Intergenerational Women’s Leaders Meeting Part 8:
Leading Young Women and Connecting the Generations
This is eighth in a series of posts from a meeting we recently we with a group of women’s ministry leaders and some young women/young women’s leaders together for dialogue. If you missed earlier posts, please read those first (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7)
The overall biggest takeaway for all of those who were in our meeting was: this kind of dialogue must happen on the local church level. Women must be willing to sit at the table with older and younger women, talking honestly about their lives, perspectives on ministry, how to study the Word of God, and grappling with tough and even controversial topics.
We do not have to all agree on all the issues, but we must listen. Older women must let the young women talk, and even talk it out! That’s how they deal with issues, but they do want your input as well as wanting to feel they can contribute as well. Younger women must be willing to accept that older women have lived longer and do have wisdom to share with them. They must be teachable, but then so must older women!
So, the conclusion is this: there are NO easy answers, but the future of ministry with women depends on how well we do this. If we want to “finish the race well” in serving the Lord as long as He allows and as long as we have breath, then connecting with all ages of women, and especially connecting with the younger generation is essential.
What happens if we don’t?
Ponder that and ask, “Is it worth it to continue to pass on the heritage of faith and leadership?”
Pray over this verse as you answer (and challenge your leadership team to pray over it as well).
“But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 (HCSB)
Resources:
Leading Young Women (blog category)
Top 10 for the Generations (blog category)
