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Women’s Ministry Ideas, Especially For Your Small Church
Learn how to start a women’s ministry in your Christian church, including outreach events, building relationships, Bible studies, and more.
So you’ve been thinking about starting a women’s ministry, but you’re not sure where to start?
With any desired change, our problem isn’t typically needing to learn more, think more, or pray more. Our biggest obstacle usually is DOING.
Fear holds us back. Uncertainty drives our thoughts. Other important things get in our way. And we just never get started.
In order to get you DOING, here is a 4-week plan to start your women’s ministry, broken down by the weeks with just 7 steps. Once the snowball starts rolling down the hill, it gains momentum and starts growing. But sometimes that snowball needs a little kick to get started.
I always write with the small church in mind. So while large churches can follow these same steps, I promise they can work in your small church too. Whether you have 2 women or 20, a healthy women’s ministry can add a lot of benefits to your church.
- A space for women to laugh, cry, and just do life together with other women. It brings us together.
- An environment for friendship and encouragement. Growing deeper in relationship is God’s desire for community.
- A place to grow to learn about God and His Word. The ultimate goal is knowing Jesus and living for Him.
So here goes!
So, here’s a 4-week plan with 7 actionable steps to build a women’s ministry in your small church. Follow these steps, don’t over-complicate it, and repeat to yourself: Done is better than perfect!
(My assumptions are 1: You know Jesus and feel inspired to do this ministry. 2: You care about the women in your community and desire to meet their needs (not just your own). And 3: Your church leadership supports you and has given you permission to form this ministry. If those things are in question, take care of them first and come back here soon!)
The Foundation Of Women’s Ministry
Women Need Relationships With Other Women
- God made us for community: Hebrews 10:25 (don’t give up meeting together)
- We make each other better: Proverbs 27:17 (iron sharpens iron)
- Women are called to mentor women: Titus 2 (older women teaching the younger)
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?
Check out the Women’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
Women’s Ministry Is For All Women
You don’t need to be a girly-girl and you don’t need to like the color pink.
I’ve met so many women who avoid women’s ministries for the following reasons: I don’t really like to be around other women. They’re so catty. I hate girly-stuff. I don’t like crafts. I’m not a stay-at-home mom. I wouldn’t fit in. I don’t know anyone.
You don’t need to be a certain age, life-stage, or personality type.
The truth is a lot of women don’t like pink, don’t like gossip, and don’t like crafts. None of these are essential to a women’s ministry.
Women’s ministries exist to meet needs. Friendship, laughter, support, encouragement, exhortation, service, spiritual growth. The core of a women’s ministry is sharing God’s love and doing what He commands. A healthy women’s ministry attracts an eclectic group.
- Olders, youngers, and in-betweeners
- Working, stay-at-home, and retired
- Introverts, extroverts, and other-verts
- Jesus-lovers, Jesus-seekers, and even Jesus-avoiders
A Healthy Women’s Ministry Has A Strategy
Whether you are starting from scratch, reviving your new year, or just wanting to re-boost some momentum, work this 4-week plan. A little intentionality can go a long way!
- Refresh your dreams, your lists, and your prayers.
- Adopt a strategy instead of just filling a calendar.
- Find some support along the way.
4 Weeks To Start A Women’s Ministry In 7 Steps
Week One: Find A Ministry Partner & Advertise A Launch Party
Step 1: Find A Ministry Partner (Or Two) For More Effectiveness, Better Ideas, And Less Missteps
Having a team of two or three does some amazing things:
- More fun, less stress
- Better events
- Encouragement to keep going
Even if your church is small, don’t start this ministry alone! We are made for community. Everything is better with a friend. And in a small church, if you plan an event together, even if no one else shows up, you still have your friend!
Doing ministry in teams, even if your team is just two, protects us from burnout and reminds us we are not failing when numbers aren’t what we would like! Because you are never alone. Think about Bert & Ernie, Siskel & Ebert, the Lone Ranger & Tonto. It’s just a better plan.
In addition to support & encouragement, sometimes your best ideas might not be as great as you think. And you need another perspective to bring that to light!
It happens to me all the time: I’ll have this great idea, and I share it with my friend Gwen. Half-way into sharing this amazing notion, I start to question the words coming out of my own mouth. Why did I think this was a good idea? That doesn’t sound as good as I thought.
