This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission from purchased products at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Within the local church, ministry to women is vital. Most churches worldwide report that the percentage of church attendees who are women is between 54% and 64% (Statista). Research also shows that women who are disciplined and taught evangelism strategies are more likely to share their faith with others (Women’s Ministry Equips Women to Share Their Faith). As we look to the future, we must begin now to equip women to lead. Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines equip as: to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning. Equipping women’s ministry leaders simply means that we are intentional in providing the tools and strategies they need to be effective.
The Feeling Of Being Equipped
Whether at work, in our homes, or at church, it is human nature to hesitate to step into a role we do not feel well-qualified for. Even if we are passionate about an area of ministry or a people group, not having the needed tools for the position may drastically reduce our effectiveness. Receiving education and mentoring as we prepare to begin a new role builds confidence and helps quiet thoughts and feelings of self-doubt.
Leadership In Women’s Ministry
Leaders in ministry to women wear many hats. We are event planners, hospitality champions, comforters of those who mourn, celebrators of joyous occasions, holders of those confidences entrusted to us, teachers, and mentors. We lead by example and by instruction; we counsel, we console, and when needed, we lovingly confront theological error. Is it any wonder that equipping those who lead in ministry to women is so vital to a healthy local church?
Over years of serving and now leading women in ministry, I feel five essential areas benefit women we seek to equip for leadership. We must choose wisely, model leadership, provide resources and education, embolden women to serve in areas of gifting, and empower them.
5 Tips For Equipping Women’s Ministry Leaders
1. Choose Wisely
When choosing women to lead, we must consider their maturity and character. Chronological age is not a synonym for maturity, nor is the ability to quote scripture a sure sign of character. Women who lead well are mature in their thoughts, actions, and reactions. They carefully consider how their words may affect others. The mature leader also understands her own limitations and when to seek guidance or assistance. The leader of excellent character is trustworthy and actively seeks the benefit of those she leads.
There is a Biblical foundation for older women teaching the younger women of the church (Titus 2:3-5). However, we must also consider the spiritual maturity of those we ask to step into a leadership position. Choosing a spiritually mature woman with an excellent character is far better than imposing an age requirement.
2. Model Leadership
There are many excellent resources on effective leadership, but modeling behaviors and skills within a trusted relationship allows us to infuse essential beliefs and values. Pair women new to leadership with an experienced leader. Working alongside each other, the mature leader can model many soft skills necessary in ministry to women. Skills such as:
- Being the first to greet and include guests,
- Noticing who was absent, and then sending a note or text of encouragement
- Asking for and incorporating the feedback of others
- Demonstrating appreciation for and value of those they serve
We need to normalize explaining the reasons behind our processes. Resist the urge just to give instruction; grant insights into how you arrived at decisions. For example: “I always move this table over towards the right because I noticed Mary struggles to get her walker out of the aisle, and I don’t want her to feel embarrassed.” Moments like these help to build critical thinking skills in new leaders. Mentoring new leaders allows us to share helpful insights and model servant leadership.
3. Provide Resources and Education
Invest in those you ask to lead. Invest time and resources, and, as the budget allows, invest money to provide theological education. As I write this paragraph, I smile because I can almost hear the collective gasps: “Our church can’t afford to send anyone to seminary!”
One of the people who invested in me as a new leader was our church’s administrative assistant. I learned to type on an electric typewriter and as a nurse, I handwrote documentation in the patient’s chart for the first fifteen years of my nursing career. Typing was not my strongest skill, and I needed to learn to use some computer programs to create flyers or add an item to the church bulletin.
Melanie patiently helped me navigate and showed me “insider tips” for each program. She also demonstrated how to use the copier (it was very fancy and intimidating). When I wanted to move to online registering for events and accepting credit card payments, Melanie was there for the research and adopting new technology! She invested her time and shared her knowledge.
Another person who invested their time, energy, and knowledge in helping me as a new leader was the deacon chairman. The church has a professional-grade dishwasher in our kitchen. As I was planning one of the first events, he walked me through how to turn on the dishwasher and place dishes in the racks so every item was thoroughly cleaned. He then showed me how to drain the dishwasher once we were through. I was very grateful for the demonstration and the patient answer to all my questions.
