Designing a Women’s Ministry Part One

1. Designing a Women’s MinistryPart One Jean Marrapodi Director of Christian Education Providence Assembly of God

2. Objectives • To understand why women’s ministry is important • To develop a philosophy of women’s ministry • Core Values • Purpose Statement • Vision Statement • Priorities • To understand why a ministry team is needed

3. OurBiblical Mandate Why Women’s Ministry?

4. Why Women’s Ministry? We are a chosen people with a job to do Exodus 19:3-6 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: `You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

5. Why Women’s Ministry? We are a chosen people with a job to do 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Revelation 1:5b-6 To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and prieststo serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

6. Why Women’s Ministry? We are a chosen people with a job to do Exodus 19:3-6 my treasured possessiona kingdom of priests a holy nation to speak to the Israelites 1 Peter 2:9 chosen peoplea royal priesthooda holy nationa people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him Revelation 1:5b-6 a kingdompriests to serve his God and Father

7. Why Women’s Ministry? • God’s Initiative • Chosen people, “you are mine” • Our Calling • Royal Priesthood • Wholly consecrated to Him • We serve God and represent Him before the people • We serve others and represent them before God

8. Why Women’s Ministry? continued • Our character • Holy Nation • Our identity • A people belonging to God • Our privilege • to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light

9. We are to glorify God • Individually • Corporately

10. We are Co-Workers with God! 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers

11. Discussion Question How would you describe a successful ministry?

12. Successful Ministry • Faithful to God’s commands/priorities • Honors God’s Word • Focuses on prayer • Dependence upon God • Listening to His direction • Ministry is initiated by the Father • Not by us • One that can say “yes” to the Lord and “no” to people

13. Philosophy of Ministry Who are we? What are we about?

14. Four Components of the Philosophy • Core Values • Mission/Purpose Statement • Vision Statement • Priorities

15. Define Core Values — What • The ministry’s heartbeat • Biblically grounded • Unchanging • Not goals, aspirations or strategies • Primarily to excite, inspire & attractleadership

16. Define Core Values—How • 3-5 categories • Present tense • Stated in the positive • Generate energy, discussion and group interest

17. Core Values—Vision New EnglandWomen’s Ministry • We value the Word of God as the foundation of all life and ministry • We value the local church • We value women as created in the image of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ and gifted by the Spirit of God • We value holy living expressed in purity, integrity and virtue • We value learning through partnership and mentoring relationships • We value the diverse expressions of the body of Christ • We value the extension of God’s Kingdom in the church and into the community and wider world Acknowledging our prayerful dependence upon the Lord:

18. Discussion Time Share 5 positive characteristics about your women’s ministry or church

19. Develop a Mission/Purpose Statement—Why • Succinctly explains why we exist • Should inspire, excite, guide, & endure • Continually pursued, never fully achieved • Broad in scope • Easy to memorize so that it’s transferable

20. Without a Mission/Purpose Statement… • The emphasis will be upon activity rather than effectiveness • It is impossible to do any realevaluation • It is easy to do what is popular rather than what is really needed • You can’t have a senseofunity within the leadership

21. Without a Mission/Purpose Statement… • You’ll risk being carriedalong with rapid, unexpected changes • It will be difficult to attractinterest in your overall program • You’ll risk losingleadership • You can’t planahead effectively Adapted from Growing a Healthy Church

22. Mission StatementVNE Women’s Ministries Leadership Training Our passion is to develop women in servant leadership for the equipping of God’s Church and the enlarging of His Kingdom.

23. The Vision Statement • Comprehensive description of a future condition that you want to create. • Clear enough so that if you saw it, you would recognize it.

