Renewbook

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Revitalizing an existing women’s group—or starting a new women’s ministry— is challenging. It is our prayer that this handbook and the accompanying resources provide what you need to establish a new paradigm for ministry where you are. The intent of this ministry, to borrow from Moutn Oak UMC, is to love women, meet them at the point of their need, raise them up in Jesus and equip them to be disciples of Jesus Christ in word and action.

The RENEW Network and the Taskforce on Models for Effective Women’s Ministry trusts that the content of this handbook, put into effect in your local women’s group, will leave you with the sense of a warm embrace. This embrace comes from your United Methodist sisters in Christ.

Together we welcome the fresh movement of God’s Spirit among us and through us. Make it so, Lord!

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WOMEN’S M I N I S T R Y

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NETWORK-for Christian Women discipleship

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(706) 778-4812

fax: (706)

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133 Clarkesville Street, P.O. Box 889, Cornelia, GA 30531

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NETWORK-for Christian Women

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778-4818

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renew1@hemc.net

www.renewnetwork.org

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Resources Crown Financial Ministries

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O RGANIZING Prayer Taskforce Theme scripture A new name Mission statement Vision Components of effective ministry Structure Resources “Are We Using Our Talents?”

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8. Contact the RENEW Network if you have questions RENEW is here to answer any questions you may have about the content of the Financial File.

God calls us as Christian women to remain faithful to Scriptural Christianity

E NA BLING/EQUIPPING Leadership development Mentoring Resources

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“Responding to the Call to Lead”

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R E V ITALIZING Prayer and worship Bible study Deeper life/discipleship Healing for emotional and sexual brokenness Broad-based program resources “Seek God’s Highest” Resources

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and to our Doctrinal Standards, and to exercise responsible stewardship.

To review Financial File III online go to www.renewnetwork.org.

To obtain a hard copy of the file, use the enclosed order form or write, RENEW Network, P.O. Box 889, Cornelia, GA 30531 or call: 706/778-4812.

This Christian financial counseling and resource ministry purposes “to teach people God's financial principles in order to know Christ more intimately and to be free to serve Him.” Crown's multifaceted ministries and resources are tailored to address an array of financial concerns, including those of home, ministry, and business. Bible study books like Your Money Counts ($10.99), available through Crown, can help your women's group explore biblical texts for responsible stewardship.

Visit Crown Financial Ministries at www.crown. org or call 1/800-722-1976.

Crown Financial Ministries, P.O. Box 100, Gainesville, GA 30503-0100

Just Generosity

by Ron Sider

Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action, raises up a voice of hope, calling believers to care as much about the poor as Jesus did. He offers a new, holistic approach in which people of religious faith can work with government, media and business to fashion a vision for changing both unjust social structures and the root causes of bad moral choices. This book, says Library Journal, is "an essential purchase whose wide-based discussion reaches many segments of readers."

63 © Copyright 2003 RENEW NETWORK

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

RENEW invites the women of the church to send for and use Financial File III as a guide for responsible designated giving

INSPIRING M O D E L S

F I N A N C I A L F I L E III:

F O R E F F E C T I V E W O M E N ’ S M I N I S T RY

A GUIDE FOR RESPONSIBLE GIVING FINANCIAL FILE III provides updated material to document the widespread concern of United Methodist Women about the programs, policies, and spending patterns of the Woman's Division. Here’s how to use this resouce:

1. Approach this study prayerfully and sensitively It is important to examine our motives and to keep central the desire to be good stewards of God’s gifts to us. Concerns in the area of stewardship (like all other concerns) should always be expressed with love and respect for others and with courtesy.

5.Don’t hesitate to speak out beyond your local unit If you are acquainted with other United Methodist Women or with UMW groups in UM Churches in your area, you may want to share the information you have with them, inviting them to pray with you and to be a part of a wider effort for reform.

2. Study these materials This collection of resources provides you with some basics from which to work. You will want to obtain other reports from the Women’s Division to study alongside the Financial File.

6. Help your minister, district superintendent and bishop fulfill their pastoral responsibilities The Book of Discipline reminds us that the pastor is a member of the local UMW unit and of its executive committee, that the district superintendent is a member of the district organization and of its executive committee, and that the resident bishop is a member of the conference organization of United Methodist Women and of its executive committee.

3. Feel comfortable with your right to question patterns of giving Above all, we are called to responsible stewardship. For evangelicals that stewardship will reflect fidelity to scriptural Christianity.

4. Consider alternative models for communicating concern How your concerns are presented will greatly depend upon the composition of your UMW group.