When my dining room table overflowed with supplies and resources for the women’s ministry, the pastor assigned me a small office space. I was grateful to reclaim the dining room table for our family use. Church leadership invested resources in the form of an office/storage space.
Leaders in ministry to women teach and disciple the women of our churches. It is imperative that we provide theological education. The education we provide may be through conferences, or online studies, or even from Bible studies the church leadership suggests. In my denomination, we have conferences specifically designed for the leaders of women’s ministry. Consider offering a scholarship so your women’s ministry leaders can attend a conference.
Check out the upcoming free, online conferences at Small Church Ministry!
Include the leaders of your women’s ministry in workshops you offer to the staff of your small church. The invitation builds the relationship between leaders and staff and increases the theological and Biblical knowledge of the leadership in ministry to over half the church!
In one church, the pastor offered a beginner class on Theology. He taught the class from the textbook he used in seminary. The class lasted 12 weeks and introduced the lay leaders to Theological concepts.
Our denomination groups individual churches into Associations. The Associations may offer different seminary-level classes taught by an Association leader that are open to any who would like to attend. These classes are usually free except for the textbook’s cost.
Post-COVID, we now have many online offerings of classes on evangelism, church history, and even Greek and Hebrew. If we are committed to providing the needed resources and education, we can equip the ministry leaders to serve women in our church and our community in a Biblically sound approach.
4. Embolden Women To Serve In Their Area of Gifting
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10 NIV
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.
Exodus 31:1-5 NIV
In the Old and New Testaments, we learn that God has given each of us specific talents, skills, and gifts. He intends that we use those talents, skills, and gifts for His glory and for the edification of the Body of Christ. This concept is crucial to equipping women to serve in ministry to the women of our church.
Encourage women to think about the talents, skills, and spiritual gifts they have received from the LORD. Then, embolden each woman to walk and serve in the areas of their gifting. For example, if your church has traditionally asked the Ministry to Women’s leader to also serve as the planner for the annual Christmas Dinner, consider if this is a good fit for the current woman who leads the women’s ministry. In the past, the leader may have had the gift of hospitality and the administrative skills to lead well in this area. The current leader may dread the event each year as an uncomfortable exercise in an area outside her gifting.
Equip the women who serve in ministry to women to fully embrace the talents, skills, and spiritual gifts The Lord has given them. When we, as God’s masterpiece (workmanship), serve using the gift He gave we glorify Him, and the Body of Christ benefits.
5. Empower Those Who Lead
I am not suggesting a radical break from Biblical authority or how you “do” church. Church leadership is a Biblical concept, and I do not intend to imply that you circumvent or abolish the structure we are to follow. However, I suggest that to lead effectively, the leader of women’s ministry needs your support.
Show your confidence in her ability. Praise the leadership team publicly and often. Thank her for her hard work after an event. Encourage other ministry leaders to include her in planning for the church. When she asks for help, assist her or be instrumental in finding others who can. If there is conflict, be a non-judgemental and CONFIDENTIAL listener so she can discuss the issue. Refrain from entertaining gossip about her. Please show your support by re-directing others to her with questions or concerns about the women’s ministry. Pray for her.
Equipping Women To Lead Is Vital
Ministry to Women is a vital part of small church life. These five tips, choosing wisely, modeling leadership, providing resources and education, emboldening women to serve in areas of gifting, and empowering those who lead, will help us grow fruitful and healthy women’s ministries. As local churches and corporately as the Body of Christ, we benefit from equipping women to lead, teach, and share the Gospel with other women.
Serving alongside you!
Read More:
9 Meaningful Tips To Strengthen Your Women’s Ministry
10 Best Ideas For Your Next Women’s Retreat Theme
20 Fun Activities For Women’s Groups In Small Churches
Carla Adams is a wife, a nurse, and a women’s ministry leader. As an author and a speaker, she seeks to encourage women to use their God-given tools, talents, and gifts to serve Him and others.
