What is the role of the Women’s Ministry?
Your church constitution or by-laws may specify events, activities, or roles your team is to fill in your church.
Your Pastor/Minister may have given you a job description.
Whether or not you’ve been given any guidelines, God has a great calling for your ministry!
We have a duty to provide 4 distinct roles under which all offerings to the women in our church and community should fall.
The 4 Pillars of Women’s Ministry:
1. Study – We must provide women the opportunity to study God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17(ESV), “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
2. Service – Women need opportunities to serve others.
Doing so together, as the body of Christ, builds unity, encourages growth, and develops relationship. 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV), “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
3. Support – Women need safe places where they can find Biblically-sound support.
This could come in the form of support groups such as DivorceCare and GriefShare, mentoring, or interest groups such as MOPS. Ecclesiastes 4:10 (ESV), “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
4. Social – Women benefit by regularly meeting together with other believers.
Offer opportunities for Christian friendships to form and mature. Hebrews 10:25 (ESV), “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
All of your events should be “held up”, if you will, be at least two of these pillars.
Think of the pillars as working together – not working in isolation.
Your Bible study group will naturally support the women in the group.
Your fellowship event may offer both a service and a social component.
How do your current activities and offerings fit with these 4 pillars? Is there something you need to add or remove?
Perhaps your team needs to revisit your mission statement.
Check out this post on Renovating Your Mission Statement for additional guidance.
You may also want to read:
What positions do you need to fill on your women’s ministry team?
How to Build a Women’s Ministry Team
But did you tell them about Me?
Word-filled Women’s Ministry
Diane says
Correction on a typo to my comment. It should read the woman’s ministry is a one women pastors wife dog and pony show.
Diane says
I have been attending the church where I go for about 7 years. In all this time myself and other women have seen the church struggling. The nursery, children’s and teens classrooms are empty every Sunday. The women’s ministry is a one women shoot pastor’s wife dog and pony show. She says she is too busy with life, and won’t ask for any help as she told me there is no women at church capable, trustworthy or qualified. I have spoken with the woman’s ministry leader in private and share with her my concerns. I said I need to be in a church with a healthy ministry. She invited me to leave the church and asked why I was still attending. My husband and I are going to meet with the associate pastor and share our concerns. Thank you for your most encouraging information and scripture here, Lord bless you.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Oh, Diane… this breaks my heart. Praying for your conversation.
Confidence Okonkwo says
I delighted to read through the writeups. They are quite educative and is assisting me to set up a women ministry in my community.
Cyndee Ownbey says
I’m so glad you’re finding my site to be helpful! 🙂
Dail Kelley says
I’m newly assigned to be over the women ministry.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Congratulations! Praying the Lord will guide and direct you to know how best to serve and support the women in your church.
Ashley Allen says
This is helpful. I have felt a calling to get into Women’s Ministry for at least a decade. I plan to seek guidance in hopes to set me on the right path.
Cyndee Ownbey says
So glad you found it helpful! Praying you’ll know what next steps to take!
Rhonda Stewart says
Thank you so much for this information.
Cyndee Ownbey says
You’re welcome! <3
Joyce Chika says
This is very helpful as we have had challenges in committing women in our church to work together
Cyndee Ownbey says
Thank you! I’m so glad you found it to be helpful!
Changlaise says
I am so grateful to God I found this site. I lead a woman’s. Women are called to Mentor. I like this verse 1 Peter 4:10.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Thank you! I’m glad you found it too! 🙂
Ranjinee Ramiah says
Hi my name is Ranjinee Ramiah. I am from South Africa.
I am so grateful to God I found this site.
Thank you for sharing Godly wisdom & good insights.God bless you for sharing woman’s tool kit.
I lead a woman’s mission group called
“Sofia ” meaning sisters of faith in action.
I love 1 Tim.1:12 God chose me for such a time as this.
Blessings
Cyndee Ownbey says
Thank you, Ranjinee! I’m so glad God led you to my site. I pray He’ll make your next steps in ministry clear. <3
Remonah says
Strength for women as pillars , im one who needs this kind of schooling in christ
Barb Reay says
I lead our Women retreats at church. I’d love new thoughts
Cyndee Ownbey says
Be sure to subscribe to my email list. I share new ideas each week via email. 🙂 You can also search “retreat” to find all retreat-related blog posts.
Margaret Hendry says
I have been asked to address woman at a service on Woman’s day. I would appreciate some ideas to honour the amazing women we have in our church. I have laid it all before the Lord.
God bless
Margaret
Cyndee Ownbey says
Margaret, how wonderful! My first thought is to tie your sharing into Scripture that highlights the Christ-like qualities that your women possess. If you’d like some additional input, it would be a great question to ask in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Facebook Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensministrytoolboxcommunity
gillian says
Good Morning,
Awesome what I have been reading about the women’s ministry.
