I’m heading out the door soon to go teach for a group of women—at my own church.
When I first started doing public speaking, I practiced at my own church—the women’s ministry graciously allowed me to try out various topics and techniques by teaching classes and Bible studies.
Last year, I handed off the teaching responsibility to a team of women I’d tried to encourage and build into—to give them a chance to try it on their own. My friend Pam is leading that team, doing a great job. I meet with her occasionally to offer encouragement and advice.
But my own teaching occurs mostly at other churches. But today, I’m going just down the road to “visit” the class I used to teach every week.
Women’s ministry is a curious thing. Why do we segregate our churches in this way? Since I attend a suburban mega-church, several of the classes for women meet during the day—which is great for stay-at-home moms who can attend a class then. But that’s certainly not the only kind of women in our church body. So is our “women’s ministry” actually ministering to all the women?
Our church also offers classes and events in the evenings, on the weekends, etc. so that working women can participate—some are women’s ministry events, others are run by other ministries in the church.
How does this work at your church? I visit a lot of churches, and I have seen some women’s ministries that are dynamic and relevant. Others, not so much. A key factor seems to be the women who lead these ministries, and how much freedom and encouragement they are given by their church.
While I’m grateful for the opportunities “women’s ministry” at my church and other churches has provided, a part of me wonders if the church as a whole might be healthier if we just had “people ministry” and allowed everyone in the body to use their gifts to minister to everyone else.
I’d love to know what you think about this…
10 Comments
Keri - great post! Yes, it’s all about the women who lead these groups! I can think of one church right now which was team led and what a dynamic team (the best!). I know some authors don’t deal directly with meeting planners and I say, “You’re missing out on one of God’s greatest blessings!” Some of these women have become lifelong friends and partners in ministry. I wish I could say it’s always that way (smile!). I also attend a mega church and almost every position in the church is a paid position. Their thinking is if you pay them they will do a better job (do you really want my thoughts on that one?!?!). I truly love it when I get to speak to both men and women, usually it’s a Sunday morning service or a corporate event. As speakers we have to know our audience, so I try to get as much information about the group as I possibly can. It takes homework to do that, but if you don’t you risk not making your message relevant. I use the PIER method of speaking, so I just change the examples to match the group, whether it’s a group of insurance agents, women attending a weekend retreat, or a breast cancer fundraising event.
Great topic, thanks Keri!
HUGS!
Thanks Connie
Do you want me to send your pastor a copy of my pastor’s book, The Volunteer Revolution??
great book. and we live it out at willow, believe me.
had so much fun teaching there this morning, although the class is small. And my assistant, Wendy, is part of the team that leads the class, so she got to introduce me. which was fun.
I am praying for God to expand my ministry to include more teaching both men and women. I’ve done that at several churches this year, and it’s more challenging–you do have to change your stories and examples.
You know what’s funny or (maybe not)…we patterned our church after Willow and B.H. flew in for an evening at the Hershey Hotel to speak at the fundraising dinner for phase II of the building program for our church. And that’s where the comparison actually stops.
Overnight, it seems, we went from 700 to 7,000. A lot got lost getting “people into the life boat” including paid chaplains!
As a former pastor’s wife and missionary, I came from the old school (actually Bible school!), dig in your heels and get the job done for God’s glory not a paycheck! The human resource department in church is still a new concept to me, but if lives are being changed by Christ then that’s what matters. I don’t think it would hurt though for our pastor to have a refresher course on the “Volunteer Revolution.”
I guess you can tell this is a trigger point for me!
I do think you need some people, in a church that large, to be on paid staff. But not everyone. the staff is there to organize and lead the volunteers, who actually do the ministry itself. you know, we were talking about the women’s groups that put on the best retreats—I would say it is groups run by volunteers, who are serving in their gifted areas (and that part is key)–that do the best job of putting on events.
I think the paycheck thing doesn’t motivate people nearly as much as being able to serve in a way that “fits” with their passion, their gifts, the way that God wired them up. Leaders lead, shepherds shepherd, teachers teach, those with mercy sit and cry with people. Good grief, I sound like B.H.
Thanks, Keri, you just said it all in a nutshell. When we’re using our gifts combined with our passion, the paycheck is secondary (always!).
Yep, you did sound a teensy bit like B.H. (a very GOOD thing!).
HUGS!
I attended a mega-church until last August. Now I attend a smaller church…of about 400. Still, I can sense the difference. I loved LOVED our old church until I felt it leaving the confines of making a difference in people’s lives and becoming more of a business. I understand WHY it happened, I just don’t understand HOW it happened. The good thing about a church that size is the sheer volumes of people who will be and can be influenced. Like you said, there are Bible studies going on all the time…for everyone. But another part of it was beginning to feel cold. Then again, in smaller churches I have spoken at, I have seen waaaaaay too much gossip at the center of women’s ministry. That and jealous behavior, backbiting, etc.
It’s tricky.
I love that there is women’s ministry. There are aspects of being a woman, a wife, a mother, that aren’t addressed in people groups. : ) In our church, about 1,200, our women’s ministry is good, but still a work in progress. I spoke at our retreat this past year, which was an honor, and it was refreshing to see what God was doing through the small team of women who put this retreat on. I am praying for God to continue to bless in this area, as it’s a need in our community.
As a speaker, there is a vast difference among churches in the dedication and resources available for women’s ministry. I am grateful for volunteers that step in and take up the slack.
I’ve sometimes thought about finding a smaller church. But to me, the size is not an issue. it’s how the church does ministry. do they equip everyone in the church to minister, according to their gifts? in other words, is it really functioning as a body? Thanks for the comments and insights, friends!
This is interesting. Our church has moved away form women’s ministry through the years. In fact, there are hardly any groups that are for women only at this time.
We certainly use our members to teach. Right now we are doing a book study Lenten series. They are scheduled throughout the week and held in homes, book stores and church, and led by members. We actually take turns if we feel called to lead. It’s for everyone. We have two single women in our group, three elderly people, several couples. It’s intergenerational and I love it. I also appreciate it because it’s something I can do with Ross.
We have many other opportunites to learn, but Hardly a one is for women only. Interesting.
A view from the pew: Right now I’m in a church of about - oh, I counted 60 adults in the service last Sunday morning, after the kids and teachers headed to their program. It’s strange after being in churches numbering in the thousands in the past.
What I have appreciated most is the feeling that everyone matters there, not just those who “serve.” That may sound bad but i think we make a mistake in churches by sizing people up and seeing where they fit - i.e. “where do we plug them in?”. I think everyone in church is there to be ministered to as well as to minister and that path can’t possibly look the same for 2 people.
I appreciate being valued for just being there and this has made me want to jump in. There is no “women’s” ministry per se, but I have been ministered to. There are plenty of opportunities to jump in and serve there but I kind of am enjoying the program-free environment right now. Of course, it’s only 4 years old but this seems to be their mindset. We’ll see.