I just moved to Nashville in September and I still feel like I’m getting settled. The last few months have been spent visiting various churches, and it’s a difficult process. I’m 28 and single, so I visited quite a few churches by myself. Even though I’m a pastor’s kid and have been in church my whole life, it doesn’t make the process of finding a new church any easier.
After several months of visiting, I finally feel like I’ve found a church where I can plug into great community, serve in a variety of ways, and be taught the Word powerfully. What made the difference? Someone took an interest in me. The Women’s Minister heard I was visiting and passed my information along to a girl my age. She contacted me, we had coffee, and she then invited me to have lunch with some other single adults. It’s the only church that reached out to me, and it’s where I’ve landed. Is that the primary reason I’ve decided to plug into this church? No, but it definitely made a difference.
What are you doing to reach out to new women in your church or ministry?
Do they know your ministry exists, and are you doing anything to seek them out?
I’ve served on staff at several churches, and I know how easy it is to just talk to your friends and people you know on a Sunday morning or even at an event. When’s the last time you looked around for someone new? Maybe you do a great job at this already (I hope so!), but as we start a new year, make sure this is something you’re intentional about doing. It will not only stretch you, but it can be a catalyst for your ministry to grow.
As we serve new women, let’s keep in mind what the apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:9, “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” We should be excited to welcome new women into our churches and ministries! It may require some sacrifice on our part, but it will be well worth it.
Mary Margaret is an Event Project Coordinator on the Church Education Ministry team at LifeWay. She works alongside Chris Adams and coordinates training events for women’s ministry leaders like YOU Lead and the Women’s Ministry Forum. Mary Margaret has served several churches in the area of Girls Ministry and she recently completed a Master of Arts in Christian Education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In her spare time, she writes for Story of My Life – her personal blog.
