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Have you felt the nudge or call from God to start or rebuild a women\u2019s ministry at your church?<\/p>\n
Are you wondering how to get started or what to do next?<\/p>\n
Perhaps you want to be obedient, but aren\u2019t sure how.<\/p>\n
Trust that God\u2019s brought you here.<\/p>\n
Before we jump into the nitty-gritty details, I want to pray for you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Dear Lord, I thank you for the one you\u2019ve given a burden and desire to start, or re-start, a women\u2019s ministry in her church. I ask you to go before her and smooth her path. I pray, Lord, that you\u2019ll move in the hearts of the staff so that they\u2019ll respond enthusiastically and with support for this ministry launch. I ask you to soften the hearts of the women in her church and community. Stir up a desire in them to study God\u2019s Word together. Help them to grasp the importance of worship,\u00a0 fellowship, and studying God’s Word with other women. I pray, Lord, for the development of Titus 2 relationships in her church, where spiritually older women mentor and disciple those who are spiritually younger. Lord, keep the eyes of this one, and the team you send to help her, fixed firmly on you. May every decision they make, every event they host, and every activity they plan glorify you and lead others to the saving knowledge of Christ. We thank you Lord, in advance, for the great and mighty things we know you\u2019re going to do. In Jesus\u2019 name we pray, amen.<\/em><\/p>\n He will be our guide through this process.<\/strong> I ask to you proceed carefully, yielding always to the Holy Spirit and not to the steps that follow on this page.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know your church and your circumstances, but God does, and He may take you down a different path or may confirm that these are the steps you need to take. Trust Him. He knows best.<\/p>\n As I did above, the very first step to start or rebuild a women\u2019s ministry is prayer.<\/strong><\/p>\n The very first time I took on the role as Women\u2019s Ministry Director it was to fill a position that had been empty for a year and a half.<\/p>\n Our prayer group, as we prayed for the needs of our church, had been lifting up this specific need for months. Week after week as we prayed, the burden for this need in our church almost overwhelmed my soul. And then one day as I was reading my Bible, God spoke clearly through the words in 1 Timothy 1:12<\/a> that I was to be the one to step up and fill the gap. In my mind this was crazy!<\/em> I was both young physically (a mom with two boys in elementary school) and spiritually (I had only accepted Christ as my Savoir about 6 years prior). I chose obedience over fear. Ironically, the members of my prayer group admitted that they had known for weeks God was calling me to serve as the Women\u2019s Ministry Director.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know how long God will have you on your knees, but I trust the Holy Spirit will give you a nudge when it\u2019s time to move forward.<\/p>\n Not sure what to pray while you wait? Here are some suggestions:<\/strong><\/p>\n I love the word picture God provides in Psalm 119:105<\/a>, \u201c Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a lamp, not a flashlight. God will give you enough light to see just far enough ahead to take the next step.<\/strong> If we could see the whole path before us and the dangers, distractions, and opposition we were going to face, we\u2019d be tempted to run away in fear or strike out our own path and miss what God has planned.<\/p>\n Keep stepping forward, one step at a time, trusting God will show you what to do next.<\/strong><\/p>\n You must get approval from the Pastor and\/or staff at your church.<\/strong> The Bible is very clear about our responsibility to submit to the authorities God has put in place. See Titus 3:1<\/a>, Hebrews 13:17<\/a>, and 1 Corinthians 1:10<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tips on meeting with your Pastor:<\/strong><\/p>\n We attended, at the Lord\u2019s leading, a church for about 9 months that did not have a women\u2019s ministry. While I never met with the Pastor, other staff members repeatedly<\/em> made it clear that a women\u2019s ministry was not and would not be part of that church\u2019s plan or offerings<\/strong>. It grieved my heart as I could clearly see the need and knew women in the church were desperate for a women\u2019s ministry, but only God can change their hearts.<\/p>\n It was suggested by a staff member that I lead a women\u2019s small group. I pushed aside my disappointment over the closed door for a formal women\u2019s ministry and embraced the opportunity I was given. I was going to be the best women\u2019s small group leader they ever had!<\/p>\n If your Pastor says \u201cno\u201d, spend more time in prayer continuing to seek His will.<\/strong> God may eventually change the hearts of those in authority or may even physically move someone new into a position of authority that will be open to the addition of a women\u2019s ministry.