But as the conversation continues, back and forth, with feedback and input, MY idea becomes OUR idea, and it is SOOOO much better. There is perspective, clarity, and even unintended troubleshooting that comes with a team. Everyone needs a “Gwen.” She makes things better and saves me from a lot of mistakes.
Where Can You Find A Ministry Partner?
There is a woman somewhere who cares about this ministry at your church. It might be the older prayer warrior, your best friend, a young woman who is barely out of high school, or a faithful woman you haven’t really talked with at length. But I think she’s there in your church.
If you can’t find her quite yet, click here to join our Facebook community >> Creative Solutions For Small Churches. And we’ll partner with you until you do!
Step 2: Block Some Time
Many things can keep us from attaining our goals and aspirations. One of those things is time. How many times have you had the thought, “If only there were more hours in the day! Then I could … ” You fill in the blank from there. Whatever that may be for you, it can seem like the clock is your enemy. But what if you could intentionally block your time to make time for your friend? The steps in this guide are easily attainable and are designed to fit within 4 weeks.
Time blocking is a useful strategy that can help when you feel your brain is on overload. When we simply stop stirring and stewing about what we have to do and start taking intentional action like time blocking, a plan forms and starts to take effect. We tangibly see progress and results.
In your personal calendar, block a little time each week for this project. Set aside one time block each week for the next four weeks to work step-by-step through this guide.
If time blocking is unfamiliar to you, simply reserve a 2-3 hour chunk of time. One afternoon, one evening, or one morning each week over the next few weeks. Take some time to prayerfully consider what will work best for you.
Step 3: Advertise A Launch Party
I know we haven’t covered what this Launch Party entails yet, but if you are willing to take a risk and trust me, pick a date toward the end of week three to have a Women’s Ministry Launch Party.
You need to pick the date now so you can advertise it. You’ll learn more about the Launch Party in week 3.
It’s possible no one will join you at this party, but you may be surprised to find others who have been craving a women’s ministry. And you’ll never know unless you ask. So, do a sweeping invite for a women’s ministry Launch Party! It doesn’t matter at all if anyone else ends up joining you – it might just be you and your “Gwen” attending. And that is just fine!
If Others May Never Come, Why Should I Publicize This?
Inviting others into the process does a few things:
- It shows you value their input even if they don’t want to give it.
- May bring great ideas into the process that you have never thought about.
- It builds momentum, whether people come or not. If they come, awesome! You get to learn about their needs and desires. If they don’t come, everyone who saw it advertised will still be wondering what’s coming around the corner!
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?
Check out the Women’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
So pick a date, time, and place that work for you and your Ministry Partner. The location might be your church, your home, or a local coffee shop. And remember, we will cover what to do in this meeting in step 5. All you have to do this week is pick the date, time, and get the word out.
Advertise ASAP in your church bulletin, email announcements, flyers, and social media. Use whatever avenues you have available to spread the news. Let everyone know it’s happening even if you think no one would ever come or you think very few people even care.
Try this for wording: “Hey! Join us for a Women’s Ministry Launch Party! We are starting something new and would love your input. Meet us at (place) from (time) to share your ideas and have a little fun too! Contact (name & number/email) if you have any questions.”
So, week one was all about finding a ministry partner and advertising a launch party. Don’t overthink this. Just Go! You’re going to be okay. Just get the snowball rolling down the hill!
Week Two: Make A Love List & Commit To The Funnel
Step 4: Make A Love List
Whether you are a list person or a list avoider, this list is non-negotiable.
But this list isn’t a boring to-do list that you’ll never be able to conquer. It’s a love list!
Grab your journal and list all the women you can think of connected to your church, by name. (If you completed step 1 and have a ministry partner, do this together!)
List women over the age of 18 who are still living and breathing on this earth. Include any woman with a connection to your church.
- Regular attendees, occasional attendees, once-a-year visitors
- Close friends, acquaintances, friends of friends
- Happy women, ticked-off women, even crabby women
If you think of a name, write it down.
- If you met them at a friend’s Christmas party
- They left your church, but you still see them on Facebook.
- If they come late, leave early, and never talk to a soul.
Every Woman Is Included On This List
You might know them a lot, you might know them a little, or you might think you know them better than you do. It doesn’t matter.
All these women matter to God. And all are in your circle of influence. They have needs to meet. And they have gifts to share. Each and every one of them.
Keep this list in a safe place. And be ready to add to it as other women come to mind.
This list becomes a prayer list. A strategy list. A living, breathing, growing list.
