What is the role of the Women’s Ministry?
Your church constitution or by-laws may specify events, activities, or roles your team is to fill in your church.
Your Pastor/Minister may have given you a job description.
Whether or not you’ve been given any guidelines, God has a great calling for your ministry!
We have a duty to provide 4 distinct roles under which all offerings to the women in our church and community should fall.
The 4 Pillars of Women’s Ministry:
1. Study – We must provide women the opportunity to study God’s Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17(ESV), “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
2. Service – Women need opportunities to serve others.
Doing so together, as the body of Christ, builds unity, encourages growth, and develops relationship. 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV), “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
3. Support – Women need safe places where they can find Biblically-sound support.
This could come in the form of support groups such as DivorceCare and GriefShare, mentoring, or interest groups such as MOPS. Ecclesiastes 4:10 (ESV), “For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
4. Social – Women benefit by regularly meeting together with other believers.
Offer opportunities for Christian friendships to form and mature. Hebrews 10:25 (ESV), “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
All of your events should be “held up”, if you will, be at least two of these pillars.
Think of the pillars as working together – not working in isolation.
Your Bible study group will naturally support the women in the group.
Your fellowship event may offer both a service and a social component.
How do your current activities and offerings fit with these 4 pillars? Is there something you need to add or remove?
Perhaps your team needs to revisit your mission statement.
Check out this post on Renovating Your Mission Statement for additional guidance.
You may also want to read:
What positions do you need to fill on your women’s ministry team?
How to Build a Women’s Ministry Team
But did you tell them about Me?
Word-filled Women’s Ministry
How can I order the book
Theresa, you can find my books here. https://www.amazon.com/shop/wmtoolbox/list/8BDVC16H1KOF?ref_=aipsflist
I would like to say thank you for this. I was lead to become a womans ministry leader at my church and been searching online for encouraging things for my position. I came upon this and was so grateful. This has helped me and wanted to say Thank you! I especially love the verses you added to each one. This is exactly what I want in my church and plan to use these tools.
Thank you, Lauren! I am so glad you found this to be helpful. Be sure to pre-order my next book, Women’s Ministry Essentials. I share a bit of a different take on the pillars of women’s ministry that I think you’ll find really helpful!
Hello Cyndee,
Thank you for your caring response to my postings. I did meet with the “ women’s ministry leader once again. Bottom line, she doesn’t trust anyone, or doesn’t care to train up women or allow women to use their God given gifts and talents in service to the Lord and others. She has said the church building can’t be used unless there is a Bible study incorporated into the activity. For some reason I don’t believe the scripture says that is a rule or law. This law of hers is stiffling the growth of the church and many wonderfully gifted saints. I believe the church is dying as all the boxes are ticked on the “ how to know if your church is dying”. Husband and I are praying about talking with the associate Pastor before we leave.
I’m so sorry Diane…
Update, after much prayer I wrote a letter to the women’s leader. We had a private meeting, she said she would pray about having a more active women’s ministry. Praise Gods she invited the women to have a planning meeting at church to move forward. We planned a mini retreat at church with speakers, a luncheon and an activity. We will be having that this month. Then yesterday at church during the announcements the women’s ministry director and one of the younger women at church announced the women’s ministry was going to be for a certain age group under 40, WHAT? I could hardly believe it what I heard. How could the pastors condone this. Neither our women’s ministry leader or that younger women are very spiritually mature. What a disappointment and set back for the other half of the women at church. I have no clue how to deal with that.
Oh dear… I’m so sorry they don’t seem to see the need for Titus 2 (older women teaching younger women) relationships. Could you ask to meet one of them for coffee and lovingly ask why they are limited the age of the group members? I’m here to help in any way I can.
Correction on a typo to my comment. It should read the woman’s ministry is a one women pastors wife dog and pony show.
I have been attending the church where I go for about 7 years. In all this time myself and other women have seen the church struggling. The nursery, children’s and teens classrooms are empty every Sunday. The women’s ministry is a one women shoot pastor’s wife dog and pony show. She says she is too busy with life, and won’t ask for any help as she told me there is no women at church capable, trustworthy or qualified. I have spoken with the woman’s ministry leader in private and share with her my concerns. I said I need to be in a church with a healthy ministry. She invited me to leave the church and asked why I was still attending. My husband and I are going to meet with the associate pastor and share our concerns. Thank you for your most encouraging information and scripture here, Lord bless you.
Oh, Diane… this breaks my heart. Praying for your conversation.
I delighted to read through the writeups. They are quite educative and is assisting me to set up a women ministry in my community.
I’m so glad you’re finding my site to be helpful! 🙂
I’m newly assigned to be over the women ministry.
Congratulations! Praying the Lord will guide and direct you to know how best to serve and support the women in your church.
This is helpful. I have felt a calling to get into Women’s Ministry for at least a decade. I plan to seek guidance in hopes to set me on the right path.
So glad you found it helpful! Praying you’ll know what next steps to take!
Thank you so much for this information.
You’re welcome! <3
This is very helpful as we have had challenges in committing women in our church to work together
Thank you! I’m so glad you found it to be helpful!
I am so grateful to God I found this site. I lead a woman’s. Women are called to Mentor. I like this verse 1 Peter 4:10.
