Comments on: The Unseen Reasons Women Skip Ministry Events and How to Address Them

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:44:39 +0000

In reply to Amy. Amy, I appreciate your comments and I agree. If you follow the link to another post on childcare you'll see that I do mention the need to follow church and state guidelines. I coordinated childcare for our mom's group at church and I understand the necessity for background checks, childcare ratios, etc. Thanks for that reminder!

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 19:33:49 +0000

In response to the childcare comment. I have seen this suggested a lot and on many forums. However, I am extremely curious as a former childcare worker if we are accurately considering the all of rules and regulations truly involved in offering this service when this is made as a CONSTANT recommendation for women’s ministry. Believe me I understand the reasoning. However, unless a church has a large financial backing to invest in paying for this (volunteers, background checks, insurance) and or the membership to have volunteers to at least reduce the cost of paying for it, it becomes a huge burden not to mention the all of the management involved in it. Either that or we as Christians are simply ignoring all of the those regulations. I know in the past we would have and just had a teen or another mom watch a slew of kids. However, I would strongly caution against recommending this. A church as an organization can be financially liable and in a worst case scenario have their non-profit status revoked in the case of an accident or an accusation. Our childcare teams ALWAYS followed all state and county regulations with regards to all of our children’s ministry programs on our properties. In our state, no one under the age of 18 is allowed to watch anyone under the age of 2 for example. Basic background checks are mandatory, two people are mandatory at all times and men are not allowed to sponsor or teach on their own without a female. It makes CIY trips and mission trips difficult if we can’t find a mom for a week. Therefore, I schedule all of my events on a Saturday and I don’t do overnights so to make childcare easier on my ladies because I do not offer it at all. My church is too small and our funding has been tight since COVID. I really hope when we recommend or pursue childcare, we do so with a word of warning. Childcare needs to be responsible childcare. Research it, follow all state and local rules. This is unfortunately one of those areas the devil is using to attack the church and take advantage.

By: Barb

Barb — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:51:32 +0000

In reply to Cyndee Ownbey. I have expressed my concern.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:15:36 +0000

In reply to Barb B. Barb, I can understand your hesitation. I would be concerned too. Maybe there a testimony shared about the power of prayer? I'd encourage you to talk with the women on the leadership team. They need to be aware how their publicity was perceived. If they are taking scripture out of context, they need wise women in the church to come alongside them.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:13:38 +0000

In reply to Laurie L.

Hi Laurie, thanks for joining the conversation. Please see my response above.

Also, I’d like to understand why your women’s ministry events are aimed at a specific group of women and not all of the women in your church.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:12:33 +0000

In reply to Happy Gal.

Happy Gal, thank you for taking the time to comment. I think you may misunderstand the intent of this post. I am not implying that women are required to come to every women’s ministry event their church hosts. I’m encouraging leaders to look at the hearts of their women – SOME of which are not right with Christ.

If the events in your church are lacking in value or there are 6-8 hours of fellowship, then there’s a bigger reason why women aren’t coming. If you poke around my site, read my books, or listen to my podcast, I think you’ll see I consistently encourage women’s ministry leaders to host events with a biblical focus and a clear purpose.

By: Barb B

Barb B — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:03:19 +0000

A recent women’s event at our church was ‘Bunco Night’ using the verse Matthew 18:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
I could not bring myself to go, feeling use of this verse was inappropriate and I don’t enjoy playing this type of game.

By: Laurie L

Laurie L — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:15:35 +0000

In reply to Happy Gal. Amen Happy Gal. Most of the events are aimed at a specific group of women.

By: Happy Gal

Happy Gal — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:31:46 +0000

Give me a break!! Just because there is any individual Christian event, does NOT require us to attend.

Perhaps the VALUE of participation is not worth the ticket price.
Perhaps the 6-8 hours of fellowship is not based on existing relationships, especially if there is no plan to maintain contact among women’s conference participants going forward.

It’s NOT always about the woman’s heart being “wrong” or her relationship with Christ being inadequate.