Is your team struggling to get women to show up at your women’s ministry events and activities?
If that is the case, you are not alone!
I hear regularly from leaders who are frustrated because the attendance at their women’s ministry events is lacking.
I get it.
Our last two events, part of a series, were very poorly attended. Our events, minus the team members and speaker panels, drew just 4 and 6 church members respectively. Curious, I did the math and discovered only 3% of our women showed up. We usually average 20-25%. Not good!
Women’s ministry events face some tough competition for the time and commitment of our women.
We are competing against:
- Exercise Classes
- Children’s Sporting Events & Practices
- Dinnertime
- Family-time
- Grocery Shopping & Errands
- Television Shows
- Other Church Commitments
- Work Schedules
- Spouse’s Work Schedules
- Sleep
- Laundry & Housework
- Homework Assistance
- Childcare
- Caring for Aging Parents
And those are just the ones off the top of my head!
Most women have little white space on their calendars.
In order to attend a Women’s Ministry Event your women must choose NOT do something else.
Think on that for a minute.
- Is your team offering and advertising events and activities in a way that women will want to give up ________ to come?
- Are you offering something women think they need and want?
- Is it offered on a day and time that is convenient for a majority of your women?
- If it affordable?
- Will there be childcare?
- Is the event guest-friendly?
- Do your women really know why they should come?
Here’s the thing – your women have to choose to come.
If your ministry is struggling with attendance issues, I encourage to set aside some time at your next team meeting to discuss with your team how you can make changes that encourage your women to come.
Perhaps you need to change the day and time.
Maybe you need to offer fewer events, two or three instead of four or five.
You may need to change things up – whether it be location, format, or speaker.
Do you need to retire an event that’s not fully serving its purpose?
Consider surveying your women to find out what days/times they prefer and adjust your calendar accordingly. You’ll never be able to satisfy everyone, but you may be able to find a better day/time.
Offer both what your women want and what you know they need at the same event. Draw them in by meeting a need (budgeting, discipling children, meal preparation, chalk painting, canning, teaching how to read the Bible) but teach it in conjunction with what God’s Word says about the topic.
While I firmly believe God will do anything for just one, we are called to be good stewards of our resources and that includes the time and money spent to hold every women’s ministry event or activity.
Chronic poor attendance will cripple the motivation of your women’s ministry team.
For the health of your ministry and team – you must address poor attendance.
I strongly encourage you to have your team complete a Post Event Evaluation Form after every event. Take time to examine the attendance and what may have contributed to the turnout. Replicate what works and tweak what doesn’t.
As for our last two events, I believe the team needs to look at making some adjustments on the time of day, length (they’ve been 3 hours), and format. I’m also not certain the vision we’ve had for each event is being clearly communicated to our ladies. If we were to look at the bigger picture of our calendar year, we may decide it’s too full…
Praying God gives your team eyes to see any barriers that need to be removed so that your women will want to attend your women’s ministry events. May we seek God’s plans for our ministry and not our own.
You may also want to read:
Why Women Aren’t Coming to Your Women’s Ministry Events
What Women Really Want from Your Women’s Ministry
3 Critical Calendar Planning Questions
How to Pick the Best Date for Your Women’s Ministry Event
But did you tell them about Me?
Post Event Evaluation Form
How to Alienate Visitors
Seven Super Survey Questions
One year ago: Book Review: Audacious
Two years ago: Tablescape Inspiration
Three years ago: Updating Your Publicity
Ladies. At my church I offer quarterly events, some morning, some midday,some afternoon.
Those times include different ladies. But some retired attend everything, usually Saturday.
I provide the majority of the food, beverages,table settings, decor but have a sign up to let them know they can contribute too. Every event has a mixer activity and a Make and Take craft activity. Pastor does a devotion message and a prayer.
It’s a spiritual social Womens fellowship experience . Just did a Saturday moms event. Spectacular. Wish I could show photos.
In December I’ll do an Advent workshop. Women can choose to bring families
We will decorate wreaths. Tapas and Sangria. Lots to look forward to
Pp
Sandra, thank you for sharing! Please join us in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Community Facebook Group where you can share photos. 🙂
I appreciate your article we are doing okay about most of our turnouts and I for one expressly need ideas for just women as I have many elderly widows who feel uncomfortable when we have events for men and women together. Also it makes them feel special that they have their own time to be with other sisters in Christ. They love to chat and laugh – I usually have three luncheons throughout the year free of charge with guest speaker. What I am needing is more different ideas for the spiritual support for these ladies – any ideas? Thank you again for your article.
Cherie, Thank you so much for your comment on my post and your service to women in your church!
I recently published a new book, Rethinking Fellowship: A Handbook for Meaningful Women’s Ministry Events that addresses how to incorporate faith in everything we do. It’s available on Amazon and in my online store (www.womensministrytoolboxshop.com) I pray you’ll find it to be helpful!
But why women’s ministry at all? I just don’t like the whole concept of events just for women. I prefer to go to things with my husband, or my family. Some women don’t enjoy being in the company of a big group of other women. I don’t see the point in a ministry exclusively for women.