Step 5: Commit To The Funnel Strategy
I love to look to Jesus when I’m visioning, strategizing, or just dealing with people. So here is a ministry strategy based on how Jesus ministered on this earth.
Now, I know “strategy” is a business-y word to some, but strategy just means focused planning. And I think God is okay with planning as long as it doesn’t negate Holy Spirit intervention or God-redirection. So let’s embrace this Jesus strategy!
Jesus Exampled A Funnel Ministry, Not A One-Size-Fits-All Ministry
Jesus did not minister to all people in the same way.
- He did not give the same message to the curious that He gave to His disciples.
- Jesus did not try to meet all the needs of all people at one event.
- He wasn’t disappointed that He only had 12 disciples. He expected it.
5000 came out of curiosity and received a free meal on a hillside. Crowds followed Jesus to learn more. He shared relatable parables about farming with people who would relate. Twelve traveled and ate with Jesus, and He taught them to do the ministry. Three came to the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus urged them to stay awake and pray.
We can learn a lot from this.
A women’s ministry can have a Pajama Pizza Party without a Bible study. It’s okay to have a small group learning about Jesus that isn’t yet committed to evangelism. And it’s great to have just two women in a discipleship group. Because that’s doing ministry like Jesus.
Let me explain.
Understanding The Ministry Funnel
If you pour something in a funnel, it will naturally flow through the top and out the bottom (as long as it’s not clogged).
Imagine this image is a funnel:
Like a typical funnel, it’s clearly larger on the top and gets smaller as it goes down. The top and the bottom are open so things can flow through.
Now, picture people all over this image. Some people are outside the funnel in the white space on your screen, some are jumping in the funnel, and some are traveling down through the funnel. Then watch at the bottom of the funnel: someone is squeezing out of the bottom, grabbing a friend, and jumping back in the top again! Fun, huh?
That’s how ministry works!
So what does it mean?
This special funnel has layers. From top to bottom, biggest to smallest, the layers look like this:
- Outreach: Come on in and join us!
- Community: Stay in and build relationships!
- Growth: Get to know Jesus and learn about God’s Word!
- Discipleship: Live what you learn and reach out to others!
If you have women outside the funnel, what would bring them in? Maybe a movie night or a paint party. (Jesus got the attention of non-believers with miracles, stories, and food.)
If you have women who are ready to grow deeper in faith, you may offer a Bible study or a mentoring program. But everyone starts somewhere. And most people dip their toe in the water before they dive deep. Discipleship is a process.
How The Funnel Changes Church Ministry
By applying the funnel strategy to your women’s ministry, you’ll do things with more intention, find yourself less frustrated, and meet needs more effectively.
If you are reading this article, you are probably on your way down the funnel. You want more depth. You want more meaning. And you want more Jesus.
But remember that some of your women aren’t there yet – they might even be outside the funnel. They need an invitation to jump in and dip their toe in the water. Build relationships. Maybe they will follow at a distance for a while.
The funnel reminds us that everyone isn’t at the same place, and every event won’t meet everyone’s needs. There is no failure when more women come to a movie night and less are interested in being mentored. They are just not there yet.
A healthy women’s ministry isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s perfectly healthy to have less women in a Bible study, more joining a walking club, and lots coming to a dessert night. There is no failure there. This funnel leads us to a few principles:
- Design events with specific purposes to meet women’s needs
- Don’t try to reach every need with every event
- Expect to have varied attendance at different events
Be patient. Remember, Jesus did not invite 5000 people to the Garden of Gethsemane. He gave the 5000 free food on a hillside!
Every woman will not be excited about a Bible study, and that is okay. Ministry is about meeting needs and if what they need is friendship, start there. Welcome them where they are, just like Jesus did.
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?
Check out the Women’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
Week Three: Prepare Your Launch Party & Lead With Confidence
Step 6: Prepare For Your Women’s Ministry Launch Party
Parties vs. Meetings
Meetings are boring and bland. They involve lectures, learning, and note-taking.
Parties are fun! They are active. They always involve food, usually music, and sometimes even gifts.
While some people like meetings, MOST people like a party.
So, throw a party! Plan to set up the environment like you would a party. Have fun food. Pretty napkins. Maybe even simple welcome gifts, door prizes, or party favors to take home. This could be as simple as a scripture verse printed on a card or even a candy bar!