<\/p>\n While you wait on God to open doors, serve your women the best that you can. God\u2019s timing is perfect. Trust that He is working in the wait.<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019ve gotten a \u201cyes\u201d! What do you do next?<\/p>\n In the spirit of Ecclesiastes 4:12<\/a> (a cord of three strands is not easily broken) you need to begin to prayerfully recruit a team<\/strong>. If you have women who\u2019ve been praying with you, make each woman\u2019s name a matter of prayer. Don\u2019t assume they want to be more than prayer partners for the women\u2019s ministry. And don’t assume God’s already provided your team. If they are all close friends or women who are very similar to you, you need more diversity.<\/p>\n Teams should include women of different ages and from different social circles.<\/strong><\/p>\n When you ask someone to join your team you want to take into account the needs of your team.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Please, please do not issue an open invitation for team members.<\/strong> I know from personal experience how destructive assembling a team without prayer can be. It opens the door wide for Satan!<\/p>\n Check out: The process of building a team could take a few weeks, a couple of months, or may be ongoing. God will likely not fill every role immediately.<\/strong> He may not ever fill them all! Get started and trust He\u2019ll add women to your team in His perfect timing.<\/p>\n We\u2019re walking in obedience, not waiting for perfection.<\/em><\/p>\n That very first team I assembled started with 3 of us. That was it. For a church with about 900 members, that felt like a tiny team, but it was what God gave us so we trusted Him. Slowly He added to our numbers. For retreat and conference planning we created separate teams. It worked, even when it seemed from my perspective it wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re wondering what\u2019s a good size for your team, a seasoned leader I know recommends 1 team member for every 100 women in your church. That may not be possible and may be unrealistic if you oversee a large women\u2019s ministry, but take it into consideration and make it a matter of prayer.<\/p>\n What do you do with your team?<\/p>\n By this time you may have a secret Pinterest board filled with ideas you just can\u2019t wait to implement. You\u2019re itching to gather your women, plan events, and get going!<\/p>\n Be patient, dear one. We need to get some guidelines and boundaries in place first.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your team needs to define its purpose in writing. Every team needs a clear mission statement.<\/strong> Read this post<\/a> to walk through creating a mission statement. Print out the final version and give every team member a copy. Include it often in your programs and publicity.<\/p>\n Every single thing you choose to do \u2013 every event, every activity \u2013 must uphold that mission statement. Some of your team members are going to bring ideas that will not align with your mission statement. When they do, ask them how it aligns with the ministry\u2019s mission statement. Sometimes you won\u2019t even have to use the word \u201cno\u201d.<\/p>\n Be intentional about building community and relationship among your team members.<\/strong> Have everyone in the group take a personality test, eat a meal together, play some team building games.<\/p>\n Pray together and pray often.<\/strong> Spend some time teaching your team to pray<\/a>. You may want to work through the Prayer Warrior Boot Camp for Groups<\/a> together.<\/p>\n You should be praying out loud as a group every time you meet.<\/p>\n Find help for planning your team meetings in these posts:<\/strong> As you build your team, set up a system of forms and procedures<\/a>. You church may dictate how money is reimbursed, rooms are reserved, and publicity is submitted. Compile all of this information into binders<\/a> for each of your women.<\/p>\n Yes! This is the moment you\u2019ve been waiting for!<\/p>\n Let’s add some events and activities to your church calendar!<\/p>\n Your Pastor(s) may have given you some advice about how many\/how often you should offer events and activities. Submit to their authority and heed their advice. You can revisit their recommendations down the road.<\/p>\n Get a copy of the church calendar<\/strong> and use it to help you pick the best date for your event<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n I wish I could tell you exactly how many events to plan and how often to host them. There\u2019s no magic formula.<\/p>\n Women can\u2019t follow God\u2019s Word if they don\u2019t know what God\u2019s Word says or if they don\u2019t know how to read God\u2019s Word.<\/strong> The READ Bible Study for Groups<\/a> is a great tool for teaching your women how to read and study the Bible.<\/p>\n Next, add some events to your calendar. God may have given you a verse or theme for your women\u2019s ministry year<\/a>. This post on the Best Women’s Ministry Theme Ever<\/a> will help you discern God\u2019s direction. Many women\u2019s ministries plan their events around the theme God has led them to.