Women’s Minstry Resources
Women’s Ministry Resources from 20 years as a Director of Women’s Ministry. Plus a philosophy of women’s ministry.
Ministry Philosophy
Measure What Matters: A Ministry Evaluation Framework That Works
Discover a proven framework for evaluating ministry effectiveness beyond attendance numbers. Learn 20+ questions to assess spiritual impact, leadership development, and gospel-centered growth in your church programs.
I’m Confused, You’re Annoying, and He’s Pig-Headed. To God be the Glory!
Can God use less-than-perfect believers without also perfecting them at the same time? Do their failures negate the good examples of Abraham and David? Apparently not.
Mary & Martha: A lesson for Women’s Ministry
Martha chose to serve physical food while Mary chose to receive spiritual food. Mary chose wisely. When Jesus comes to town, all of us should drop everything to listen.
Are older women invisible in the church?
Is “youth focused Christianity may be sidelining the gifts of older women”? In a sea of artful hipsters, older women feel invisible and overlooked.
Agreeing with Young Atheists
When Larry Alex Taunton of Fixed Point Foundation explored why many American college students are atheists, a “composite sketch” emerged — which I found I agreed with.
Women’s Ministry: The view from 1852
“The female part of every congregation have an influence which cannot be defined nor resisted. For the most part, this influence is as just in its award, as it is sovereign in its sway.”
Breaking the Women’s Ministry stereotype?
Some of us may be choking on cutesy things, but many of us are working towards a model of serious bible study and discipleship.
Why have a women’s ministry?
Not only is it important to have an intentional, deliberate approach to female discipleship, it is necessary for a healthy church community.
Leadership
My solution to the Great Pastor Resignation
A national survey revealed that 42% of pastors considered quitting and many already have. Here’s how one church avoided that problem.
7 Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful Leaders
Failed CEOs shared these 7 habits. What about leaders in the church?
Servant Leadership in Practice
Putting servant leadership into practice: thoughts on leading from moral authority rather than hierarchy.
Role Playing
To compare roles is to count paper clips. Neither is a valid measure of our worth.
Barnabas: Playing Second Fiddle
Barnabas is an great example of the incredible good you can do when you don’t care who gets credit.
What’s Your Ministry-Burn-Out Profile?
Take this highly unscientific quiz to diagnose your discouragement style—then find out what to do about it. Do you match Elijah, Moses, John the Baptist, or Gideon?
Examples & Events
25 Most Popular Icebreakers
Over my years as Women’s Ministry Director, I collected a lot of ice breakers. After all you can’t use the same 4 ice breakers at the same ministry events year after year. But when ones are best? According to research, these are the 25 most popular.
Leader Evaluation Sample
When you recruit feedback from your students at the end of a Bible study year, don’t forget to solicit feedback from your leaders.
Example First Day Sign up forms
The first day of Bible study typically requires a lot of teamwork and cooperation. You probably need leaders to sign up for both refreshments and tasks. Here’s two example sign up forms.
Small Group Welcome Survey Example
Learning some basic information when new small groups start can save misunderstanding later. Asking participants to answer a few basic questions the first day can help leaders structure the time to better meet the needs of a group. Here’s an example “Small Group Welcome” survey.
Small Group Ground Rules Sample
When starting new small groups, it’s helpful to establish expectations up front with a clear set of ground rules. Here’s a sample we’ve developed over 25 years of ministry.
Ministry Preparation Checklist
July is the time to start preparing for your fall Bible study. Are you overwhelmed by the details or don’t know where to start? Assuming your study starts in September, here’s my summer ministry preparation checklist.
Women’s Ministry Evaluation Sample
It’s always helpful to get feedback from your students at the end of a Bible study year. But evaluations can be a problem. If they are too short, your leaders don’t gain any useful information. If they are too long, few students will not fill them out. Here’s an example we’ve used at Wednesday in the Word that seems to find the right balance.
Basic Retreat Planning
Church women’s retreats offer one of the best opportunities of the church for women to step away from their daily responsibilities, rest and connect with other women in the church and spend some concentrated time learning more about the Lord. While retreats require a lot of planning, they are worth it in the long run.
How to handle too many announcements
Runaway announcements seems to be a particular problem of running a women’s ministry. How do you handle it? What kind of limits should you put in place? After 25 years, in women’s ministry, here’s the policy I’ve found best.
Making the most of registration forms
Registration is a chance to collect valuable information about your participants that can help you build small groups, evaluate the success of your program and plan for the future. Here are some questions you might want to include on your registration forms.
Ministry Survey Example Questions
As a ministry leader, you often do surveys. But what questions should ask? Which questions solicit the best input? After 30 years in ministry — and countless surveys! — these are the questions I’ve found most helpful.
The Easiest Way to Make a Lot of Coffee
As a ministry leader you probably make a lot of coffee. I’ve found using the Toddy Coffee system is the easiest way to make the most coffee with the least amount of mess, fuss and clean up. Here’s how.
How to Launch a Women’s Discipleship Program
Most women’s ministries offer a discipleship program at some point. While there is no “one size fits all” model for how to implement discipleship, here are some ideas to help you get started.
3 Retreat Sample Schedules
Planning a retreat means managing lots of details from logistics to decorations. Often the schedule gets overlooked or slapped together at the last minute. As a speaker, here are some sample schedules that I’ve seen work well for weekend retreats.
45+ Sample Icebreakers
Tired of the same old icebreakers? Are you using the same 3 interesting facts about yourself at every gathering? Here are some sample icebreakers to kick start your thinking.
7 Things to Remember When You Invite an Event Speaker
Here’s advice from an expert on how not to burn out your retreat speaker.
Women’s Retreat Survival Kit
A conference I attended gave each participant this simple and heartwarming “Conference Survival kit” which contained the following items and Scripture.
Recommended Reading
Leadership
Studies in Leadership by Ray C Stedman
What is Reformed Theology? by R.C. Sproul
Body Life by Ray C. Stedman
When All Else Fails…Read the Instructions by Bob Smith
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul
RC Sproul’s Crucial Questions FREE ebooks
The Gospel Coalition provides countless resources for specific personal and theological issues
Small Group Leaders
How to Lead Small Groups, NavPress (get latest edition)
Coaching Life-Changing Small Group Leaders: A Practical Guide for Those Who Lead and Shepherd Small Group Leaders by Bill Donahue
Leading Life-Changing Small Groups by Bill Donahue
Building a Church of Small Groups: A Place Where Nobody Stands Alone by Bill Donahue
Women’s Ministry
A Woman’s Worth by Elaine Stedman (out of print but available online; if you only have time to read 1 book in this section, read this one)
Designing Effective Women’s Ministries by Jill Briscoe, Laure Katz McIntyre and Beth Seversen
Women’s Ministry in the 21st Century: The Encyclopedia of Practical Ideas, multiple authors (now out of print, but can find used copies)
Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women, by Susan Hunt
Women’s Ministry in the Local Church, by Ligon Duncan & Susan Hunt
The Church Planting Wife by Christine Hoover
Discipleship
Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time by Greg Ogden
Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp
As Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship by Howard & William Hendricks
Becoming a Titus 2 Woman by Martha Peace
The Lost Art of Disciplemaking by Leroy Eims
Lifeway Christian Resources Spiritual Gifts Test
Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion? by Bruce K Waltke
Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View by Garry Friesen
For and about Women
Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt
The Friendships of Women by Dee Brestin
In the Company of Women by Brenda Hunter
Treasures of Encouragement by Sharon Betters
Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund
The One-Year Book of Devotions for Women by Jill Briscoe
Women in the Life of Jesus by Jill Briscoe
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