I love discovering new women’s ministry resources!
Especially those that challenge me to think differently and cause me to question some of the choices our women’s ministry team has made.
*Please note this post contains affiliate links.
Word-Filled Women’s Ministry is a reference book.
While you’ll want to read the book in its entirety to fully understand the vision of a Word-Filled ministry, you may find it helpful to read through chapters that correspond to your current women’s ministry struggles first.
I found it was best to read in chunks so I could digest it and think about how/if there was an application for our team. Don’t sit down expecting to read this book all the way thru!
As explained in the introduction, “Profitable ministry among women is grounded in God’s Word, grows in the context of God’s people, and aims for the glory of Christ. That’s the promise of this book in a nutshell…Women’s ministry, in particular, can so easily be all about women rather than being all about women together hearing and following God’s voice, revealed in his Word.”
Can I get an “amen”?
I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve been there, done that and have the t-shirt to prove it.
Several years back we had a few women “complain” that our (paid) speaker had gone on too long at our Table Event. I personally didn’t see any problem with the length of her talk. She spoke for 45 minutes. She was engaging and what she shared was steeped in the Word. Our team felt their real complaint was that they didn’t have enough time to look at everyone’s table decorations… I also wonder if they found what she shared “too convicting”… Clearly, we had some work to do!
I suspect few of us can honestly say that our women’s ministry is Word-Filled.
I’m sure there are some events and activities on your calendar, just like there is on ours, which could use the infusion of God’s Word.
Word-Filled Women’s Ministry is not about scrapping what you’ve got on your calendar (though God may prompt you to do some editing), but about checking the focus and the purpose.
If you’re a leader who feels your Pastoral staff doesn’t seem the scriptural importance of a women’s ministry in your church, you’ll find help in this book.
The cost of neglecting the giftedness of women in the local church is far-reaching. Not only will we miss the beauty and joy of a healthy, well-functioning body, but the church will also slowly weaken. The body of Christ is filled with capable women who are eager to serve Christ in the context of the local church, serving under the authority of church leadership. When these women bring their voices and unique gifts to their communities of believers, the church becomes more and more effective.
Chapter 4, Word-Filled Women’s Ministry
It’s impossible for me to share everything that it’s in Word-Filled Women’s Ministry, so let me give you an overview.
The chapters are written by a group of women who have served or are currently serving in women’s ministry around the world.
Word-Filled Women’s Ministry is broken into 4 parts and 10 chapters:
Part 1 – The Heart of Women’s Ministry
- The Word at the Center: Hearing God Speak
- The Word on Women: Enjoying Distinction
- The Word Passing On: Training New Leaders
Part 2 – Contexts for Women’s Ministry
- The Local Church: Finding Where We Fit
- The World Around Us: Practicing Evangelism
- The Ends of the Earth: Thinking Global
Part 3 – Issues in Women’s Ministry
- Older and Younger: Taking Titus Seriously
- Sexual Wholeness: Affirming Truth with Compassion
- Gifts and Giftedness: Find the Place to Serve
Part 4 – The End of Women’s Ministry
- Ultimate Goals: Heading for that Day
Word-Filled Women’s Ministry is a book every women’s ministry needs to have on her resource bookshelf.
Just a word of warning, Chapter 2, The Word on Women, offers a thorough, scriptural analysis of women’s roles in the church. It may just step on your toes a bit!
This book was one of many that God used to reshape my thinking about our church’s Bible study offerings. You can read “Why I’m Tired of Bible Study Books” to find out more.
If your ministry is not Word-focused, I challenge you to read this book and prayerfully seek the Lord’s direction.
You may also want to read:
Is God calling your team to rethink your women’s ministry?
Teaching Women to Read the Bible
The Four Pillars of Women’s Ministry
How to Build a Women’s Ministry Team
One year ago: How to Host a Memorable Movie Night
Two years ago: Mother’s Day Tea Ideas
Lisa Gowan says
I am brand new to Women’s Ministry in our church and I have been called/asked to lead it! I want to grow it for God’s glory but even with prayer, I am flailing about! Looking for any and all resources to augment the prayer and faith I have confessed.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Lisa, you are in the right place! So excited for you! 🙂
I’d suggest you head over to the New Leaders Page : https://womensministrytoolbox.com/new-leaders/
Please feel free to email me with specific questions. I’m happy to help you in any way that I can! Praying for God to direct your steps!
Linda Cormany says
Anxious in Arizona
I am new at the church now attending. there is a women’s Ministry Group and I desperately want to be an active part in the groups goals and endeavors. I came from a Catholic background and the new church I am attending is Presbyterian. I know this book will help me enrich me as well as others in the program. I am blessed to have found this website – thank you sooooo much!
