How would you like to have a Spirit-led, service-oriented, scriptural women’s ministry that will make a difference in the lives of women in your church? Take a look at the following 8 steps to create a pivotal women’s ministry.

1. Start with prayer. Prayer is a vital part of any women’s ministry. Your vision for women in your church and community must be God’s vision.
   
   
2. Share your vision with the church staff. Women’s ministry exists to build up and enrich the church.  It is important to have the church staff’s support and encouragement as you begin.
   
   
3. Strengthen your women’s ministry through networking. Call, write, spend time with women beyond the borders of your church.  Ask questions, learn from each other, share ideas, pray for one another.  No two women’s ministries will look alike.  Get ideas from a variety of sources, but let God design a ministry unique to your church.
   
   
4. Survey the women in your church/community to best identify needs. No matter how meaningful the activities, if it is not what women want or need, they will not participate.
   
   
5. State your purpose. Develop a sentence or short paragraph that explains your purpose/mission … one that can be shared whenever you are asked what your women’s ministry is all about.  Whatever you decide as your purpose will define what the entire women’s ministry looks like.  You will want to set purposeful goals.  You will want to make your focus upward and outward.  Women’s ministry is about feeding and growing women, but it must accomplish the Great Commission as well.
   
   
6. Stop and think about childcare needs and finances. If you intend to reach young mothers, you will need to consider how best to provide for their children during your women’s ministry activities.  Plan a budget for your women’s ministry and do your best to make the ministry one that “pays for itself” (sell tickets, charge for Bible study materials and childcare, take donations, etc.)
   
   
7. Select a director and a leadership team. Whether the team is comprised of two women or 25, it will help to have women who consistently pray and plan together.
   
   
8. Stay abreast of current needs and how to meet them. Continual evaluation will keep your women’s ministry fresh.  As the needs of your women and their families change, your ministry options should adapt to meet them.  Flexibility is key to providing meaningful, effective ministry to and with women in your church and community.

Debbie Moore serves on the missions support team, ABSC.  She desires to see all women in Arkansas Baptist churches praying together, serving together, and encouraging one another  for the advancement of His kingdom.