Music is welcoming as people enter and fill the awkward staggered-arrival time. Set a happy tone with some tunes.
Here are some of your favorite gifts and party favors!
Be prepared for your meeting ahead of time so you can be relaxed, relational, and a fabulous welcomer!
(If you are familiar with the Planning Parties & Visions Parties that we teach in Small Church Ministry and in The Small Church Academy, this Launch Party is a cross between the two. We’re rolling a bit of vision and planning together since we’re accelerating the time frame and launching a new thing in just 4 weeks!)
Gather your supplies:
- A timer
- Post-it note pads (1 pad per person)
- Pens
- Snacks & refreshments (keep it simple!)
- Music to play and something to play it on
- M&M’s (optional)
- The M&M’s mixer printout (optional)
- Extra paper
- Planning Party Agenda (below)
Read over your party agenda a few times so you are comfortable:
If you are not used to leading a group, practice leading the meeting out loud. You will be much more confident if you practice out loud, even if it’s just to your mirror or to your cats!
Step 7: Lead Your Launch Party
Strive to keep each section to 10 minutes as listed. You’ll want to keep the party and the conversation moving. You can set a timer for each section if it helps.
Keep in mind, no one wants to attend another boring meeting – so start with some fun, and definitely some food.
Launch Party Agenda
Start With The M&M Candy Mixer (10 Minutes)
As with any event, start with a mixer. Even if you dislike mixers and games, they serve a purpose. People need to downshift from their days and their worries.
How To Play The M&M Mixer
Have each woman grab a few M&M’s but tell them not to eat them yet! Go around the circle and answer a question for each color. (orange: a favorite book or movie, brown: something you did this week, yellow: something you’d like to try doing, red: something you are interested in, blue: something you are pretty good at, green: a food you don’t like.) If there are only a few of you, still play the game! It’s surprising how much we still have to learn about even our closest friends.
If you want a printable to use for this game, here’s one I found on Pinterest: M&M’s Mixer Game.
Share Your Vision For Women’s Ministry (5-10 Minutes)
Share why you want to start a women’s ministry. Maybe talk about some of the things in the introduction of this article. Share some of your hopes and dreams. This is the time to paint a picture of a positive future and what God might have in store.
Read Isaiah 43:9: “Behold, I am doing a new thing … now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
God has done amazing things in the past and He’s still at work today!
Post-It Note Brainstorming (10 Minutes)
In this next section, invite women to dream about their hopes and for a ministry. But do it this way:
Ask them to think about these 2 questions. 1: What would a great women’s ministry look like? And 2: What type of events would you invite your friends to?
Pass out a pad of post-it notes to each woman and tell them we are not going to talk quite yet. Set a timer for 5 minutes and ask them to jot down as many ideas as they can think of, but only write one idea per post-it note. Just one word or phrase per post-it. Your goal is LOTS of ideas, not your best ideas, just LOTS! (One post-it might read: retreat. Others might say: make meals for the homeless, game night, or cooking together.)
Before you start the timer, state a few rules: There are no wrong ideas. All ideas are welcome. No talking until the timer rings.
After the 5-minutes, have everyone share what they wrote. Encourage and thank each one as she shares. (Celebrate all ideas – no negative comments, no judging, no decisions, just sharing!)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Individual quiet writing time is key in this activity. Don’t give into the temptation to skip the post-it notes. In most groups, when the talking begins, a few people dominate the conversation. Those who are quieter or thought-processors get left out of the conversation. By giving time to write and then having each person share what they wrote, you will increase participation and ensure that every heart is heard!
Group The Post-It Notes (10 Minutes)
Work together to group the post-it notes in similar stacks or categories. Maybe everything that is about Bible study is in one pile. Talk about how great all the ideas are.
More post-its in one area doesn’t mean it’s a better idea. You are just grouping to learn more and make decision-making easier later.
Before moving on to the next section, say this: “These are such great ideas and I hope we will be able to do a lot of them. To get started this year, you’ll probably see some simple events (maybe the mission trip to Haiti will be down the road a bit). But we are going to hang on to ALL these ideas for the future and revisit the ones we can’t do quite yet!“
Introduce Core Values (10 Minutes)
Ask the women how they would describe a healthy women’s ministry. Not the events offered, but the characteristics of the group (like welcoming, happy, encouraging, and supportive).
Make a list together of all the words you can come up with. Then, like you did with the post-it notes, try to group similar words and meanings and see if you can come up with 4-6 words that are most important.