24. Vision StatementVNE Women’s Ministries Our vision is to realize a healthy, flourishing women’s ministry in every New England community and to strengthen and expand the network of Christian women leaders

25. Vision Statement: VNE Leadership Track We envision women who are committed to serving the Lord: • Continually connected to Him • Confident in His call • Compassionately reaching out to others • Courageous in adversity • Consistently bearing fruit Taken from our theme vs. Ps. 1:1-3

26. Providence Assembly of God Our mission: Worship Fellowship Evangelism Discipleship Our vision: Reconciliation Restoration Resource Resolve

27. Determining PrioritiesHow & Where Determine your priorities by: • Prayerfully identifying the specific areas in which you believe God desires to impact your ministry

28. Determining PrioritiesHow & Where Define your priorities by: • Narrowing your focus to 3-6 key areas • Using one or two word titles

29. Determining PrioritiesHow & Where Describe your priorities by: • Using a one sentence description of the condition we believe God wants us to establish and develop. • Using one or two descriptive statements per area.

30. Communicate the Philosophy • Discuss and review with leadership team frequently • Verbalize it to others, making it clear • Monitor response • Repeat it often, enthusiastically, and creatively

31. The Ministry Team Who’ll join us?

32. Alone? • Start with prayer • Ask God for others • Watch to see what God is doing • Wait on God—may take time • Approach other godly women

33. Restructuring? • Start with prayer • Ask God for others • Watch to see what God is doing • Wait on God—may take time • Approach other godly women

34. Teams Build Ministries Effectively • Assemble the team • Develop the team PROCESS

35. Assemble the team • Diversity of gifts • Singleness of purpose • Oneness in spirit

36. Diversity Ages Gifts Personalities Cross Section Roles Experiences Own agenda Work alone Not a team player Not teachable Not loyal Too busy to serve Create a Team Look for: Avoid those who:

37. Discussion Question How would you describe a godly leader?

38. Servant Leadership • Prayerful • Prompt, complete obedience • Shows God’s concern for people • Desire to win the lost • Life characterized by fruit of the Spirit • No hidden agenda • Demonstrates heart for God • Spends time with God • Seeks to glorify God in every area of life • Growing in the knowledge of God • Ministry is a delight, not duty

39. Assemble the team • F-A-T • Faithful • Available • Teachable

40. Team Structure

41. New leaders should expect: • Freedom to discover/express their gifts • Attitude of respect & trust • Specific clear guidelines • Teaching how to do their job • Mentoring relationship, if needed • Ongoing guidance and direction • Continual support and encouragement

42. Build the Team Encourage team members to develop relationships of influence

43. Build the Team Communicate with integrity & prayerfulness

44. Build the Team Get the “big picture” Ensure your team has caught the vision and understands it.

45. Build the Team • Cast the vision together (ownership) I will make you fishers of men (and women!)

46. May ? Dec June SpringTea On-going ? Christmas Brunch Monthly LeadersAppreciationEvent Prayer CreativeMemories Sept - Dec Monthly SpecialEvents Jan Mom’sMorningOut SpiritualGrowth Feb - May Women’sMinistryClasses SpecialActivities Summer SummerSchedule Summer TeamAdministration MarchOn-going Budget Mary &Martha 3 TimesPer Year The LoveConnection Treasurer StaffMeetings Administrator Care &Share Monthly AnnualReport On-going CommunityOutreach Leaders’Meeting March Database SecretSister Leaders’Minutes Newcomers’Fellowship On-going Monthly YearlyCalendar MailingList ResourceListing KindredSpirit Misc. On-going Monthly Oct - April August 2-3 Times Per Year Seasonally On-going 2-3 TimesPer Year Consider Administrative Details From Immanuel Baptist Church, Chelmsford, MA

47. Build the Team Evaluate to stimulate the process

48. Recap: What have we learned • Why Women’s Ministry? • Developing a philosophy of Women’s Ministry • Core Values • Purpose Statement • Vision Statement • Priorities • Creating a team to lead Women’s Ministry

49. What’s Next And to be covered in Designing a Women’s Ministry, Part Two: • Assessing needs of your women • Developing a program and plan • Publicizing your ministry

50. Homework • Draft your own philosophy of ministry for your women’s ministry program. Include • core values • mission/purpose statement • vision statement • list of your priorities. • Write a 2 page paper about the process.