Thank you! I’m glad you found it too! 🙂
Hi my name is Ranjinee Ramiah. I am from South Africa.
I am so grateful to God I found this site.
Thank you for sharing Godly wisdom & good insights.God bless you for sharing woman’s tool kit.
I lead a woman’s mission group called
“Sofia ” meaning sisters of faith in action.
I love 1 Tim.1:12 God chose me for such a time as this.
Blessings
Thank you, Ranjinee! I’m so glad God led you to my site. I pray He’ll make your next steps in ministry clear. <3
Strength for women as pillars , im one who needs this kind of schooling in christ
I lead our Women retreats at church. I’d love new thoughts
Be sure to subscribe to my email list. I share new ideas each week via email. 🙂 You can also search “retreat” to find all retreat-related blog posts.
I have been asked to address woman at a service on Woman’s day. I would appreciate some ideas to honour the amazing women we have in our church. I have laid it all before the Lord.
God bless
Margaret
Margaret, how wonderful! My first thought is to tie your sharing into Scripture that highlights the Christ-like qualities that your women possess. If you’d like some additional input, it would be a great question to ask in the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Facebook Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/womensministrytoolboxcommunity
Good Morning,
Awesome what I have been reading about the women’s ministry.
I have been involve in woman’s ministry work, but It was given to me to run now.
I would like to know more how I can get involve to grow my woman’s ministry.
This helped me a lot.want to get our women’s ministry started up in our church.so looking into the ins and out of it and how to get started.thank you So much.
Berdy, I am so glad you found this post to be helpful!
Dear Cyndy,
I am very grateful for having found your page. I have just been selected to head the Women’s Ministries of our church for this coming here, and I find your teaching to be very insightful and helpful. Thank you for allowing me and many others to tap into your wealth of knowledge on women’s ministries issues.
Lynda, so glad the Lord led you here. If there’s any way I can help, please let me know. 🙂 Praying the Lord will guide you and use you to bless the women in your church and community.
I’m rebuilding the Women’s Ministry at my church and when I come across the toolbox, so much teachable information for my women and myself. I’m grateful that God led me to this page. Is it ok for me to share the prayer with my group of women?
Please keep us in your prayers.
Thank you so much.
Blessings! Mrs. Dannie
Dannie, thank you for your kind and encouraging comments. Yes, you’re welcome to share the post with your women.
I am from sweden, l har got many Idea . thank you .
Thank you, Selam! <3
I am in a women’s ministry. The vision my leader had when starting this group was women coming together to help others through testimonies and knowledge. Our group is not under the umbrella of a church; however, the leaders will often times reference God. Our leader all stated she did not want the ministry to be “church like” because everyone that becomes a part of our group is not saved. My question is should be called a women’s ministry or a life group. The content we talk about is more life events, trials and tribulations etc. Because the leader is not a pastor or anything of the such, maybe we should change our name from center of the Heart ministry to center of the Heart group. I feel a ministery is under a church approved by the church leader with God at the center of it. Our group is not like that. I think we need to rebrand ourselves. Your opinion?
Cheryl, I sent you an email. 🙂
Thanks for the 4 pillars will use this ideas with ours women’s missionary. I really enjoy all your tools they are so helpful. God bless.
Thanks, Fran! So glad you’ve found them to be helpful. 🙂
Thank you God has given me the vision for womens ministry, I asked my pastor yesterday , He told me to go for it. I’m so excited. Pray for me
Eeek!! I am SO excited for you and will be praying! May God direct your steps and give you wisdom! <3
We are in the process of merging two churches…. Two ladies groups, etc…I have been asked to lead this group. I want the group to be pleasing to God and not to the flesh, while I was on the computer last evening I was lead to Women Ministry Toolbox, Cyndee, you are a blessing. I have looked at the Four Pillars of Women’s Ministry and am asking you and other ladies to pray for me and the other ladies to be patience and see where God is leading this ministry.
Kathryn, I will be praying for you all! Hugs to you, dear one!
Would like more ideas
Sharon, I’d love to help! What kind of ideas are you looking for? Feel free to email me directly cyndee(AT)womensministrytoolbox(DOT)com.
Thanks be to God for coming across you, I am a pastor and head of the women in my church. I need more godly ideas to lead.
Thank you, Roseline! Praying God will direct your steps!
I tried to have a Bible Study group meet at my house once, and had decided to get into the WORD FIRST instead of all the coffee and refreshments. When we were done with the study,
everyone left without staying for refreshments at all. But I find sitting and drinking coffee and snacking kept us busy talking about everyday things, gossip, and little in the WORD. This is not what I am looking for….
So thankful God showed you how to keep your group in the Word. Perhaps you all could have lunch together once a month after the study to still have that time of fellowship. You could also meet 30 minutes earlier once a month for breakfast – communicating clearly that once those 30 minutes are up it’s back to your study as you do every week. You were wise to put a stop to the gossip!
In my 80’s and as a woman in long time ministry, I’ve found the pillars will all fall without the main foundation supporting all the pillars. The compassion, love and pure character of Jesus Christ. Mrs.Dr. Hortense They; http://www.drandmrsthey.com
Absolutely! Christ must be the foundation. Thank you for the wisdom and the reminder!