Hi Felicity, these articles are written for women who are serving in their local church on the women’s ministry team. Women’s ministry provides an opportunity for women to experience Titus 2 relationships, disciple one another, serve one another, grow in their spiritual walk, and find biblical encouragement. You may not see the need for it in your current season, but someday you may want the benefits and blessings women’s ministry can offer.
Thanks for sharing,I am blessed
Thank you!
Well happy to know is not ME.
Although is sad to know that this happens in so many churches.
But is not all over.
Thank you so much for this article. Very helpful.
God bless all of you ladies, let’s keep praying.
Ana V
Ana, it’s not just you! May God move in the hearts of our women so they desire Christ-focused fellowship.
Yes! I use to worry and feel sad about women not be present but ther were time when the attendance was great but as time went on it became more and more less. I came to understand that it’s all about choice and lifestyle of planning. I know we have thing that come up, but we are nothing without God, and taking and finding the time to spend with God. God is important. Let make Him! And continue to invite, encourage and move on, the ten brides. Which one do you want to be. Not enough oil are enough to move forward. To God be the Glory. Amen
ABC’s Women’s Ministry
Thank you for your comments. God must be at the center of our ministries. <3
Unfortunately our gatherings are dwindling because of a person. I have found that the group is voting on places to meet that is impossible for this lady to make. Most refuse to deal with her and after 5 years I myself am having a difficult time with her. How can we e encouraging to her when no one wants to be near her?.
Prayer is key. It not only changes things, it changes people. Keep telling God about it and watch Him move.
Gale, I agree. So often we forget to pray for our women to attend as well as desire community with one another.
I am so glad that I have found this website. How do I go about members paying outstanding fees. This is so long outstanding and the a decision was made no more functions and an amount was set that each member must pay. Now they feel we must have functions again.Please helps with advice. I am the new elected Chairlady.
Elizabeth, forcing women to pay is no fun task! Bless your heart! Is this a church or community ministry? What is the purpose? Feel free to email me your response and we can brainstorm together. cyndee(AT)womensministrytoolbox(DOT)com
This website is AMAZING!!! Our Women’s Ministry is very much in its infancy, and I’m finding so many helpful articles for planning & consideration. This article is particularly useful, as we are dealing with members lacking enthusiasm past Sunday morning worship. Getting the members to attend ministry opportunities throughout the week has been challenging. Thank you for all you do!
Praying for you and for your women! So glad you are here. Please let me know if there’s anything specific I can help you with. If you’re not already a member, be sure to join the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Community Facebook group. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensministrytoolboxcommunity/
Thanks for the information. I am currently exhausting myself looking for topics to go off of that will be compatible with all ages and types of girls/women to draw them into connecting with each other at our meetings. If you have any resources that i can look into i would greatly appreciate it. We defiantly would like to draw in more women with topics that help them in their daily life and turn it towards God and him helping us. So again if you have any ideas or resources i’d appreciate it. 🙂
Lettie, you can’t go wrong with the Bible. 🙂 Most young women are looking for meat. They also love to serve so coupling a time of teaching with a service project can be one way to draw them in. There are so many topics women of all ages struggle with: identity, understanding and using spiritual gifts, learning how to really read the Bible, prayer, etc. You may also want to check out these posts: https://womensministrytoolbox.com/engage-multiple-generations/ and https://womensministrytoolbox.com/reach-younger-women-church-community/ for ideas. Praying God will give you discernment and clarity as you make plans.
I do community organizing outside of church, but this page is thorough, thoughtful and full of good resources. Thank you for all of the work that you put into this
It’s my pleasure! Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments!
I was reading this because our ladies group at our church as been dwindling down. Seems like the older ladies are the faithful ones and the younger ones are busy. They want to do something with the group outside of church but then they don’t come and do it. I get that they are busy. I am a mom of 4 kids 12 and under but I don’t work outside the home. We changed the time of our meetings to accommodate the younger ones, but they still miss meetings. My problem with our meeting are that I can’t get people to volunteer to make refreshments or do a lesson and it is only 6 or 7 months out of the year. My other problem is I think the meetings last way to long. They didn’t used to last 3 hours, but now It seems like we talk about everything. I love that our group has alot of ideas and we are doing so much in our little town, but I would love to find a way to make the meetings shorter and then they would be more enjoyable.
Karen, busyness is an issue almost every leader is battling. I was just reading thru some research this morning that highlights that work and family almost always trump church activities.
Do you all have any young women on your leadership team? If not, I’d strongly recommend prayerfully adding one – I think she could help you all focus on the needs of those younger ones.
As for the length of your meetings, I agree, 3 hours is too long. It’s wonderful there’s so much good conversation happening, but many women can’t devote that much time on a regular basis. I suggest your meetings last 1 1/2 to 2 hours max.
Try calling women and asking them specifically to bring refreshments. There may be women who need some guidance/training before they would be willing to lead a lesson – it can be rather intimidating. You may need to do some one-on-one training for those women who you feel God is calling to lead.
I know that’s a lot of info – please feel free to email me and we can talk in more detail (cyndeeATwomensministrytoolboxDOTcom). I hope that helps!
Love your points. Sharing it to our women’s ministries group page.
Thanks Melissa! <3