Yet, "women" encapsulate so much of a broader spectrum:
Single
No Kids
Unable to have kids
Dating
Married
Abused
Re-married
Divorced
College-Student
Widow
Widow
Homemaker
Career Woman
Intellectual
Recovering
And more...
What breaks my heart about many ministries programmed to accommodate "women" is that we tend to marginalize and pick and choose which women we want to include.
I suppose we justify that maybe "we have a college ministry, so the college aged girls will just go there."
For me, Women's Ministry is something every Jesus-follower female does every day.
This sort of ministry is hard to package up into a church program because, by gollie, it's just too diverse. Think of the women you know in your own life. Even if their a "stay-at-home" mommy, they do anything but simply "stay-at-home." Their going in all directions. Some of them even work additionally part time within the home or out of the home. Yet, they all get lumped into a category.
College-aged girls aren't opposed to mingling with women outside of their sphere. If anything, I see such a huge need for mentor-ship across the board. Yet, this sort of need is also hard to stuff into the perimeters of a program. Have you talked with college students recently? Their crazy busy! Not only do they have a full load of classes, but many of them work to pay off debt and rent. A good majority of them are also invested into some sort of ministry, serving where there are needs and where their own passions need to be used. Their just busy.
And what of the career woman who doesn't perhaps "stay-at-home" at all but travels extensively and leads at her business or particular field? If we created a ministry for her within the walls of the church, what good would that do?
Women's ministry as a whole, like many other ministries seem to be best suited within and out of the church. To expect all women to find their place within the walls of the church is difficult to say the least.
What I love about females is just how diverse we are. And you know what, we know how to make things work! We can tango and dance around schedules and commitments like no body's business. Yes, it's hard, but I just gotta say many of us can make time for what is important. We'll go visit a friend and bring her a coffee when she is having a hard day. We'll schedule play dates for our kids to play but also for our own sanity. We'll forge ahead through a crazy school schedule and still make time to exercise and go out to Salt & Straw with a friend. We're just pretty diverse in our abilities and our commitments.
Perhaps Women's Ministry is something that offers Bible Studies and events within the walls of the church, but maybe it's much much more.
I think too often we within the realms of church ministry assume that ministry isn't taking place unless we hear about it or unless we initiate it as a program at church. I think that's a pretty broad assumption.
Thank the Lord, I have countless examples of how "ministry" happens every day in my relationships with women, young and old. And the longer I live, I can testify to how much sweeter those relationships have become.
I feel very blessed and so overcome with joy when I think about those girls I've mentored and loved when they were in middle school, who are now adults, pursuing their dreams and life goals. Some are hard-working students, some work full time, some are in church ministry, some are married or on their way to the altar, some are even starting to have kids. WOW!
Talk about life coming full circle! It's very rewarding and perhaps my most favorite part of seeing relationships grow over the years.
And, even though our relationships began within the walls of the church, it has advanced into so much more. I'm even seeing some of them take the initiative and lead a Bible study from their homes or schools or places of employment.
"Ministry" in its essence is a fruit, a by-product of our faith in God. We love Him, so we share it with others. We want to know him more, so we do what we can to further that relationship.
My heart-cry for "Women's Ministry" is to recognize the ministry that is all ready taking place every day. And then to encourage those ministries to grow and flourish, helping new leaders to rise up. Teaching them how to lead and doing it within their own spheres.
How do we do this?
Sometimes we can't expect all those categories of women to come to us. Sometimes we have to go to them, in their homes, helping them wash their dishes and talk about Jesus. Sometimes we need to show up at their school with a coffee in hand during finals week and pray with them, encourage them. Sometimes we need to give them tools to better their life and walk along side them.
And sometimes we just need to listen, to be.
Let's welcome the diversity of all women into how we plan an event. Granted, not all will show up, but we can try.
I once knew of a high-up woman, who worked in the business world. She was an inspiration to me because, even though she was insanely busy, she began a Bible study during lunch time in her office, for anyone who wanted to attend. She helped to provide any interested with tools to study the Bible and she wasn't afraid to discuss controversial issues that maybe the church shy'd away from. She was bold and yet willing to learn.
So, let's plan those women's events at church, let's encourage them to attend that Bible study. But at the heart of how women do ministry is always more than meets the eye.
And let's not forget those who don't neatly fit into our program for "Women's Ministry."
One of my most favorite things to recognize about the character of Jesus, is how he conducted himself with women. He wasn't afraid to welcome the outcast, the unclean and the marginalized, even when the religious leaders of his time didn't. He even welcomed women to journey with he and his disciples as they ministered. And the fact that women are even mentioned in genealogies of Scripture would normally be unheard of.
Jesus values women, no matter what their social status or past sin. He recognized faith in their hearts and ran with it. He spurred them on to be better than the social norms put on them.
I think he's a fine example of how to minister to women.
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