I have been involve in woman’s ministry work, but It was given to me to run now.
I would like to know more how I can get involve to grow my woman’s ministry.
Berdy Rosenzweig says
This helped me a lot.want to get our women’s ministry started up in our church.so looking into the ins and out of it and how to get started.thank you So much.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Berdy, I am so glad you found this post to be helpful!
Lynda Thomas-James says
Dear Cyndy,
I am very grateful for having found your page. I have just been selected to head the Women’s Ministries of our church for this coming here, and I find your teaching to be very insightful and helpful. Thank you for allowing me and many others to tap into your wealth of knowledge on women’s ministries issues.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Lynda, so glad the Lord led you here. If there’s any way I can help, please let me know. 🙂 Praying the Lord will guide you and use you to bless the women in your church and community.
Dannie Holland says
I’m rebuilding the Women’s Ministry at my church and when I come across the toolbox, so much teachable information for my women and myself. I’m grateful that God led me to this page. Is it ok for me to share the prayer with my group of women?
Please keep us in your prayers.
Thank you so much.
Blessings! Mrs. Dannie
Cyndee Ownbey says
Dannie, thank you for your kind and encouraging comments. Yes, you’re welcome to share the post with your women.
Selam says
I am from sweden, l har got many Idea . thank you .
Cyndee Ownbey says
Thank you, Selam! <3
Cheryl Caldwell says
I am in a women’s ministry. The vision my leader had when starting this group was women coming together to help others through testimonies and knowledge. Our group is not under the umbrella of a church; however, the leaders will often times reference God. Our leader all stated she did not want the ministry to be “church like” because everyone that becomes a part of our group is not saved. My question is should be called a women’s ministry or a life group. The content we talk about is more life events, trials and tribulations etc. Because the leader is not a pastor or anything of the such, maybe we should change our name from center of the Heart ministry to center of the Heart group. I feel a ministery is under a church approved by the church leader with God at the center of it. Our group is not like that. I think we need to rebrand ourselves. Your opinion?
Cyndee Ownbey says
Cheryl, I sent you an email. 🙂
Fran says
Thanks for the 4 pillars will use this ideas with ours women’s missionary. I really enjoy all your tools they are so helpful. God bless.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Thanks, Fran! So glad you’ve found them to be helpful. 🙂
Tina says
Thank you God has given me the vision for womens ministry, I asked my pastor yesterday , He told me to go for it. I’m so excited. Pray for me
Cyndee Ownbey says
Eeek!! I am SO excited for you and will be praying! May God direct your steps and give you wisdom! <3
Kathryn Hyams says
We are in the process of merging two churches…. Two ladies groups, etc…I have been asked to lead this group. I want the group to be pleasing to God and not to the flesh, while I was on the computer last evening I was lead to Women Ministry Toolbox, Cyndee, you are a blessing. I have looked at the Four Pillars of Women’s Ministry and am asking you and other ladies to pray for me and the other ladies to be patience and see where God is leading this ministry.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Kathryn, I will be praying for you all! Hugs to you, dear one!
Sharon hale says
Would like more ideas
Cyndee Ownbey says
Sharon, I’d love to help! What kind of ideas are you looking for? Feel free to email me directly cyndee(AT)womensministrytoolbox(DOT)com.
Roseline Sam-Memeh says
Thanks be to God for coming across you, I am a pastor and head of the women in my church. I need more godly ideas to lead.
Cyndee Ownbey says
Thank you, Roseline! Praying God will direct your steps!
Mrs. T. Tuttle says
I tried to have a Bible Study group meet at my house once, and had decided to get into the WORD FIRST instead of all the coffee and refreshments. When we were done with the study,
everyone left without staying for refreshments at all. But I find sitting and drinking coffee and snacking kept us busy talking about everyday things, gossip, and little in the WORD. This is not what I am looking for….
Cyndee Ownbey says
So thankful God showed you how to keep your group in the Word. Perhaps you all could have lunch together once a month after the study to still have that time of fellowship. You could also meet 30 minutes earlier once a month for breakfast – communicating clearly that once those 30 minutes are up it’s back to your study as you do every week. You were wise to put a stop to the gossip!
Mrs. Dr. Hortense They says
In my 80’s and as a woman in long time ministry, I’ve found the pillars will all fall without the main foundation supporting all the pillars. The compassion, love and pure character of Jesus Christ. Mrs.Dr. Hortense They; http://www.drandmrsthey.com
Cyndee Ownbey says
Absolutely! Christ must be the foundation. Thank you for the wisdom and the reminder!