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7. Recognize that you may face opposition and rejection In most cases, not everyone will agree with your perspective, nor will you necessarily receive a totally receptive hearing as you endeavor courteously to express your concerns. Try not to take any rebuff that you might receive personally. Keep your perspective on the issues at hand.

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REACHI NG Missions and evangelism Outreach and mercy ministries Social/political advocacy Cross-generational ministries Multi-faceted/specialized ministry focus Ecumenical connections Resources “Kate’s Closet”

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CHALLE NG I NG Contending for the faith--a positive act Discernment--a gift of the Holy Spirit Education and information Accountability/Reform of the Women's Division “I Don’t Know Why, but I am Troubled” Resources

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SPENDI NG Responsible stewardship Heartfelt giving “Making Every Penny Count” Resources Closing

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Additional suggested resources for all six ministry categories are in the Resource Material Packet © Copyright 2003 RENEW NETWORK

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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THE BLESSING A message from RENEW President Faye Short I was marvelously converted to Christ in my early teens. I say “marvelously,” because it was a transformation that changed me from a rebellious teenager to a follower of Jesus Christ. Being the first convert in my immediate family, I might not have followed far had it not been for the incredible church family that nurtured my faith from the very beginning.

On the eve of my conversion these dear Christian brothers and sisters began to disciple me. They told me where to begin reading in the Scriptures, how to begin my prayer life and how to recognize the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Soon after, I was given books to read and invited to take study courses on the Bible. My new church friends emphasized the importance of Scripture memorization, that continues to serve me well. These folks even suggested radio broadcasts that would be helpful.

Not only was I acclimated toward the positive, but warned against the negative. As a teen, there were many temptations before me every day, but this new “family” warned me in advance of potential pitfalls.

They reminded me that the enemy of our souls would do everything to discourage me and cause me to doubt.

This wonderful group of Christians did not overlook ministry to the poor and downcast. As a teenager I worked in a used clothing store operated by one of the church members. My youth group visited and ministered regularly at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission and held street meetings in housing projects. My church friends were not wealthy folks, but they knew how to share their faith and their worldly goods with others.

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I I . HEARTFELT GIVING As United Methodists, we want to give through official church channels when the programs or projects we are asked to support are faithful to the doctrinal standards of our church and the teachings of Scripture, and, when these projects encompass the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the world.

There are other worthy projects to support that are not official projects of The United Methodist Church. Locally, these might include such ministries as a pregnancy crisis center, soup kitchen, food pantry, shelter for abused women or a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

Many national and international para-church organizations address needs relating to the family, children and teens concerns, ethnic groups, human sexuality, religious freedom and more.

As evangelical United Methodists, we will also want to support renewal organizations within our denomination that represent our views on various issues, and that work constantly for renewal and reform within our denomination. These groups have a tremendous impact by enabling our church to maintain its doctrinal fidelity and faithfulness to our Wesleyan heritage.

A listing of the major renewal groups is included in the resource packet.

A brief description and contact information are provided. We urge you to make further inquiry with these groups to find out the full scope of their ministries, and to receive their various publications. You will want to check their web sites.

In all of your giving, put your money where your heart is.

Your gifts of time and money represent you! You are the steward of these resources and have been given the responsibility, before God, for accounting for their use. When determining stewardship commitments, it is important to ask of each project or program, “Does this fit within the boundaries of our mission/purpose statement?”

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Discipled so wonderfully, I was able to be a witness in my home so that eventually my dad, mom and two brothers came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I did not intend to share so much about my own history, but it is really out of a deep appreciation for that history that I so long for others to experience the richness that was mine. I believe the ministry models in this resource packet touch on the many areas in which my church so beautifully ministered to me.

The areas this material covers are too numerous to list here, but you can find them in the outline at the beginning of the handbook. They include: how to organize a women's ministry; raising up leadership; revitalizing the spiritual lives of women; outreach through missions, evangelism and mercy ministries; exercising discernment and calling for accountability and responsible stewardship.

This material was forged out of a 10-member taskforce comprised of women who either head successful women's ministries, or have a vision for such ministries. By “successful” we mean, ministries through which God is enriching the lives of women.

Let me introduce these women to you. You will meet a variety of women leading in various settings, i.e., UMW, women's ministries, small churches, large churches. This mix is intentional, for it represents the RENEW membership and enables the taskforce to offer resources that fit the varying needs of our network members.

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TA S K F O R C E

Kim Bullard Kim is a young mother from Montgomery, Alabama. She is president of Women In Missions at St. James UMC. A highly successful program of Women in Missions is Kate's Closet, a fashion boutique for women who are released from prison. Kate's Closet gives each woman a warm welcome, six outfits with all accessories, a makeover and personal care items. The women are “loved on,” prayed with, and given a promise book and a Bible. Women in Missions sponsors other successful programs.

