, and special events with an emphasis upon hands-on ministry.

CHAPTER 1

In the Beginning

I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's
heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 3:14

My charming little Granny had the funniest sayings. In her high-pitched voice, she'd chirp, “You girls are like two peas in a pod,” or, “Don't bite off more than you can chew.” I can almost see her now, leaning out the back-porch door, hollering, “Hold your horses, honey!” She would draw out the word hold as if it had three syllables.

I'd be tearing out across the yard to go feed her chickens, and she'd say, “Hold your horses, honey. Grab the chicken feed first.” Or I'd be racing out the door, and she'd say, “Hold your horses, Diana. You forgot your bag.”

Sometimes, even today, I'll just get ahead of myself, jumping out ahead of the appropriate action. Oh, it's with the best of intentions. But jumping into deep water without thinking first can sometimes be disastrous, can't it?

You know there's a need for a quality women's ministry program at your church. You're sure that God has given you this desire for a good reason. And you're ready to jump in with both feet. But before you leap without looking, let me just say the words: Hold your horses, honey!

Now, all the good stuff is coming up in the next few chapters, all the planning and details and purposeful excitement. But first, take a look at your current situation. Visit with your pastor. Consider the goals of your women's ministry. The seemingly small details are strategic in setting the course ahead.

Where Are We?

Where Are We?

It's just a fact. You need to know where you are before you can know where you're going. This chapter will help you with a self-analysis of your church's current women's program to determine a starting point.

You'll read three short stories about three different churches. The names have been changed to protect the innocent. (Kidding!) As you contemplate the stories, determine which most resembles your church.

Example 1 Genesis Community Church has no iota of a women's ministry. They have a ladies' Sunday school class, but no weekday organization is planned specifically for women. No retreats or luncheons or weekday study groups. No occasional women's conferences or annual events. Ginny is a longtime church member, but lately she's been thinking about a need she'd never noticed before. Wouldn't it be great to begin a women's ministry? If this isn't your church, go directly to example 2. If it sounds familiar, keep reading.

If your church has no activities designed specifically for women, you're at the “Genesis” stage. If you, like Ginny, have been prompted by God to make a plan to reach women in your church and community, this book is for you. Every page will apply to your church! Go directly to page 14 and carefully, prayerfully read every word of this book.

Example 2 Bethel Baptist has several opportunities for women, but Becky observes that most women just ignore the announcements about them. There are a couple of sporadic Bible study groups and a small aerobics class. There's a missions group consisting of a few elderly saints. An annual mother-daughter banquet was once well attended but seems to have fizzled. Becky loves her church, but she longs for regular Christian fellowship with other women. She's a busy young mother, but she would like to have a weekly program for women at her church where she would see women of all ages, grow as a Christian woman, and maybe even do something purposeful. If this isn't your church, go directly to example 3. If it sounds familiar, keep reading.

Perhaps it's time to bring those disconcerted fragments of women's ministry together and begin afresh. By lovingly and prayerfully bringing existing groups together, their effectiveness may be enhanced. By unifying and adding benefit, individual groups may revive. You may decide to stop what you're doing and take a few weeks' break while you pray, plan, set goals, and start anew with a bang!

For example, when we began LIGHT, a previously existing Bible study group of middle-aged women was wary of changing their meeting day to join other groups. They finally agreed to give it a try. Their group grew immediately, and those ladies became involved in ministry teams, luncheons, and group projects. The change of meeting day had seemed overwhelming at first, but every member of the group was delighted with the results.

Another example: Two women in our church had visited homebound members for years, and they were ready for help. They expertly led the homebound ministry team to become one of our most effective groups. A missions group had dwindled to single-digit attendance, but by offering their quality program during the fellowship class hour, women of all ages joined them. Their group grew, and attendance exceeded the largest in their history.

Learning to “join hands” may be slightly uncomfortable at first. But the unity and multiplication is worth the effort.

Example 3 Women at Hope Bible Church love their women's ministry group. It's well attended, purposeful, and exciting. But, as wise leaders always do, Hannah and her leadership team are on the lookout for ways to improve their excellent program. Perhaps they need to upgrade promotional planning. Maybe they've become just a little self-centered and need to focus outward. Or maybe they're just looking for a few improvement tips for their group. This is the book for you, Hannah. You and your team will probably enjoy the ideas more than all the others. Scour these pages. Ignore the parts you don't like and implement the ideas that fit Hope Church. There's always room for improvement.

Story time's over. Do any of these examples sound familiar? You've taken a realistic look at your current situation. Begin right now to pray and seek wisdom and discernment from God. If you feel that God is leading you to help begin or improve a women's ministry in your church, proceed to the next chapter.

What's Best?

Bible studies?           Fellowship?       

Ministry teams?        Outreach events?

Missions?

Answer: Why not do it all?

CHAPTER 2

Begin with the Pastor

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.

—Hebrews 13:17

Women's ministry is exactly that, a ministry of your church. It is not a parachurch organization or a church unto itself or a country club for the girls. Because it is a ministry of your church, a right relationship between the pastor and the women's ministry group is imperative.

Think about it: a necessary attribute of any leader is the ability to work under proper authority. God has anointed your pastor as the leader of your church, so if God has called you to help lead your church's women's ministry program, it is essential that you joyfully line up under his leadership. God is not the author of confusion. So before you gather a group of participants, before you tell everyone you know about your plans, before you begin to set the direction and goal, visit with your pastor.

Make an appointment to meet during the pastor's office hours. Avoid Monday because most pastors are exhausted from Sunday's activities. When you make the appointment, ask for half an hour of his time and state the purpose of your meeting: “I'd like to ask your opinion about the possibility of beginning a women's ministry program in our church.” Drop a copy of this book by his office along with a brief note to confirm the appointment time.

Prepare for your meeting with the pastor as if everything depends on it. It does! Read everything you can find about women's ministry. Keep a notebook of ideas. Begin a folder for statistics about your church and community, success stories from other churches, and clippings that may apply to your circumstances.

Arrive exactly on ...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Authors
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Acknowledgments
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15
• Chapter 16
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Appendix 3
• Appendix 4
• Appendix 5
• Appendix 6
• Appendix 7
• Resources
• About the Author