<\/p>\n There are many different types of women’s ministry meetings you could host, Check out Why We Need to Offer Different Types of Women’s Ministry Meetings<\/a> and What should we include in our women’s ministry meeting?<\/a><\/p>\n You can always add more events later. Keep things simple as you build your team and list of volunteers.<\/strong> You don’t want to burn them about before you really get started!<\/p>\n Many ministries host a launch or kick-off event.<\/strong> A kick-off event provides your team with the opportunity to introduce themselves and share the vision for the women\u2019s ministry. Some teams distribute surveys to find out what their women really want<\/a>\u00a0and work to balance that with what they know women need.<\/p>\n That may mean a clear call to accept Christ as Savior.<\/p>\n At a minimum, every event should include the reading of God\u2019s Word and a teaching, lesson, or devotional.<\/strong> Women need to hear how God is moving and working in the lives of other women in your church. Personal stories make a much greater impact than any story you could share out of a book or off of the internet. Please read The Best Devotional You Can Share<\/a> and How to Share the Best Devotional Ever<\/a>.<\/p>\n Side note: If you\u2019re hosting a movie night out at a theater, I\u2019m not expecting you to hold a session in the lobby. Any event at church should include these things.<\/em><\/p>\n God is creative and He will help you find a way to tie His Word into any activity or event you host.<\/strong> As it says in James 1:5<\/a>, \u201cIf any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.\u201d<\/p>\n With rare exception, every event should incorporate an icebreaker<\/strong> game or activity. We must be intentional about building community<\/a> and breaking up cliques<\/a>. You\u2019ll find a pile of great icebreaker games here<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you’re in need of event ideas, check out these posts for inspiration: I strongly encourage your team to pray about hosting a retreat or conference<\/strong> at least every other year (once a year may not be realistic if you have a small team or lack volunteers). Concentrated time together, studying God\u2019s Word, discussing God\u2019s Word, and even just having fun with one another will help your women to develop stronger, deeper relationships and connections quickly.<\/strong> Women also need encouragement to get away from their daily duties to spend time with God. You may want to read: Is God calling your women to retreat?<\/a><\/p>\n And, one last thing, please don\u2019t forget to get the proper approval for your events<\/strong>. You want the support of the staff, official approval, and your events listed on the official church calendar. Ask, if you don\u2019t know the proper protocol.<\/p>\n Need help figuring out your budget? Check out:<\/strong> Advertise your events and activities to your women in your church AND in the community.<\/p>\n As you plan out your advertisement strategy, you must address the \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d question. As I discuss in How to Get Women to Show Up<\/a>, women have to CHOOSE to attend your event. So you need to clearly tell them why they should. One women’s ministry leader shared with me that they always include a spiritual why and a practical why in their event publicity.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find\u00a0ideas for publicizing events inside and outside of your church in these posts:<\/strong> Even with all of that, personal invitations are your most powerful form of advertising.<\/strong> Women respond to personal invites. They want to know their presence matters. And most women are more likely to attend if they know at least one friend is going too.<\/p>\n Constantly assess your efforts.<\/p>\n After every event, ask your team to complete a Post Event Evaluation Form<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n At your next meeting, walk through that form together, compiling all of the info onto one form to keep and reference.<\/p>\n Make necessary changes moving forward.<\/p>\n After big events, such as a conference or retreat, and at the end of Bible study sessions, distribute and collect surveys<\/strong>. The women in attendance will notice things you will not.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find survey help in these posts:<\/strong> Find and provide training<\/a> for your group in areas where you are struggling and areas in which you need knowledge.<\/p>\n Read a great leadership book together.<\/p>\n Study scripture together (1st<\/sup> and 2nd<\/sup> Timothy are great places to start).<\/p>\n Not only should your women be making disciples that are making disciples, but you should be equipping and encouraging women to serve<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Expand the number of women who are trained to facilitate Bible studies.<\/p>\n God may move your family at any time, as He did ours (not once, but twice) while I was the Women\u2019s Ministry Director. Prepare others on your team so they can function without you.<\/strong> You want them to rely on God, not on you.