Intergenerational Women s Ministry: Not a Program, but a Mindset. Darcy Paape

Transcription

1 Intergenerational Women s Ministry: Not a Program, but a Mindset Darcy Paape

2 Background and Experience O High School English/Theology teacher 4yrs O Associate in Ministry (Youth, Family, and Campus ministry) 5yrs Portland, OR. O Campus Ministry Assistant at Concordia University Wisconsin- 5th year O Director of the Women s Leadership Institute at Concordia University Wisconsin- 1st year

3 O Current role O The Director of the Women s Leadership Institute O The mission of the Women s Leadership Institute is to educate, encourage, and equip women for Christian leadership in the home, church, workplace, and world. O Concordia Wisconsin s Campus Ministry Assistant O CUW Campus Ministry points the campus to Christ by connecting students in Christcentered relationships, Gospel-motivated service, and Christian leadership development

4 A story about messy ministry Bringing it back to center

5 What women want from a women s ministry What are you hungry for as a Christian woman? 2. In what ways do you wish to grow in your faith and walk with Jesus? 3. What would a ministry have to provide to make it a priority for you and others to participate in? 1.

6 What are you hungry for? O The ability to get real with others (authentic relationships) O Go deep O Intergenerational O Permission to be messy O Knowing Jesus and His Word

7 How I wish to grow O Application of God s word O Defending the faith to non-believers O Sharing scripture encouragement O Teaching my children O Sharing my story of faith with others O Defeating fear in my life O Putting God first, accountability to make Him the priority O Prayer- My ability and desire to go to God O Be more like Jesus

8 What will help me attend and engage in your ministry? O A personal invitation O Childcare O Ability to contribute and be my messy self in a community O Biblically-based and relevant O Multiple generations reaching out to one another and to those who do not have faith.

9 EPIC-Leonard Sweet O Experiential O Participatory O Image-Rich O Connective O Postmodern Pilgrims by Leonard Sweet (2000).

10 Is your ministry event focused or people focused? O Is the majority of your time spent on event O O O O planning or people? Are there easy entry points into leadership that allow for different gifts? How are you helping them grow in their study of the Word and commitment to prayer? What tools are your participants able to take home? How are you following up with your participants?

11 A story of a woman who had her needs met John 4: 1-42

12 A Look at Jesus at the Well O Jesus meets her during an ordinary daily task O Equivalent to Jesus hanging out with a woman at a laundromat or grocery shopping O Asked for a drink which revealed his own humanity and need O Jesus cut across race (bloodline), gender, religion, and nationality (borders) with a simple vulnerable question. O Invites her to ask a question of him O Where will this water come from?

13 A Look at Jesus at the Well An invitation for conversation leads to part of the Lord s harvest. O She admits she is thirsty O He reminds her why O She brings up worship O Jesus can reveal who he is...the Messiah! O She goes to tell others...can this be? O Jesus remarks to his disciples that the harvest is ready, but there are too few workers.

14 Today s Woman O Desire to grow by O having real conversations in a safe environment. O being challenged. O going deeper into the Word of God and wanting to apply it. O desiring to share faith and serve others. A Samaritan Woman O Jesus engaged her by O broke down barriers to have a conversation. O challenged her to think about her life and who He is. O explained truth and scripture to her. O inspired her to go and share the good news.

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16 A well-woman needs... O To be introduced to Jesus O An invitation to discover together in a safe place O To be challenged by the Word O To be encouraged in the Gospel O To be held accountable O The help of the Holy Spirit! A well-woman then invites others to do the same.

17 Well-women among us O Who in your ministry or church already possesses or could develop these qualities? O What might you do to disciple and mentor future well-women? O How are your events and ministry opportunities encouraging the key components women are asking for?

18 Mindset, not ministry O How might it look in your congregation to focus more intentionally on mindset and then ministry? How might you incorporate the following: O Mentor trainings O Prayer time (for ministry, people in ministry, O O O O leadership) Encouragement and Accountability for Leaders Accessible entry points for new leadership Time to celebrate well opportunities and connections. People focus rather than event focus

19 Keep it Simple! O Keep prayer and teaching the Word central! O Step out in faith. Many are afraid to challenge people to a deeper commitment, but you might be surprised. O Remember you as leaders do not have to do it all. Let your women share what it is they need and be part of the solution to provide it. O Remember Mary and Martha-Being is more important than doing.

20 Work Smarter not harder O Attend community events with your well-women. O Go through a mentoring/discipleship program together as a church. O Not just invite high school and college women to your retreats, but have them help plan them. O Invite your shut-ins to be a part of the prayer team and host meetings at their place. (Go early and help them clean beforehand it needed).

21 Women s Leadership Institute O The mission of the Women s Leadership Institute is to educate, encourage, and equip women for Christian leadership in the home, church, workplace, and world. O Regional mini-conferences O National Conference in 2017 O Working to provide more online resources O We need your help! O We would love to hear about your churches mentoring and discipleship strategies O Speakers to help with mentor and leadership training O Women to serve with us!

22 O Mentoring books O Becoming a Woman of Influence by Carol Kent O The Mentor Leader by Tony Dungy O Leadership and Self-Deception-Getting Out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute O Culture References O Postmodern Pilgrims by Leonard Sweet O You Lost Me by David Kinnaman

23 Women s Ministry resources O O Leading Women to the Heart of God-Creating a Dynamic Women s Ministry by Lysa M. Terkeurst O Women to Women Mentoring oman-to-woman-mentoring-ministry/ O Like the Women s Leadership Institute on Facebook or find us on our webpage. O The Leadership Network O Dear Women s Ministry