What is the purpose of a women’s ministry?
Soup kitchens, ladies’ luncheons, parenting classes and “charity fairs” all serve good causes, but they are not the reason we have a distinctive discipleship of women. Not only is it important to have an intentional, deliberate approach to female discipleship, it is necessary for a healthy church community.
Why have a women’s ministry? The short answer is Scripture commands it. In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul includes instructions on proper church conduct. After describing the qualifications for elders, Paul instructs Titus on what to teach older men and “likewise” to teach older women so that older women can teach younger women (Titus 2:1-5).
God created men and women differently. While I’m sure that shocking truth did not just dawn on you, a wise church pays attention to the distinctive needs and temptations of men and women. We recognize that some of those issues are best learned and applied in single-sex groups, and having a deliberate, biblically-based, women’s ministry allows us to effectively address the different needs of women.
Women’s Ministries exists to serve and minister to women of all ages by teaching the Word of God and providing fellowship, evangelism and discipleship, with the purpose of encouraging a deeper walk with Jesus Christ as well as equipping women for ministry. Our goal is not to keep women busy with fun, fellowship or service opportunities, but to help women grow.
Within that mission, Women’s Ministries strives to teach women to live and serve by balancing the educational and relational components on our programs. If a ministry is purely educational, it is academic and cold. If a ministry is solely relational, it is anemic and will collapse under the storms of life. Just as a good team needs both offense and defense, biblical discipleship teaches the content of the covenant within the context of covenantal relationships.