The key question is: What kind of ministry would you like to be part of?
You do not need to finalize this section. Just have a working list.
As you talk about this, you will uncover what is important to the women who are present. And if it is important to them, it should be important to you!
Invite Them To Join The Vision (10 Minutes)
Say, “Every one of you is part of this vision. You all have great ideas, gifts, and talents to share. Can you think of a way you would like to be involved? Would you like to help with certain events? Are there any hobbies you would like to share?”
Just have some free time of sharing. Listen well and take notes! Be thinking about how you can encourage them to use their gifts and talents in this ministry.
Wrap Up The Meeting (10 Minutes)
Before you wrap up the party, go around the table and have everyone share one thing they are excited about in the future women’s ministry. Listen well and take notes.
Thank them for coming and let them know you will create a year calendar of some initial events and have it ready next week!
Week Four: Choose Simple Events For This Year & Publicize Your Women’s Ministry Calendar
Step 8: Make Your Low-Prep Event Calendar
With the help of your Ministry Partner and input from your planning party, create a yearly calendar within one week of your meeting.
Don’t be intimidated by planning the calendar. It doesn’t have to be perfect. And you may end up doing some additional things. But start here! Putting one SIMPLE event on the calendar for each month will start the momentum.
Follow these starting principles:
- One event each month is plenty.
- Consider where your women are on the ministry funnel and plan with their needs in mind.
- Choose simple events that will be successful even if only 2 women come.
Don’t worry about the perfect calendar. It won’t be perfect.
Knowing that ahead of time takes the pressure off. You will have events that no one comes to. And some events surprise you with way more people than you dreamed. Keep great notes and keep learning.
Women’s Ministry Event Ideas For Starting Out
Choose easy, low-prep, low-cost, low-stress events.
The best events are usually the easiest events to plan and lead. If you are anxious about the details or worry about failing, you won’t be present to listen and love the women who come. You will be distracted and stressed out. And none of us need more stress.
People are busy. And you are busy. If your women’s ministry is high maintenance you will burn out and fail. Instead, choose easy events with great impact, and the greatest impact is relationship.
If you need a few more ideas to get your creative juices flowing, click here for: Women’s Ministry How-To Events. And click here for 3 Low-Stress, Low-Prep Ideas For Women’s Ministry.
Or try some of these:
- Pajama & Popcorn Movie Night
- Walking/Hiking Meet-Up Day
- Book club
- Bible study video series (recent favorites: Lysa Terkheurst or Bianca Olthoff)
- Mugs & Muffins Fellowship
- Themed potluck
- Q & A panel on a specific topic
- Sewing dresses for Africa out of pretty pillowcases
- Making meals to freeze for families in need (Here is a book we found that has 150 freezer-friendly recipes!)
Whatever you choose, just start!
Put 12 events on your church calendar, one each month, and start publicizing within one week after your planning party. And get the word out!
Step 9: Promote Your Calendar
Sometimes the lead-up to an event can be the deciding factor if people attend or not. After you create your ministry calendar, you’ll want to publicize it ASAP! Promoting your ministry calendar is an essential step that you don’t want to skip. It notifies others and also keeps you accountable as the planner.
There are many ways that you can approach inviting people to an event.
Including …
- Phone calls
- Church bulletin
- And more!
I’d encourage you to promote what’s on your calendar through multiple means of communication. As you may have experienced yourself, people forget, especially if they only heard about “said event” one time. The Quick Start Guide will provide and spark more ideas on how you can best build excitement and start welcoming women to your events.
Looking for a step-by-step to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?
Check out the Women’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
What’s Next?
Step 10: Build A Foundation For Long-Term Success
A women’s ministry is more than just a calendar of events. It’s a community where women can grow together and make a lasting impact. If you want to take things a step further and hit the ground running, there is an additional resource we have designed to help lay the foundation for your ministry.
The Foundation’s Workbook for Small Church Women’s Ministry Success builds a sturdy foundation by getting behind the ‘why’ of your ministry. If you can identify the heart of what you’re doing, then put it in writing, then you will be able to put it into action. With a definitive vision for your ministry, you’ll be less likely to lose your own eyesight. Your attitude and overall perspective will be healthier and thriving. This will be especially helpful for when you are experiencing a lull in your ministry.