Cyndee Ownbey says
Linda, having been the new girl at church I can relate! Praying for God to bring you into the fold, for new friendships, and open arms to welcome you in. So glad you are here! 🙂
Donna Weatherholt says
I believe our women’s ministry is moving more toward being word-filled. As a leader, I have been feeling I satisfied with the planning of “event,” focusing on table decorations, etc. I have been feeling the need to go deeper. I am very intrigued by this book and look forward to reading it.
Donna Weatherholt says
I believe our women’s ministry is moving more toward being word-filled. As a leader, I have been feeling I satisfied with the planning of “event,” focusing on table decorations, etc. I have been feeling the need to go deeper. I am very intrigued by this book and look forward to reading it.
JoAnn Hirning says
Our women’s ministry is blessed by your website. There are many pertinent and spirit filled resources from which to use and enhance our get together and our outreach.
Beth Stevenson says
Just started looking at your website and am getting excited about Women’s Ministry. Saw this and wanted to enter before 10 AM!
TAMI ALVIS says
I am always looking for ways to improve women’s ministry especially in bringing into a deeper study of God’s Word and to keep it Christ centered and focused. This book sounds like it has so many helps in that area.
Marvella Thompson says
What a God-send it was when I found your web-site a few months ago. Though I lead the women in our church in mission endeavors, I mostly use information in your site for the group of International women I lead. I sometimes have a difficult time knowing how bold I can be in sharing Gospel truths with women from all religions without repelling them completely. This book sounds like something that would be very useful and helpful.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Marvella, they address this VERY thing in the book! 🙂
Jackie Steward says
I am new to your website but have already found it so helpful in our women’s ministry planning. We strive to ground our women in God’s Word but it is certainly a challenge in our culture today! Would love to have this book as a resource. Thanks!
Ruth says
Thank you for sharing. This is the first time as a Pastor’s wife that I have needed to be the director of a church’s ladies ministries. Thank for all help and encouragement!
Julie Roper says
Thanks for spot-lighting a resource that looks to be outstanding. The quotes you pulled out are compelling & make me want to dig right in! 🙂
carolyn myers says
WE CERTAINLY NEED TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT AND FILLED WITH GOD’S WORD TO BE PART OF A FUNCTIONING WOMEN’S MINISTRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND HOW YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR WISDOM.
Sherry McConathy says
The motto of our church is “Come gather around the Word” and we try to keep this in mind as we plan, but we have plenty of room for improvement. It would be great to have this book as a resource.
Bridget Anne says
Wow! Another weapon to add to our arsenal! I so appreciate your toolbox ministry.
Please add me to the give-away contest!
Bonnie Pelletier says
Our women’s ministry has come together bi-weekly to study God’s word. What I see is women starving for more and more of God’s word, understanding and applying to their lives.
Cathy Burnsie says
I really look forward to your emails and newsletter. It has helped me a lot in my first year in a leadership role.
Tanya Eaton says
This would be a great addition to our ministry. I keep our conference Word filled but struggle to work that out in our ministry and events the rest of the year.
Jenni Timmer says
I just became the Women’s Ministry Director at our church and I want nothing more than to have a word-filled ministry!! I’d love to check this book out! 🙂
Lisa Horstmann says
Our Ladies Retreat is Word-Filled! We have a speaker and activities centered around the Word! This new book would be a great help to keep us on track and use fresh scripture in the upcoming retreats 🙂
Deb Doyle says
Thanks, Always interested in new ideas.,
Arlene Wangsness says
Wow-this sounds like a resource all women’s ministries should have! This is something I’ve been trying to get across t oour younger up-and-coming women-it’s the Word, the Word, the Word! They are excited to step out in faith but we could use this for our summer training! Thank you for posting!
Denise Hammett says
Thank you for the opportunity to win this great resource. I would say our ministry is word filled, but would love to enhance our ministry with this great resource.
Renee Pilkenton says
Sounds like a great book and a great resource!
Joya Hartley says
Thank you for the chance to win this book… Word-Filled Women’s Ministry. I have been looking for ways to enhance our Ministry and the outline above looks like a great resource.
Thank you
Laura Carroll says
The ‘Word-Filled Women’s Ministry’ book sounds like a very valuable resource. This is the type of ministry that God has laid on my heart for our ladies in our church. I am looking forward to reading this resource and gleaning information that will help my church’s ladies’ ministry to be all that God has called us to be. Thank you for the great article about this book.
Debbie Pearman says
Every women who has been called to lead a women’s ministry would benefit from this book. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to win Word Filled Women’s Ministry.
