Often, having an idea is not enough in women's missions ministry.
Sometimes you need help with the “how-to”.
CA WMU helps provide women with practical steps to make missions and ministry groups function more effectively, to attract more attention to their groups and be more viable in their settings.
A group's strategy and purpose determine what the structure will look like.
Will your women’s missions ministries be under another “umbrella” organization?
Will other women’s groups come under the Woman’s Missionary Union umbrella?
Will the group or organization be related to the church planning team or directly to a staff member?
How will the group/organization be funded – by donations, by the women, through the church budget, under another ministry budget?
In other words, how are groups organized in your church structure?
All these questions must be answered before you begin enlisting and equipping leaders. While nothing has to be printed, writing a purpose statement will guide your leadership team to plan events, programs and activities that support the purpose. and undergird the church’s purpose and focus. Every woman’s group/organization should contain several elements to be viable in the church setting. It is not advisable to have some and neglect others – that would create a lop-sided approach and diminish the group's effectiveness.
Consider these elements as you begin structuring women’s ministries and missions groups in your church.
Spiritual Growth- this must be at the core of every Christian women’s organization. The goal/purpose should be to help every woman grow in her love of Jesus and her desire to live in service to Him and the mission He gave. Growing spiritually will involve study, prayer, spending time with other women and being involved in ministry and missions.
Serving Others- this should be a natural outcome of spiritual growth. Whether this is translated into equipping others to lead, ministering to the homeless, hungry, victims of domestic abuse or participating in a short-term mission trip, each member of the women’s ministry/missions group needs to find her place of service and use her God-given gifts to serve others. The group/organization cannot exist to serve itself or make its members feel “warm and fuzzy.”
Leadership Development- for women’s ministry and mission groups to function successfully, leaders must be developed! Another outcome of spiritual growth should be realization that each woman needs to grow on some level as a leader. Many resources are available to facilitate leadership growth, including Women’s Ministry & Women’s Missions Leadership Development and resources from New Hope Publishers and LifeWay Women for small groups and individuals.
Fellowship and Fun is a key element in attracting women to your groups and activities. While it cannot be the ultimate purpose, fellowship and fun allow women to “let down their hair” and get to know other women. Healthy relationships are a necessary part of women’s lives and if your organization facilitates the building of authentic relationships, the entire organization and the church will benefit.
There are many parts to a successful, healthy women’s ministry and mission emphasis within a church. To be balanced, your group/organization needs to include the above and fit them into a strategic purpose for existing. If your women’s group isn’t visible and viable, it will lack balance or effectiveness. CA WMU is here to help!