As a women’s leader, I’m sure you’ve never had to deal with an ounce of drama, right?
I’ve spent the last few years leading Girls’ Ministry in the local church, and at times, it felt like I was constantly dealing with drama. Since women are just grown-up girls, we often deal with drama in the world of Women’s Ministry as well. Drama steals God’s glory, and He is jealous for His glory! Exodus 4:4, 17 & 18 show this in a powerful way. As a leader, it’s easy to get stuck in the middle of drama, but you can be a positive catalyst for healing and reconciliation.
Here are a few pointers on how to deal with drama in your ministry:
- Be a sounding board – this often means listening more than you talk. Be willing to hear everyone out.
- Don’t choose sides – be as neutral as you can, and be a good mediator.
- Point them back to Scripture – look back to the root of the problem. Usually, it’s rooted in an issue that’s clearly dealt with in Scripture.
- Encourage them to do the right thing – sometimes, it’s as simple as asking what the “wise thing” or “right thing” is in the situation. It’s easy for emotions to cloud good judgment.
- Talk about forgiveness – some women may not totally understand the concept of forgiveness, but it’s a crucial part of working through issues.
- Go back to the Gospel – when you’re talking about forgiveness, how can you not talk about the forgiveness that Jesus offers?
There’s no one easy fix-all for drama, but hopefully these are a few ways that will help you as you deal with drama!
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.
