CHECKLIST FOR A SUCCCESSFUL YEAR IN WOMEN’S MINISTRY
By Vicki Marsh
• The leader, chairperson, or president should communicate to all members the dates of the meetings for the year. Knowing when you will meet and how often in advance helps before each meeting as a reminder and to let members know what topics will be covered at the next meeting or what particular Bible chapters and verses will be covered in the lesson.
• The secretary should keep a record of what is discussed, attendance and remind any members who have a special responsibility for the next meeting what they are to do, or bring, etc.
• The treasurer should keep a record of incoming monies and outgoing expenses so that if the group decides to do something requiring funds, they will know what the group can afford and if there is enough money for any previous commitments.
• The person in charge of the devotional or the Bible lesson should come prepared with any supplemental materials that would help the members to understand the lesson.
• The project chair should be ready to offer suggestions of what project the group might want to do for the next meeting such as bringing diapers for the crisis pregnancy center, a food drive for a nearby homeless shelter, gifts and visits to shut-ins, etc.
events since the last meeting. • Blah, blah, blah…….
W
ait! What? Unfortunately, I have been in women’s groups where everything that was done, was done to be able to check it off of a list. While all of the above suggestions can help to get the group organized, Women’s Ministry is so much more than a checklist! And the aim of Women’s Ministries is to help to equip, encourage
and support women in the ARP denomination. A circle or a board of women needs to get to know one another to support who enjoy teaching, etc. God has put us all together in our groups with the “right ingredients” to do more in God’s name and for His glory. Fellowship time is a great time to learn who is gifted in what areas and should always be a part of any meeting. A former pastor of mine always said, “It is no accident that each of us is here today, God has a reason for each of us to be here together.” If we are just checking things off on a list, we might miss an opportunity to help one another or others who are not in our group. Outreach projects help us to share our talents with people outside of our groups. And, I believe that God gave each of us the talents that He did for us to use them, not to hide them away. Joy and enthusiasm should always be a part of your meetings. I was once in a group where the leader was announc- ing an upcoming women’s retreat. It went something like this, “There will be a women’s retreat held in two weeks at Bonclarken. Let me know if you want to go.” If I was making it, it would have been more like, “Hey ladies! Wouldn’t you like to go to Bonclarken for the weekend with food, fellowship, and fun with women from all over the denomination? There will be good speakers, great seminars, and did I mention that it is just for women? Let me know if you would like to go and I hope to see a lot of you there in two weeks!” So, how can you have a successful year in Women’s Ministry? Use anything in the checklist above that you like but also encourage one another, get everyone in your group involved in some area of the work of the group, communicate, have joy and enthusiasm, and pray for God’s guidance for your group. Make 2023 a successful year in YOUR Women’s Ministry.
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