I was shocked when I discovered that women’s ministry can be a controversial subject. There are actually churches that don’t think a ministry to women is necessary, which just amazes me. I come from a church that believes serving their women is valuable and vital to the health of the church. It’s my normal. Your normal may be vastly different, and that’s okay.
What is women’s ministry?
I found that “women’s ministry” can mean a variety of things to different people. There are those that believe it to be the various ways women serve the poor and needy within their community. Others define it as events sponsored by the church that women can attend, such as retreats. And some would say women’s ministry is meeting weekly for Bible study.
Well, “ministry” simply means service, so women’s ministry is how the church serves the women in it, and also how those women serve outside of the church.
Why start a women’s ministry?
In my experience, a thriving women’s ministry is one that combines teaching sound doctrine with serving the community and offering events.
Women’s ministry fosters spiritual growth, establishes organic discipleship relationships, and gives women fellowship with like-minded believers. This three-pronged approach to women’s ministry (teaching, service, events) also supplies accountability, community, and unity within the church.
Learn from Nehemiah how to start a ministry:
In the book of Nehemiah, the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem started with Hanani and some men of Judah alerting Nehemiah of the affliction and reproach of his people, and the destruction of the wall and gates. That caused Nehemiah to fast and pray. The burden was in his heart to speak to the King for permission to go, see, and rebuild.
Nehemiah surveyed the damage and spoke to the rulers there to communicate the need. The people decided to rise up and build. They strengthened their hands to do the work and everyone took part in making the repairs. Everyone worked hard, endured spiritual warfare, prayed through it all, and completed the enormous task in only fifty-two days.
If there is a burden for ministry on our hearts we can take the same approach Nehemiah did and follow these 10 steps to start it. And although this particular post is tailored to beginning a ministry to women in the church, it is applicable to any ministry endeavor.
- See the need
- Seek the Lord in prayer
- Speak to the pastor
- Survey the weak spots
- Strategize
- Submit a plan
- Share the burden and secure a team
- Spread the word
- Start the work
- Stand strong
Step 1 to start a women’s ministry: SEE THE NEED
Matthew 28:19-20- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
To accomplish the Great Commission and make disciples, training in truth has to take place. That’s not only for men, but for the women in the church as well, and not just on Sunday mornings. Titus 2:3-5 gives the command, character, and curriculum for women to teach women so that God’s word is not blasphemed. And so sound doctrine is fully established within the local church.
Women are rooted and grounded in truth by the intentional investment of scripture into their hearts and minds. Click To TweetBible study that covers prominent strongholds for women, the biblical structure for the home, and basics like walking in the Spirit, will bring freedom, bolster faith, and boost church attendance. There is radical transformation in women, their homes, and the church when they are specifically ministered to with sound doctrine, service opportunities, and special events.
If you build it, they will come…
A church that offers a flourishing women’s ministry will be a light to draw women of all ages in from the community. It will give them a place they can grow spiritually and establish relationships that bring God glory.
Women are talkers, so when they find a church that meets their need for community, discipleship, and fellowship, they will tell other women about it. The more women you have in your ministry the greater influence you have on your community for Christ.
Step 2 to start a women’s ministry: SEEK THE LORD IN PRAYER
Philippians 4:6- Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Prayer is the thread that weaves every detail of the ministry together into a beautiful tapestry that puts the gospel on display. When the burden is on the heart of a woman to establish any ministry she must bathe it in prayer.
Pray for:
- Confirmation in the scripture, from your husband (if you have one), and the pastor of your church.
- Clarity on the specifics like the team and timeline.
- Curriculum with sound doctrine that addresses the strongholds of the women in the church.
- For God to reveal who should lead, teach, and help run the ministry.
- And for every single detail in between, from burden to beginning.
Praying without ceasing and following the Lord’s leading ensures you stay in the will of God.
Step 3 to start a women’s ministry: SPEAK TO THE PASTOR
1Corinthians 14:40- Let all things be done decently and in order.
After you have confirmation to move forward with the burden of your heart to invest in the women in your church, meet with your pastor about it. Do this before you get too invested in formulating your plan and before you mention it to anyone else. Just jot down what the Lord has laid on your heart, your confirmation verses, and some basic information about the women’s ministry like the purpose and the main components.
Be sure that your idea for the women’s ministry is in line with the pastor’s vision for the church as a whole. The women’s ministry should never compete with the preaching from the pulpit or other ministries in the church, only complement them.
Communicate clearly the burden, the vision, the purpose, and the profit of the proposed women’s ministry. Chances are the desire is already on your pastor’s heart and prayer list. But prepare your heart for the possibility of rejection. (Proverbs 4:23) Some men in leadership don’t see the value in encouraging, empowering, and equipping the women in the church. They choose to focus solely on the men and prefer the women to stick to decorating the church and preparing meals for church functions.
If that’s the case with your pastor, all you can do is thank him for his time and pray the Lord changes his heart and opens his eyes to the need for a women’s ministry. Even if you don’t get the green light right away, you can still formulate a plan and pray for future approval to put it in place. Sometimes God places those burdens on our hearts in order to give us something to train for.
While you wait for God’s timing for the women’s ministry…
Study, prepare, and pray for God’s perfect timing to implement the women’s ministry in your church when you have your pastor’s full support. Trust that nothing the Lord gives to us is in vain. He will use your desire and zeal to accomplish His will within the church.
If your pastor gives you approval to move forward with the women’s ministry then praise the Lord! Be sure to ask him what guidelines he would like in place, and what timeline he wants for a plan. Also, it’s wise to get his input on who would be a good fit for the leadership team, and what key elements he would like to see within the ministry.
Some pastors may want to be very involved in the planning, others may just trust your judgment and give you freedom to structure it however the Lord leads you. Ask questions, write down his expectations, thank him for his time and input, and keep him updated on the process.
3 down 7 to go
It’s not easy to start a women’s ministry, but it’s so worth it. I hope these first 3 of 10 steps will give you an idea of where to begin. I also encourage you to the book of Nehemiah for yourself for inspiration. I’ll cover a few more steps to establishing a women’s ministry in my next post!
Let’s Talk: What do you love about the women’s ministry at your church? What do you think that ministry has contributed to your spiritual growth? In what ways can you help to make your women’s ministry better? I’d love to have your input!
Related posts:
Women Teaching Women: Be an Example in Discipleship
Encouragement to Endure in Ministry
Consider Your Ways In Ministry- Part 1
5 Steps to Help You Focus and Finish Strong
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Pray With Confidence
If you would like to grow in your prayer life, then check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the 30 monthly contributors. Here are a few links I think will bless you:
5 Things to Thank God for When You Don’t Feel Thankful
3 Short Prayers for Spiritual Stability
2 Things to Remember to Find Peace in Chaos
19 Bible Verses that Reveal the Will of God
You also want to check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs. There are many great options to boost your spiritual growth!
I’ve had ideas for some time, but this is the first piece that I’ve read to specifically encourage me about it. Thank you!
Praise the Lord! I’m glad it was a blessing to ya! It will be a four part series now, so stay tuned… 🙂