Blog - Page 62 of 66 - Retreat-in-a-Bag 62

Blog

Spiritual Mothering – A Book Review

Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt, is written particularly to speak to those women in the church whom Paul addresses in Titus 2 when he states “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husband and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”  However, this could also be a mandate for every women’s ministry.  As Ms. Hunt states “every Christian woman can enter the high calling of spiritual reproduction and motherhood.”

She defines “spiritual mothering” as:  “When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God’s glory.”

In today’s society, the extended family has all but disappeared, and women are deprived of that source of security and fellowship.  That, in addition to the transience of our society, makes long-term relationships with other women difficult.  Women in the church today need godly mentors, and throughout this book, Ms. Hunt encourages women to invest themselves in the lives of younger women.  She tells us what we are commanded to teach them, according to Titus 2, and how we can encourage, love, accept and comfort them.  Woven throughout are testimonies of women whose lives have been changed by having an older godly woman mentor and teach them.

In our women’s ministries, we are encouraging our ladies to live as godly women in all areas of their lives.  They are being bombarded with a very different message from the world on a daily basis. While the emphasis of this book is the one-on-one relationship, I see great value in these principles being applied within our women’s ministries.  We see how Jesus gently mentored His disciples, often as a group–He invested His life into theirs, spending time with them, inspiring them, teaching them, exhorting them, encouraging them and being an example to them.  As women’s ministry leaders, we can endeavor to do the same with the the ladies who choose to be involved in women’s ministry.

“Wherever you are in life’s timeline, the experiences you have been through and the faith lessons you have learned are worth perpetuating.  Even as you look back and find younger women to nurture, I urge you to look ahead and avail yourself of the perspective of an older woman–you will be richer–other women will be encouraged and equipped–God will be glorified–His Word will be honored!”  May we develop such relationships within our women’s ministries.

Posted in: Book Reviews

Leave a Comment (0) →

Prayer for Your Women’s Ministry

At our last women’s ministry leaders’ meeting, Denise (our pastor’s wife and head of women’s ministry) shared some verses that she is now praying for our leaders and our Women’s Ministry in general:

Romans 15:5-7:  “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.”

We have a group of nine leaders in the women’s ministry, and we are a rather eclectic group.  There are different personalities, different ethnic backgrounds and life experiences, different ages and stages in life, different gifts and abilities, different passions, and different styles of teaching.  But somehow God has called all of us to be a part of this leadership group, and God loves using our differences to minister to women.

Allowing differences to cause division and competition does not bring God glory. Our women’s ministries are made up of women who are very different.  Individual women may relate more to one leader’s unique style and perspective more than another leader.  So the variety in our group of women’s ministry leader is a good thing.  The unifying factor is our love for Jesus Christ and our desire to serve the women.  God alone can give us oneness and unity, and the result of that like-mindedness brings glory to God.

Posted in: Inspirations, Realities of Ministry

Leave a Comment (0) →

Journey to Retreat 2010 – Retreat Planning Meeting

Our retreat planning meeting took place on August 8, approximately three months prior to the retreat.  As explained in Retreat Planning Meeting, Part 1 and Part 2, we open this meeting to any woman in the church who would like to be involved in some part of retreat planning.  We held the meeting after a Sunday service, to make it as convenient as possible for women to attend.  At this year’s Retreat Planning Meeting, we had twelve sign-up sheets available. Each of these sign-up sheets represent an area where our leaders anticipate that we will need help over the next few months of retreat planning and preparation.  The areas were:  Registration Table at church and Registration at the hotel, Skit, Book Reviews/Book Table, Hospitality Table, Retreat Work Party, Communion, Secret Angels, Decorations, Greeters, Transportation, Clean-Up and Miscellaneous.

Women who did not make the meeting will have the opportunity to sign up either at the women’s Bible study or by calling the leader in charge.  Hopefully, most of the spots will be filled within the next month!

Posted in: Journey to Retreat 2010

Leave a Comment (0) →

Retreat Planning Meeting, Part 2

Depending on the level of participation, the Retreat Planning Meeting provides our women’s leaders with a list of ladies who are willing to help in the various areas.  Often, we will make these lists available to women at other times, such as women’s Bible study, so that we can give the opportunity to as many women as possible.  While we still may need to recruit more help, if enough do not sign up, it does give us that basic group of servants that will be so crucial to pulling off the retreat.

I like the concept of the Retreat Planning Meeting, because no one can say that they did not have the opportunity to get involved.  While we have many ladies that we can count on and call upon to help, this opens the door for any woman in the church to test the waters and get involved in a small way.  It is a great way for ladies to get plugged in and feel that they are part of the ministry.  So often, we discover women who have gifts that we didn’t know about just because they signed up in an area of interest to them.  For instance, someone will sign up to be involved in the skit, and we had no idea that they would be interested in acting!  Or someone will sign up to help with decorations, and we discover a new talent in that area!

Three cautions:  When we make up these sign-up sheets, leaders are just estimating what kind of help that they are going to need.  Some may still have need for more help, while others don’t have enough tasks to spread around to all who signed up.  Stay in contact with the women who have signed up.  If they are not needed in one area, perhaps they would be interested in helping in another.  Secondly, every woman who does sign up must be contacted; if we neglect to contact someone who signed up, feelings could get hurt.  Finally, after actual registration for the retreat has begun, is it wise for the leaders to confirm that the ladies on their sign-up list have indeed signed up for the retreat  In the month between the time they sign up to help and actual registration, their plans may have changed.  You don’t want to be counting on women who then cannot actually be there to help!

Posted in: Retreat and Event Planning, Starting Points in Retreat Planning

Leave a Comment (0) →

Retreat Planning Meeting, Part I

About three months prior to the retreat, we schedule a “Retreat Planning Meeting.”  Ours will be taking place this Sunday, August 8th, after the morning service.  It is at this meeting, which is open to any interested woman in the church, that women who desire to serve in various areas of the retreat (both in preparations before as well as during the retreat) come to find out what opportunities are available.  Each of our nine women’s ministry leaders have been assigned certain areas of responsibility for the retreat–from registration prior to the retreat to cleanup at the end of the retreat.  Prior to the “retreat planning meeting,” each leader estimates how many women she will need to help her carry out her retreat duties.  For instance, the leader in charge of registration will need a certain number of women who can help with registration after each Sunday service during the month that registration is open.  She will determine exactly what her needs are, and that information will be given to the leader in charge of the retreat planning meeting.  In the same way, the leader in charge of book reviews will need those who are willing to read a book and do a short review at the retreat, as well as women who are willing to work at the book table during the retreat.  The leader in charge of greeting will ask for volunteers for the various times during the retreat that she wants to have greeters available.

Sign-up sheet are made, based on that information.  These sign-up sheets are put out at the retreat planning meeting.  Our hope is that many women will attend the meeting and desire to serve. At the meeting, each leader will explain what will be required of those who sign up in her area of responsibility.  Women are given the opportunity to ask questions and sign up (name and contact information) in the area(s) where they feel led to serve.  The leaders then contact those who have signed up and more specific direction is given.  For instance, a woman who signs up to help with registration is contacted to find out when she is available to serve, and then she is put on the schedule.

See more at Retreat Planning Meeting, Part 2.

 

Posted in: Retreat and Event Planning, Starting Points in Retreat Planning

Leave a Comment (0) →
Page 62 of 66 «...3040506061626364...»