As a women’s leader, you should always be on the lookout for potential leaders. One thing ALL believers are to do is to serve. We can help in the process as we build relationships with women, find out where they are spiritually and then helping them not only grow but to find their place of service in God’s kingdom. Notice I didn’t say “place of service in women’s ministry”. Our assignment isn’t just to put women to work in a particular ministry, but to help them find their God-giving calling and passion and then equip them to live that out.
Women’s ministry is where we will connect with women of all walks of life. As we intentionally begin to disciple women, we will be able to give them opportunities to get their feet wet in leadership and service. Here are some steps in the process to help you discover and invite women to serve.
Discovering Leaders:
· Pray-ask God to direct you to women ready to take the next step in their spiritual journey. If you especially need team members in specific areas, ask God to be specific in who He has for those spots. If you want to start a ministry and God hasn’t raised up the leader, wait on His timing. Otherwise you fill the position before He finishes preparing the one He was getting ready for that ministry position. He will match ministry and leaders much better than we can!
· Ask-talk to your pastor and other staff members about women they come in contact with. They may meet new members and discover their gifting before you have a chance to do so. Be ready to follow up on any names they pass along to you.
· Survey-use surveys and new member information to find out about the gifts, interests and passions of women. Again, always follow up on what you learn from this information. Even if you don’t have a current spot that fits, find a place to begin working with these women until the spot and the calling fit.
· Observe-Continually watch the women in your church. Where are they already serving? Where do you see them faithfully growing? You will learn much as you just keep your eyes and ears open and ask women questions to gain insight into their lives.
· Ask-sometimes you may needs lots of extra hands for a short term ministry (greeters, helping register women for Bible study, making contact to promote a ministry, etc). For those things, just ASK! Through small groups, in newsletters, on Facebook and Twitter, and on your web site. This is not appropriate for all positions, but when you need a lot done in a short period of time, this works great. Our church sent out an email to all our women asking for them to provide home cooked dishes for our singles moms event. All they have to do is cook and drop it off at the church.
Look in unusual places, get to know women and their personal and ministry goals and interests. Help her find niche even if it’s not in women’s ministry!
Watch the following blog post for how to “invite” leaders to serve!
