Below you’ll find the show notes for episode 96, Four Women’s Ministry Trends to Embrace in 2025, from the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links.

Back in 2023, I shared a list of 8 trends and predictions for women’s ministry. That was a pivotal year for many women’s ministry programs. Emerging from the COVID years often meant the restart of ministry that had been paused or transitioning completely back to in-person ministry. You might find it interesting to go back and look at the post here.

This is not about following man (or woman as the case may be), but about identifying how and where the Lord is moving.

• Where are women who prayerfully seek the Lord’s will going as they follow God?
• What plans and pivots are they making for their women’s ministry programs?

This year, I want to talk about four women’s ministry trends to embrace in 2025.

Please hear me say, I’m not telling you to jump on board of all of these trends. Be prayerful and attentive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As you read through these, you might get a nudge from the Holy Spirit to make one of these a matter of prayer.

Four Women’s Ministry Trends to Embrace in 2025

1.Discipleship

I’m seeing more and more women’s ministry leaders seeking resources for mentoring and discipleship. The women in their church want to walk alongside and learn from women who are a little bit ahead of them spiritually.

In our church, we’ve added Dgroups (discipleship groups) in the last year. Three to four women meet weekly to discuss specific Bible passages. There’s accountability, shared prayer requests, and scripture memorization. We’ve witnessed great growth in the women that were faithful to attend.

I did an entire series on Disicpleship, Mentoring, and Bible Studies that you can find here. I share lots of resources and tips for creating a program to best meet the needs of the women in your church. Be sure to check it out!

2. Selecting a Scripture Focus for the Year

I love hearing leaders share about the verse or passage the Lord has placed upon their hearts to anchor their ministry plans for the year. In our church, we align with the theme our pastor has prayerfully selected for the year. Our theme this year is grow and the theme verse is 2 Peter 3:14-18. Everything we offer our women will encourage them to grow – grow in knowledge, grow in grace, grow in love, etc.

It may be tempting to copy and paste the theme another church is doing, but I want to encourage you to seek what the Lord wants for your particular group of women in your church for this season. His plans are always best! This post can help you discover what that focus may be for your women.

3. Inductive-style Bible Study

I’m really excited about this one! We get a lot of Bible study requests in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Facebook group. More and more I see leaders recommending walking through a book of the Bible inductively. I’ve also noticed a lot of Bible study books are utilizing the inductive method in their approach.

There are many resources that can help you lead an inductive Bible study if this is something you’re looking for. I’d love to recommend my READ Bible Study Kit for Groups. It comes with everything you need to help your women learn how to dig deeper into God’s Word. There are observation, interpretation, and application questions they’ll complete over a week’s time as they read, and re-read one chapter of the Bible per week. They learn to find and access commentaries, instead of relying on a pastor or author to do that for them. The homework can be done in about 20 minutes per day. Women love discussing their homework together in small groups each week. You can find more information here.

4. Less Crafts More Community Builders

It used to be that you could count on a craft at every women’s ministry gathering. That was great, if you loved crafts!

However, more leaders are listening to their women say they want more. They want to do something when they gather.

Leaders are adding service projects to many meetings and small group discussions after a teaching or devotional is shared.

I’m seeing leaders marry crafts and service projects. The crafts made might be donated to a parachurch ministry or placed in a blessing basket for homebound members. Teams might schedule one craft night a year, instead of one at each meeting. They might select something that connects to spiritual growth, such as making Bible bookmarks or prayer journals.

Where do I see these trends emerging?

You may be wondering, where do I see these trends emerging? I read every post in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Facebook group where thousands of leaders share what they are doing in their church. For example, I’ve seen a recent surge in questions about mentoring and discipleship.

I also pay attention to popular podcast show topics and posts and conversations on social media. I follow many people I don’t agree with, so I can hear what women are learning from voices outside of those I recommend.

Here are today’s Toolbox Tasks:

1. Did God stir your heart as you listened to these women’s ministry trends? If so, make that idea a matter of prayer.
2. Talk with your team about where you see the Lord leading you in 2025.

You may also want to check out:
Discipleship Series
Women’s Ministry Trends and Predictions for 2023
How to Select Your Women’s Ministry Theme or Scripture Focus
READ Bible Study Kit for Groups
60 Service Projects
Bible Bookmark Instructions (Video)
Women’s Ministry Toolbox Facebook Group