GUIDELINES FOR STARTING A LOCAL WOMEN’S MINISTRY



GUIDELINES FOR STARTING A LOCAL WOMEN’S MINISTRY

VISION

ARP Women’s Ministries is an organization which encourages and equips the community of ARP women to minister together for God’s glory and purpose.

GETTING STARTED

Begin with a small group of ladies interested in starting a local Women’s Ministry group. Pray, study, and discuss. PRAYER IS THE PRIMARY FOCUS. Through prayer, God will guide you to see specific needs in your church.

As you identify those specific needs, through study and discussion within your group, keep in touch with your pastor, seek his input, and ask for his continual prayer support.

Every woman needs opportunities for:

Spiritual growth

Fellowship

Service

Support of local church and denomination

STEP 1: MAKE YOUR OWN LIST OF MINISTRIES AND/OR RESPONSIBILITIES.

These questions will help you start thinking about what your group could look like:

• Do we have Women’s Bible Studies, prayer groups, circles (women meeting with women)?

• Are ARP agencies promoted and supported by prayer and/or finances by groups within our church? (Erskine College and Seminary Outreach North America, World Witness, Bonclarken, The ARP Magazine, Christian Education Ministries, etc.)

• Is there a need in our church/community for a college ministry?

• Do the women have specific community outreach ministries?

Build your own structure based on YOUR local church’s needs and mission statement.

As you begin looking at your church, you will think of other questions to help you get started.

STEP 2: DECIDE WHO YOU NEED ON YOUR BOARD (Committee) TO FULFILL THESE EXPECTATIONS.

Some suggested members are:

• President or Team Leader

• Vice president or Assistant Team Leader

• Secretary and/or Treasurer

• Spiritual Life Leader

• Missions and Outreach Leader

• Family Care Leader

• Historian

If your group is small in numbers, begin with a Spiritual Life Ministry Leader and add the others as you grow and become more comfortable with your structure. After you decide what your structure will look like, begin to write job descriptions for each area. These will help clarify responsibilities and assignments, and it will simplify recruiting women to fill your positions.

Take your time, don’t rush, and pray for guidance and direction. Seek the advice of women from other churches that have a local women’s ministry or the denominational leader responsible for helping local groups get started.

Write a Constitution and Bylaws. Request copies from other local groups to help you get started.

After you decide what you would like your group to look like, seek the approval and support of your session.

As you develop your Women’s Ministry, remember at any point you can add or subtract functions and ministries to fulfill your church’s or the denomination’s needs.

Resources: and

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