Fresh Ideas: Adding the ‘M’ to women’s ministry
By Diana Davis
It’s an untapped resource in many churches. A vibrant, upward-and-outward-focused women’s ministry can positively impact a church’s growth and health. Is your church ready to begin or improve a women’s ministry? Need some fresh ideas?
Your church is unique. Your women’s ministry must be tailor-made to fit your mission field. It may meet weekly or monthly, mornings or evenings. Whatever the method and whenever you meet, it’s permeated with missions, hands-on ministry, fellowship, growth and evangelism. It’s fast-paced, fun, and worth her time.
For example, we called our women’s ministry LIGHT, an acronym for Ladies Intentionally Going, Helping, Touching. The daytime program met for two hours each Thursday morning. The first hour offers a choice of quality classes, such as Bible study, Women on Mission, book reviews, support groups or crafts. After classes, all groups come together for a coffee fellowship, and then ladies leave the church with their ministry team, infiltrating the community to share Jesus with newcomers, homebound, hospitalized, benevolence projects, outreach, etc. Our Night-LIGHT met monthly with a condensed version of that schedule. We had special events and outreach-focused quarterly luncheons, too.
Allow me to share five simple organizational secrets to get you started:
Secret #5: Plan a One-Year Calendar. An annual marathon planning meeting allows your leadership team to strategize dates and goals for an entire year. Annual planning dramatically enhances effectiveness.
Secret #4: Memorable Kickoff Event. Ladies gather en masse for the event of the year! Expend major effort to plan a fun, top-quality kickoff to create anticipation and set the stage for a successful, fruitful year of women’s ministry.
Secret #3: Broaden the Circle. The focus stays the same, but fresh additions are made each year—some new leaders emerge, new ministries, new Bible topics and teachers and participants, new events and projects. Got the picture? Stay fresh.
Secret #2: Begin with the Pastor. It’s not a para-church organization; it’s a ministry of your church. God will honor your women’s ministry as they follow the leadership of your pastor.
Secret #1: Focus Upward and Outward. A great women’s ministry incorporates spiritual growth, mentoring friendships, hands-on ministry opportunities, missions education and action, and evangelism. Instead of a “me” mentality, it produces a “go ye” mentality. Women’s ministry works. Literally.
A quality women’s ministry will impact your church, your community and your world for Christ. Women’s ministry must include ministry. Don’t leave M out of your WM.
©Fresh Ideas. Looking for more women’s ministry tips? Check out Diana’s newest book, Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry (B&H) to be released June 1. There will be a book signing at the Southern Baptist Convention LifeWay bookstore and New Hope bookstore.
Diana Davis is the wife of the Indiana Baptist Convention Executive Director. For more, visit online at www.keeponshining.com.
