What is women’s ministry in a church?
This women’s ministry blog is one of the most fulfilling projects I have right now. However, I was just sitting here thinking, “I’ll bet some people may not know what a women’s ministry actually is.” They may wonder what is women’s ministry in a church. Why hadn’t I thought of that before? Nevertheless, I decided now is a good time to write an article explaining what women’s ministry is and how it can take shape. If someone is a new Christian or a new convert, they may not be familiar with the term.
Yes, this needs to happen.
After all, I’ve written about starting a ministry, and I’ve been synthesizing my professional and women’s ministry experience to build this site as a resource for you.
A logical addition to this site is to talk about what is women’s ministry in a church and what it does.
What is a women’s ministry in a church?
A women’s ministry is a designated part or group within a religious or faith-based community, such as a church. It focuses on meeting the unique spiritual, emotional, and social needs of women. The primary goal of a women’s ministry is to create a supportive and nurturing environment where women can grow in their faith, build meaningful relationships, and address various challenges they may face in their personal lives.
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Let me tell you, a strong women’s ministry is like a total game-changer in a church!
News Flash!
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When families are searching for a new church, they should, in my opinion, inquire about the church’s youth ministry and the church’s women’s ministry.
It is all about building stronger women of faith. Strong women of faith make great wives, amazing moms, and fantastic friends!
Women – whether single or married carry influence – the influence impacts environments in ways the other gender can not. God made us influencers; I think that is why kingdoms have fallen at a woman’s hand.
Not only that, but have you noticed that in some cultures, women are most of the church members on the roster? There are many reasons for that, but I think one is the ability to check our logic and take God at His word. The other gender is amazing, but they often have difficulty doing that in a way a woman can.
God could tell a faith-filled woman to walk through a wall, and she will start walking, believing God to put a door there by the time she gets to it.
Still asking, ‘what is women’s ministry in a church?’
Let’s keep going…
The cute dog serves no purpose. He’s just cute. 🙂
Or maybe he, too, is asking, What is women’s ministry in a church?
What women’s ministry accomplishes and how.
In my experience, women’s ministries create a space for ladies to build genuine connections, provide mentorship in issues women face, and address topics that resonate with women’s experiences.
Women’s ministries can help women grow spiritually, embrace their identities in Christ, and contribute to the church and society. Indeed, they play a significant role in building a strong church.
My husband is a senior pastor and believes women’s ministry should focus on fellowship. He knows I think that is a missed opportunity.
Look, I have ZERO interest in preaching, but I do believe no one can teach women LIKE WOMEN. I don’t believe their “teaching” should replace the pastors or ministers – NO WAY! But, I believe women can learn so much from one another.
He and I disagree on this point, and that’s okay. God made HIM a pastor, not me. But, I will minister to women online through my blogs – and that’s my business, as Miss Tabitha would say. 🙂
What is women’s ministry in a church?f It is the power of women reaching out to women while growing in the Lord.
Anyway, so what is a women’s ministry in a church?
I’ll tell you. It’s a spiritual incubator.
Women’s ministries help women grow and expand spiritually by hosting events that are all about empowering women, helping them grow spiritually, and connecting with other sisters.
You’ve got Bible studies, prayer groups, and deep conversations galore—seriously, it’s like a spiritual feast for the soul.
Plus, whether they intend to do it or not, women’s ministries can provide a vehicle for women mentoring other women.
Think of Titus 2:4-8 … “older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.”
God has expanded our roles since this was written, but you can find so much help from women’s ministry experiences.
You will find mentors who’ve been through it all and are ready to share their wisdom.
Whether tackling tough topics or offering practical advice, these mentors have your back. And let’s not forget the warm and welcoming atmosphere where women can be real, find support, and recharge their spirits. It’s all about building a strong foundation, living out that faith, and walking tall in the journey of life.
Women’s Ministry Provide Programs
Women’s ministries may also host various programs, events, and resources.
One day, I play to create a job readiness program as part of the women’s ministry. I will host mock interviews, offer resume help, and have professional clothing giveaways.
I will do this in the public library or a community center. I’ve done something similar with teen girls, but I think many women out there could benefit as well.
Back to the spiritual benefits. Women’s ministries can offer opportunities for women to deepen their understanding of God’s Word while growing in spiritual wisdom.
I’m talking women’s ministry in church…but…
This blog post is talking about the church. But women’s ministries don’t have to be in the church. I want to make that clear. It can be a community effort like my first one over twenty years ago.
Back in the day, I was featured in local and national local media for my women’s ministry efforts. This is a perfect example of a community-based women’s ministry.
What is the difference between a women’s ministry and a nonprofit?