Too many times we can get lost in the details: How many people are attending? Are people having enough fun? They look bored. I’m not sure that this is doing anything. The Foundation’s Workbook for Small Church Women’s Ministry Success will eliminate unnecessary detail and really hone in on what matters.
Congratulations! You just started a women’s ministry!
Now, to keep it running and healthy you need to keep learning! But learning as you go is the best way to grow, so don’t wait to start until you get it all down. Remember: Done is better than perfect!
Read More On Building A Community In Your Small Church:
This 4-week plan is AMAZING! It is clear and step by step. When you break it down into the 7 basic steps, starting a ministry feels like it is totally doable and will be enjoyable. The Funnel concept has helped me to have a greater understanding of “where our ladies are” and be more intentional to the ones that are towards the bottom of the funnel. And BTW- I love the Facebook group… Women in Small Churches – The Creative Little Church Community. We don’t have a big church and I love that after reading this, i feel like events can be fun, enjoyable, have meaning and purpose with only a few people attending.
Hi Cheri – Thanks so much! Here’s a link to the facebook group you mentioned for anyone who wants to join this awesome group: THE CREATIVE LITTLE CHURCH COMMUNITY.
Wow this is an excellent guide. I just love the simplicity
Thank you so much! Let me know how it goes!
I want to start a ministry for the widows in our small church and community. I am not an organizer so need lots of help and ideas. The 4 week plan is a great help. Any help and ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Hi Sharon! I’m so glad this is helpful for you. Please join our facebook community for more ideas, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreativeLittleChurch/
This is excellent and most helpful! I am starting a ministry for helping battered and abused women. These steps are a God’s send!! Thank you!!
That is really beautiful. Praying for God-led ideas and support for you. Join us in our facebook group! Would love to know you more! Women in Small Churches
This is very encouraging. Looks easy to set up, though it requires a lot of work and careful thoughts about finding a Ministry Partner. I will try it out
Hi Helen! Thank you for your comment. And you are totally correct. It’s a simple process, but the right ministry partner is really important in the process. Please keep us posted and reach out for ideas or help if you need anything! find us in the facebook group, if you haven’t already joined us. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreativeLittleChurch/
Thank you so much for this information it has given me a better understanding of leading a women’s ministry. I really appreciate you.
God Bless
Hi Alice, you are so welcome! I’m glad you found value in this! Check out our upcoming women’s ministry conference for small churches! It’s online and free! http://www.smallchurchsummits.com
Laurie
Hello and thank you so much for all the ideas. Our women’s ministry has never been much and completely fizzled out when the Pandemic hit. I love helping people and my Pastor asked me to be the leader a few weeks ago and my first thought was “No, nothing to lead”, but God. He wouldn’t leave my spirit settled with “NO”, so here I go. A little intimidated until I came across your info. So I’m going to walk that road and try my best. Thank you for your help in this area. I don’t have Facebook but I’ll do my best.
Here goes nothing.
Haha! You sound just like so many of us Jody! It’s a joy to be able to support you. Keep in touch! Laurie
Thanks for such a helpful article! I’m looking forward to connect with your Facebook group. Blessings, Mari
Awesome! I’ll watch for you in there Mari. Looking forward to knowing you.
Thank you for your helps. TRULY helpful. God bless your heart
Awesome to hear from you Liz! Keep us posted on what you need next!
Thank you so much for all this helpful information. I am trying to help start a young women’s ministry in our church and this is an awesome way to get started. I am very excited about using this information from your article. Thank you, thank you and thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad! Come join us in our facebook group – tons of encouragement and help in there too: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreativeLittleChurch/
I do not have a facebook page. Is there any other way to join you for the encouragement and help?
Hi Rosaline! Yes, absolutely! You can sign up to be on our weekly email list and attend our free online conferences! (also, you can sign up for a free facebook account to join us. Many of our women don’t “do” facebook, but just enter our group and participate in there. You don’t have to even have any friends on fb or ever look at a weekly feed to participate in our fb community.)
Thanks! How do I sign up for the weekly email list.
Hi Rosaline! If you sign up for the 5-day challenge, you’ll be on our list! It’s on the website home page (and most other pages too!) … or you can let me know and I’ll add you! 🙂
Great information! It’s clear and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing!!
I’m so glad, Melissa! The feedback from people who have put this into practice has been FABULOUS!! Let us know how it goes! (join our fb community!)
Thanks! I just signed up for the 5 day challenge. I’m excited to read all the great information and again thanks for sharing.