Gail Whitford says
Thank you Cyndee for sharing what you have been given with those of us who NEED it. We are very new at establishing this Women’s Ministry Team, but we’ve known each other for years, with the exception of a few. I think this book could help us a lot with where we are, and where we’d like to go. One question I ask myself,; Are we about numbers or people? I’d love to be able to discern between the two when planning events. Our first event was Friday, at a pottery and paint studio (Accidental Artist. I believe there were about 40 women that came. We had finger foods, the Team Members mingled with ladies we didn’t know, got their info to notify for future events. We asked those in attendance what kind of events they’d like to have. I could go on and on about how great this was for everyone, but I won’t. Thanks again, I enjoy everything in the WMT!
Luann Kirkham says
I have been a women’s ministry director for twelve years and there is always room for more of the word! I love that this book is focused on that. I’m sure I could learn many new things about how to do this more effectively.
Heather Thomas says
I just took over as Women’s Ministry Leader. I would love to dive into this book as it sounds like a great learning resource for me!
Nedra Cox says
This book sounds amazing! I lead our Women’s Ministry, but we truly need to be more Word filled and driven. Definitely something we need for our group of ladies. I’ve visited your website numerous times and have been truly blessed by it.
Susan says
This sounds like a must read. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. It is also timely!
Janet Lee says
This sounds like r actly what I need to help me get a women’s ministry started at our church. God bless!
Diane says
I am looking forward to reading this book. It is exactly what I want for our ladies, a Word-filled fellowship. We have women in our group that are definitely filled with the Word of God. But I also fill that we have women that do not know how to be Word-filled or see the importance. As a women’s group and as a church I feel it is our duty to teach women of all ages the power of God’s Word.
Jamie Green says
Our women’s ministry at my church barely exists at the moment. I really feel as if God is leading me to step up to the challenge. The lady that is in charge of the ministry has been called into another realm of ministry and I have been praying that God opens a door for me to get to work. This book sounds truly interesting.
I echo the comments of others, I love your website. Thank you for listening and being obedient to the voice of God.
Rachelle Cox says
It’s so hard to say if our women’s ministry is word-filled or not. I recently joined our women’s ministry after feeling called to teach women, and I feel like there are a lot of problems present. However, I love the women in that ministry team, and don’t want to demean the work and heart they’ve put into the team so far!
I think we have a long way to go, and I hope God uses me to get things going in the right direction. I also hope that I can be both a blessing AND a challenge to the women who are already serving there. Most of all, I want to be faithful to the Bible in a way that brings women closer into relationship with Him and makes them hungry for more of His instruction.
Either way, I think I need to read this book. lol.
Randi says
Excited to read and learn
Bobbie Robie says
Love your website! Thanks for sharing your insights and all your tools with us! Very helpful!
God bless you and your ministry!
Tina Hill says
I feel our women’s ministry needs this resource. I am not a “leader” but I am on the retreat committee. I’m sure there is more we could be doing.
Lori Stewart says
Would love this for our women’s ministry. We have just updated our women’s meetings and this would be such a help!
mary riker says
I would love to read and apply this book to our churches Women’s Ministry. Our ministry is practically non existent at this point and is need of awakening. My heart truly wants to revive this ministry as I know as a mom and grandmother that there are alot of women out there that need to hear/apply the word of God in their lives. I however don’t have the knowledge of how to go about getting it restarted and this book looks like the answer to my prayer!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
Debe says
I completely agree that womes ministry NEEDS to be grounded in the WORD!!! Its not about us, its ALL FOR HIM!!! This book sounds wonderful and much needed!
Judy Osborn says
I definitely want to read this book! It is easy to drift away from keeping the Word central in all that we do. But if we want our efforts to bring eternal fruit, the Word is vital!
Bonnie Wetmore says
As a new ministry leader, I’m learning to keep our events truly Christ centered. This book sounds like an excellent resource, just like your website!
Sherry Baker says
Would love to have a copy of Word-Filled Women’s Ministry! We just started a women’s ministry at our small church in January and we could use all the help we can get…and really want our ministry to be grounded in the word as we have several new christians among us.
K L says
Our women’s group is Word-Filled! Every group has its issues, but the Lord is able to smooth out our rough edges and cover them with grace. As a new women’s ministry leader, I appreciate your website and insight.
Nancy Law says
I love new resources! Our Women’s Ministry definitely focuses on being Word-filled! Thank you so much for your website.
Deb Treat says
I believe this is a book our women would like to study.
Mary Rivera says
YES! My women’s ministry is definitely Word-filled. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Your website has helped me so much in shaping my ministry. I would love a copy of this book whether I get chosen for a copy or I buy one. Thank you for all that you offer to other women in ministry!
Rhonda little says
I love your website. Thank you for having it.
Amanda Martinsen says
I love finding out about new resources! I’ve only been leading our women’s ministry for a few years now, but I can already see that there is always new work to be done. And more importantly, change that needs to happen to meet the needs of our women. This sounds like a fantastic resource.