As you know, nonprofits, or NGOs for short, are basically these organizations that are all about doing good in the world. They don’t care about making money like regular businesses do. Instead, they focus on tackling important issues that affect people, communities, or the environment. Whether it is focused on helping out, speaking up for a cause, or providing support and education, nonprofits are all about making a positive difference.
Their funding comes from donations and fundraising to make it all happen. Most of my career has been in nonprofit management.
On the other hand, a women’s ministry is typically associated with a church or Christian organization.
It’s an “arm” of the church and focuses on meeting the needs of and being a blessing to the women within the church – although it may expand its reach to the larger community, it’s usually a church-based program.
The funding usually comes from fundraising efforts like selling things to keep a bit of the profit from registration fees and from the church budget. Don’t be fooled; very often, the ministry is funded by the women themselves.
Since I’m writing about church women’s ministries in this blog post, I will say women’s ministries typically offer a wide range of programs, events, and resources tailored to the interests and needs of women church members.
These can include Bible studies, prayer groups, workshops, retreats, conferences, mentorship programs, social gatherings, and community service initiatives. The ministry’s activities often have discussions on faith-related topics, personal development, relationships, parenting, career, and more.
Churches without a women’s
ministry is missing a great opportunity!
I understand that churches without women’s ministries might face certain challenges due to the absence of specialized support and a “community” specifically designed to address the unique needs of women.
It can be tough when women don’t have a dedicated space to connect, grow, and receive the support they may be seeking.
Furthermore, a women’s ministry can act as a platform for women to develop and exercise their spiritual gifts and leadership abilities.
By offering opportunities for women to serve, teach, lead small groups, or participate in ministry outreach, churches can empower women to actively contribute to the growth and mission of the church.
Without a dedicated women’s ministry, churches may miss out on these unique benefits and the positive impact they can have on women within the congregation.
Women may feel isolated, overlooked, or unsupported in their spiritual journey, resulting in a potential loss of engagement and participation.
Christian Woman, I have been a Christian for over thirty years, and there’s no doubt that I completely understand the significance of women’s ministries within the church community.
In my summation, churches need to acknowledge and prioritize the value of women’s contributions, providing them with nurturing environments that encourage their spiritual growth and development.
By intentionally creating spaces where women can thrive and feel supported, churches can foster an inclusive and vibrant community that empowers all its members to live out their unique God-given callings.
What is women’s ministry in a church? It’s meeting women’s needs. If it doesn’t happen, your church could experience the following:
- Untapped Potential: Without a women’s ministry, your church may miss out on harnessing the unique talents, skills, and spiritual gifts women can bring to various aspects of church life. Women’s ministries often provide a platform for women to actively engage in leadership roles, volunteer opportunities, and impactful service within the church community. Who knows how God can use the women in your church?
You may have an undiscovered artist, math genius, or web designer. Women need a chance to try new things and the responsibility of having to DO new things to see what they are capable of. - Limited Fellowship: Women’s ministries create a sense of sisterhood and community among women. Without such a ministry, female members will not have a space to connect, share experiences, and form supportive relationships. These relationships can contribute to a deeper sense of belonging for them within the church. Also, if women’s needs are unmet in the church, we make them vulnerable to ungodly relationships outside it. It’s better to give them space to make those connections with other Godly women in their OWN church.
- Lack of Spiritual Growth Focus: Women’s ministries often offer Bible studies, discussions, and resources that address women’s spiritual growth needs. Sure, they are not that different from male bible studies, but there are nuances that speak to women where they are.
Without these focused programs, women may have fewer opportunities to explore their faith in depth, hindering their personal and spiritual development. - Missed Outreach Opportunities: Women’s ministries can serve as a bridge to connect with the broader community, reaching women who may not otherwise engage with the church. The absence of such a ministry could limit the church’s outreach potential. Investing in a good women’s ministry means the church can reach more people for Jesus!
- Reduced Mentorship and Discipleship: Women’s ministries often allow opportunities for mentorship and discipleship relationships to flourish, which can be instrumental in fostering spiritual growth and maturity among women. See, a theme here? Women’s ministries can help women get closer to Jesus and grow spiritually.
- Less Inclusivity: A women’s ministry can ensure women’s voices, experiences, and concerns are represented and addressed within the church’s decision-making processes and church ministry efforts. You need a women’s ministry, especially if your church is large like mine. Otherwise, women’s interests and needs can “get lost” in the congregation and not feel invested or valued.
How to Advocate for a Women’s ministry with your pastor and other people in leadership.
If your church doesn’t have a women’s ministry, then you need to advocate for one. This means you need to speak up on the benefits (I linked to a page to help you) of a women’s ministry and convince leadership that it is worthwhile for the women’s spiritual growth and the sense of belonging women need to feel truly part of something.