Hi Rosaline! Yes, I just got your email too! I’m excited to know you!
Thanks, I’m excited to know you too! I also bought the 5 week journal that you download and I think it is great. It really helps you to think about what you want in a ministry.
Yay! Yes, I love it too!
The workbook has really given me a different perspective and outlook on ministry. This is truly a great way to gain insight into what God wants you to do. I have a book of poetry that I had published and would like to share it with you. Do you have an address so that I can mail it to you because I would love for you to have a copy of it. It is called “God is Speaking”.
So excited! Our Planning Party is next Sunday! We have a Community Block Party this Saturday (so our focus on the Planning party starts Sunday), but my Ministry Partner and I have been working through the steps! Thank you Laurie for this great information!
When I started reading this article, I knew this is what God wanted me to do. He laid it on my heart a few weeks prior and I, kind of ignored it (Do we ever listen to Him immediately?). Then, our worship leader, a 24 year old woman, spoke at church, and said if God tells you to do something, do it. Don’t ignore Him – he is telling you for a reason. That spoke to me, but I still reluctantly hesitated to move forward. Then, someone (probably Laurie) posted this article in the Facebook group. I started reading it and was like, I can do this!!! I immediately texted my (future) Ministry Partner and she was like, I’m in! Let’s do this! It is great when God uses others to give you tools for things he placed on your heart. Thank you again Laurie!
PS. I love the Facebook group!
I’d love to know your plan and your testimony after!! Please KEEP SHARING! How exciting!
I’m so glad I found this article. I am currently at a point where I feel stuck in my ministry for ladies and this will so much help me to restart and make lasting impact. God bless you. I will begin the plan this week.
I’m glad you found it to! no need to be or feel stuck. We are anti-stuck here! Have you joined our fb community yet? Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CreativeLittleChurch/
this is so helpful, I am soon starting a ministry at our church for teens and young girls and I have gotten useful ideas from this article. God bless you
Awesome!! I’m so glad it’s helpful. The plan has principles that are easily adjusted for any ministry area!
What a write up! Wow! Thank you so very much for this. I bless the Lord I found this…I’m about lunching out for widow’s ministry. Thank you for this great ideas you shared. God bless you real good.
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These steps were well put together. God bless you abundantly for making my work easy. Now i and my team can plan the women’s ministry at our church with ease.
Awesome!! 🙂 We’d love to hear how it goes!
i love this article and would like to receive them
I’m so glad it’s helpful! Keep popping back on the website! We add new posts each week!
This site is helpful. I would love to connect with your team.
Come find us in our facebook community! That’s where we hang out! Click Here: Creative Solutions for Small Churches
Wonderful. Thank you so much.
You’re so welcome!
You teaching we found it help full, we are planning how to start women ministry in church. We have arranged one starting meeting three weeks from this date. We started with no background of how it works, and starting up no know how, thank for you article it help us much in future meetings
Thank you so much! I’m so glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for sharing all of this! I am starting a never before in my church single women’s ministry. I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with how to even begin a ministry but these tips have really already helped me with a strategy.
Yay! I’m so glad you found it helpful! Come join us in the Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community if you’re not there yet!
Very interesting. We’re wanting to renew our Ladies meeting. What are some helpful questions that can be asked on our first meeting to see what everyone expects or wants from the ladies meetings?
Hi Debra. I’m so happy it’s helpful.There is an entire agenda in the blog for how to lead the launch party and using the post-it notes strategies to get great input! We suggest using every step in this blog post straight through! It’s intentional, it’s on purpose, and othes have raved about the experience when they followed the steps. The questions are in there step-by-step! Hope it helps! – Laurie
Is it possible to get the workbook in a hard copy? We have a women’s group that has just started. So far all we have had has been “business meetings”. We need some help before all leave!! Thankyou
Hi Linda! We don’t do our own printing or keep an inventory so no hard copy’s to sell you! However, many who purchase the Women’s Ministry Bundle simply send it (or take it) to an office/copy shop and have them print it and/or bind it too! That’s my best suggestion to you! (by the way, way to go!! I’m so glad you’re ready to take some action and help get things moving!!)
Wow, this is exactly the guidance I was looking for. I’m really excited to be launching our Women’s ministry soon and this has calmed my spirit. So many valuable nuggets, I even more excited to launch! Thanks for helping guide us to the beginning of great, impactful ministry.
Awesome to hear!! Thank you!