<\/em><\/p>\n Praise the Lord.<\/p>\n Invite women to share what God has done.<\/p>\n Share these stories via video and in written form on social media, the church website, and at events.<\/p>\n Let the staff know what a difference women\u2019s ministry is making in the lives of the women in your church and community.<\/p>\n Share the numbers of women who have accepted Christ, who are discipling one another, and who have attended as a guest and become active in the church.<\/strong><\/p>\n Brag on your team members and volunteers and take the time to thank them.<\/p>\n Send handwritten notes. Consider these 10 Tips for Thank You Notes<\/a> and find out the secret to\u00a0No More Notecard Stress<\/a>.<\/p>\n Give your team and volunteers some thank you gifts at Christmas and other times of the year. Let them know you appreciate them.<\/p>\n 1. It can be helpful to meet with members from the last team<\/strong> that was in place. They can give you feedback about what worked well and what didn’t. Learn from their successes and failures. Listen as they talk – you don’t need to share your opinions or your plans. Let them know you’d greatly appreciate their prayers.<\/p>\n 2. Find out why the women’s ministry team disbanded.<\/strong> In most cases, I find it’s because the leader moved or stepped down and they couldn’t find anyone to fill their shoes.\u00a0 But in some cases, there was a much bigger problem, one you won’t want to repeat!<\/p>\n 3. Prayerfully decide which events and activities you’ll re-launch and which you won’t.<\/strong> You may find a lot of pressure from certain church members to pick things up where the team left off and not to make any changes. You’ve got to really know what God is asking you to do and what He is not. Press on through any opposition. Hold firm to God’s calling – He’s got this!<\/p>\n And beyond just the words on this page, I’ve linked to 49 posts (in red above) that will be helpful as you prayerfully start or rebuild your women’s ministry.<\/p>\n I suggest your bookmark or save this post on Pinterest<\/strong> and come back to it as God gives you enough light to see the next step.<\/p>\n Expect to experience opposition. See 1 Peter 5:8-9<\/a>.<\/p>\n Women’s ministry is worth fighting for!<\/p>\nI trust that you\u2019re here because God placed on burden upon your heart and through His Word, circumstances, people, and\/or events, gave you a clear calling to step up to serve as a women\u2019s ministry leader or team member.<\/h5>\n
Step #1 – Pray<\/h4>\n
Before you speak to a staff member or begin to plan an event, prayer is a necessity.<\/h5>\n
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Step #2 \u2013 Request Approval<\/h4>\n
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I wish this weren\u2019t true, but your Pastor may say no.<\/h5>\n
Step #3 \u2013 Build a Team<\/h4>\n
Each potential team member should be approached with a specific role in mind that aligns with the gifts God has given her.<\/h5>\n
\n<\/strong>What positions do you need to fill on your<\/a> team?<\/a>
\nHow to Recruit Women\u2019s Ministry Team Members<\/a>
\nHow to Ask Women to Serve on Your Leadership Team<\/a>
\nWomen’s Ministry Team Job Descriptions – Part 1<\/a>
\nWomen’s Ministry Team Job Descriptions – Part 2<\/a><\/p>\nStep #4 \u2013 Mission Statement<\/h4>\n
Your mission statement will be your plumb line.<\/h5>\n
\n10 Agenda Tips<\/a>
\nEpisode 4: Gather and Glean \u2013 Agendas<\/a>
\nThe Importance of an Agenda<\/a>
\nMy Top 10 Team Meeting Pet Peeves<\/a>
\nShould you vote or not vote on women\u2019s ministry business?<\/a><\/p>\nStep #5 – Plan an Event<\/h4>\n
If your church is not already offering women\u2019s Bible studies, I encourage you to start here.<\/h5>\n
Every single event you host should point women to Jesus.<\/h5>\n
\n<\/strong> 105 Christian Ladies Night Out Ideas<\/a>
\n60 Service Project Ideas<\/a>
\n40 Fall Fellowship Ideas<\/a>
\n30 Summer Fellowship Ideas<\/a>
\nFellowship Idea: Workshops<\/a><\/p>\n
\nShould you charge for women\u2019s ministry events?<\/a>
\nWhat should you charge for your women\u2019s ministry event? (Free Event Pricing Guide)<\/a>
\nIs your event budget realistic?<\/a>
\n10 Ways to Stretch Your Women\u2019s Ministry Budget<\/a><\/p>\nStep #6 – Spread the word!<\/h4>\n
\n25 Ways to Publicize Events Outside of Your Church<\/a>
\n13 Ways to Publicize Events Inside Your Church<\/a>
\n13 More Ways to Publicize Events Inside Your Church<\/a>
\nPublicity Form (Free Printable)<\/a>
\nPublicity Secret for Your Women\u2019s Ministry<\/a><\/p>\nStep #7 – Assess<\/h4>\n
\nSeven Super Survey Questions<\/a>
\nWomen\u2019s Ministry Surveys: Online vs. Printed<\/a>
\nRetreat Surveys<\/a>
\nWhat to Do With Criticism<\/a><\/p>\nPray, grow, develop, and refine.<\/h5>\n
Step #8 – Reproduce<\/h4>\n
Expect members of your team to be called by God to serve elsewhere.<\/h5>\n
Step #9 – Celebrate<\/h4>\n
Celebrate and reflect on what God is doing \u2013 with both your team and with your women.<\/h5>\n
A couple of thoughts on rebuilding a ministry:<\/h4>\n
I know this is a LOT of information to take in.<\/h4>\n
Stand firm and don\u2019t forget to put on your armor!<\/h5>\n