To advocate for women’s ministry efforts, you need to be prepared before you talk to your pastor. Thoughtful communication and presenting a well-reasoned case is how you’ll get a “yes.”
Of course, I have ideas! Here’s a step-by-step approach I would use if I were you:
Step 1: Pray first.
Before you approach your pastor or leadership, be sure to seek God’s guidance through prayer, asking for clarity and wisdom.
Step 2: Set up the meeting.
After you feel the peace of the Holy Spirit to move forward, then you should request a meeting with your pastor to discuss the idea. See if you can take a couple of other ladies with you, but have a presentation plan.
Know who will speak and when, and design a document the pastor can keep for later reflection. Approach this conversation respectfully and humbly, acknowledging that it’s an important topic you want to explore.
Step 3: Research and learn.
Then, research and gather information about a women’s ministry’s benefits and potential impact, including examples from other churches. Check out my post about the benefits of women’s ministry here. A simple Google search will give you some great examples, but that’s not it. Reach out to other churches and talk to their women’s ministry leaders. Ask about the following:
- monthly cost of the women’s ministry
- obvious spiritual and emotional benefits of it
- Outcomes they have noticed (i.e., women are more community-minded, serve more in the church, want to learn more about Jesus, etc.)
Step 4: Get in his head before you meet with him.
Anticipate any concerns your pastor might have, such as resource allocation or time commitment. Be prepared to address these concerns with practical solutions and ideas. Lots of pastors are analytical and may see problems.
My dad used to say, “Don’t let people believe what they want; tell them what to believe!” He was teaching me to be forthcoming and persuasive.
If you’ve already garnered interest from other women in the congregation, mention that you’re not alone in your thinking about the church needing a ministry for women. This could prove to sway his/her opinion. He wants to meet the needs of the church. Confirm that a women’s ministry is a need.
Again, Ask around and meet with other ministries.
Ask them the question: What is women’s ministry in a church?
Find some research if you can support the need. Present that and some success stories from those other churches implementing successful women’s ministries. I, personally, use Google Scholar for everything. Since I’m finishing my master’s degree, I can usually find the articles on my school’s database for free.
Proven facts can help get you closer to a “yes.” After all, pastors are busy, so make it easy for them to agree with you! Proof is the cure for just about any skepticism.
Step 5: Start your plan!
Draft a preliminary plan for the women’s ministry, outlining the types of programs, events, and activities you envision.
Discuss how the ministry could fit into the church’s existing structure and goals.
Tell the pastor you could have women’s meetings on nights other events are happening to ensure the church is already open and operating – the only problem with that is that some of the women may be at those [other] events (i.e., choir rehearsal). But that’s OK! It would be a good thing if lots of women said, “Hey, I couldn’t go because of choir rehearsal, and I wanted to!” Your reply should be, “I’m so sorry. Please tell the pastor.”
Maybe he can let us meet on a Saturday.
That’s just an example.
Step 6: Plead your case!
During the meeting and in your handout(s), explain why you believe a women’s ministry is needed in the church.
Step 7: Tell him women have needs the pulpit could never handle.
Well, don’t say it as I did above, but tell the pastor he cannot fully understand what women are dealing with.
If your pastor is a woman, tell her you understand her role demands so much that she can’t do it all. It’s not healthy for her to even try. Explain how a women’s ministry might lighten her load a bit.
Make sure you share insights about the myriad challenges and needs of women in the congregation and how a dedicated ministry could address them.
Tell him how it could take some of the pressure off him because the women could support one another.
Example: If a woman is under the weather, she may opt to call one of her Christian sisters before calling the church. Again, another example.
Honey, I know people want to see their pastor when they are sick, and no one else will do. haha
Step 8: Tell him the benefits of women’s ministry.
Clearly outline to him the potential benefits of a women’s ministry, such as fostering spiritual growth, building community, providing mentorship, and enhancing the overall church experience.
Further, amplify how the new women’s ministry could provide service – pastors love this!
Step 9: Link the women’s ministry to the church’s guiding principles.
Definitely share your thoughts on how the women’s ministry can contribute towards achieving the church’s mission and vision.
Step 10: “Okay, Pastor, what do you think?”
Now, ask for the pastor’s insights and guidance on moving forward and what concerns him about the idea (hopefully, you already brainstormed that and have answers). Then, ask, “Pastor, what would you like to see the women’s ministry become and do?”
Remember to approach the conversation with a spirit of openness and respect. Your pastor will appreciate your dedication to the church’s growth and may provide valuable insights that can enhance your vision for a women’s ministry.
So that is it! That is the definition of what I think the answer is to the question, “What is a women’s ministry?”
