Resource Guide for Women's Ministry

Linda McGinn Waterman

• Publisher: B&H Books
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9780805431872
• eBook ISBN: 9781433674525
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

Many Christian women have a deep desire to share Christ's joy in large and small ways. What is the best way to do this, considering the onslaught of busy schedules and individual needs?Resource Guide for Women's Ministry provides a wealth of information on the types of creative ministries available today plus advice on how to insert into bhp_description_import Select the ones that best suit each woman's talents and time. Linda McGinn Waterman will help Christian women to identify their spiritual gifts, talents, and skills and use them to fulfill their own lives and the ministry of the church.

Chapter 1

PERSONAL INVENTORY AND PREPARATIONS

HAVE YOU BEEN ASKED to plan a program for the women in your church? Has your youngest child left to begin kindergarten, and you are asking the Lord how he wants you to use these free hours? Are you singled out by others for leadership even though you try to stay “behind the scenes"? God may be encouraging you to step out in new areas of your life, perhaps to develop a specific ministry chosen by God for you alone.

As you consider this possibility, you may be asking yourself, “Am I ready?” You may wonder, How can anyone prepare to do the work of God? Yet the dictionary defines ministry as “the act of ministering or serving.” By daily serving your family, friends, and community, you may be preparing yourself to respond to God's call.

Jesus is our greatest example of service. In Philippians 2:6-7 we are told that our attitudes should be shaped by Jesus Christ.

Who [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness.

What were the qualities Jesus displayed? In Philippians 2:3-4 we read, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Few of us feel qualified or worthy to lead others. Because we are acutely aware of our own inadequacies, we feel someone else could do a better job. However, through the unique experiences, circumstances, and events of our lives, God has equipped us to minister to others. And thankfully, by his Spirit living in us, he uses us as his instruments to personally complete his work. We are not left alone.

As Beth Knighton stated, “Anyone who has a need that God has equipped me to meet is my neighbor.” This is true. Does that mean we are to try to meet the needs of every person we meet? That would be impossible. When God reveals a person's need to us, he will give us either the ability to meet it or the insight to contact another person who is capable of meeting that specific need. A friend may come to me about financial problems, and I may not have the resources to help. But I may recommend another believer who has the expertise, or I may call on the local church body for help.

Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27), so the privilege of ministry is ours. You may wonder how God prepares us for ministry. Our ability may come through difficult life experiences. Have you been through a crisis with a teenager? Have you overcome financial struggles? Do you remember how you handled the busy hours of young motherhood or the loneliness of widowhood? God comforts and teaches us during these difficult periods of life so that we can reach out and comfort others. We can praise God “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Cor. 1:4).

Many times we are equipped with a particular talent or skill for service that is different from others. I remember Myrna Alexander's testimony. A pastor's wife and author of several women's Bible study books, she spoke at a women's luncheon I attended and told the story of a woman named Emily.

Emily felt deeply hurt and frustrated because she thought she had no gift to offer God. One day she shared her distress with Myrna whose reply was simple. She turned to Emily and asked, “What do you really like to do?”

Emily paused to think for a moment before answering, “Sewing, I guess. Sewing is one thing I really enjoy.”

Myrna smiled, “Then, Emily,” she said, “Sew. Sew for God's glory! Use this skill to minister to Christ's body, his church.”

Emily left Myrna's home that day and prayerfully considered the suggestion. Later a beaming Emily approached Myrna after a church service. “I am going to sew for Jesus!” she said, “I've invited several young mothers to meet with me each week. I plan to teac...

Table of contents

• Cover
• HalfTitle
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Notes