Judy Graham Judy Graham, Houston, Texas, is the president of “Celebration,” an official supplemental women's ministry in the Texas Annual Conference. Celebration was formed under the Devotional Life Committee in May of 1999, following conference approval. The desire of Celebration Ministries is to complement other ministries in The United Methodist Church and to be an outreach to the community, especially to unchurched women. There are currently 21 chartered chapters of Celebration in the Texas Annual Conference and one in Alabama.

Remember, too, that among the problematic groups there is a great deal of variation. Objections might be categorized as follows:

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• The work does not concern the church.

This work is narrowly political, without any discernible relation to any institutional, verbal or otherwise explicit witness for Christ.

• The programs are one-sided.

This work is not only political, but also partisan. The points of view being advocated have a legitimate place in democratic debate, and many UMs might support them, but many others would not.

• The overwhelming majority of United Methodists would disapprove.

The points of view being advocated are radical, extremist or unrepresentative of the informed consciences of most church members.

• No United Methodist should support such a group.

The points of view being advocated are antithetical to our Christian theology or social values.

For documentation to support concerns about the use of undesignated funds, and for guidelines for responsible stewardship, use the order form in the resource packet to order Financial File III.

Bobbi Grossmiller & Nancy Schrumm Bobbi and Nancy head up the Mount Oak UMC Women's Ministry in Mitchellville, Maryland. Mount Oak Women's Ministry is a successful women's ministry that encompasses a broad spectrum of internal programs, outreach and compassion ministries. Bobbi and Nancy share the Mount Oak model with others at a spring and fall seminar each year, and are available to come to churches or women's groups to speak about the Mount Oak ministry model.

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INSPIRING M O D E L S

Still other programs and projects that receive financial support through the Women’s Division reflect the socially narrow, politically partisan bias of the Women’s Division. The most questionable area of giving comes under the category of grants.

RENEW cannot in good conscience commend undesignated giving to the Women’s Division. We find that the good that is accomplished by some Division programs does not compensate for the responsibility we would face for supporting other programs which we believe are misguided, unbalanced, overly political, and, at times, antithetical to our understanding of the Gospel.

Sincere Christian women will conscientiously disagree with one another about stands taken and groups funded by the Women’s Division. Each group must study the facts and determine whether to participate in undesignated giving or to designate their funds. The consciences of all women should be honored so that no one is coerced into designated or undesignated giving.

RENEW wants to equip women with alternative perspectives and information to make up their own mind. We want to encourage faithful stewardship and challenge the women of the church to “put their money where their heart is.” We urge you to obtain the Women’s Division Financial Disclosure and Treasurer’s Report and study them for yourselves.

We encourage you to write directly to organizations about which you have questions to get their information first hand, or to research them on the internet.

Whether your group is a UMW unit or a women’s ministry group, as you evaluate potential projects for support, ask these important questions. How does this group further the Kingdom of God? Is the work biblically rooted and compatible with Christian understandings of human nature? Is political advocacy responsible, fair and non-partisan?

Are a variety of responsible Christian views represented?

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F O R E F F E C T I V E W O M E N ’ S M I N I S T RY

Kim Bullard Kim is a young mother from Montgomery, Alabama. She is president of Women In Missions at St. James UMC. A highly successful program of Women in Missions is Kate's Closet, a fashion boutique for women who are released from prison. Kate's Closet gives each woman a warm welcome, six outfits with all accessories, a makeover and personal care items. The women are “loved on,” prayed with, and given a promise book and a Bible. Women in Missions sponsors other successful programs.

Judy Graham Judy Graham, Houston, Texas, is the president of “Celebration,” an official supplemental women's ministry in the Texas Annual Conference. Celebration was formed under the Devotional Life Committee in May of 1999, following conference approval. The desire of Celebration Ministries is to complement other ministries in The United Methodist Church and to be an outreach to the community, especially to unchurched women. There are currently 21 chartered chapters of Celebration in the Texas Annual Conference and one in Alabama.

Bobbi Grossmiller & Nancy Schrumm Bobbi and Nancy head up the Mount Oak UMC Women's Ministry in Mitchellville, Maryland. Mount Oak Women's Ministry is a successful women's ministry that encompasses a broad spectrum of internal programs, outreach and compassion ministries. Bobbi and Nancy share the Mount Oak model with others at a spring and fall seminar each year, and are available to come to churches or women's groups to speak about the Mount Oak ministry model.

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Sonia Lewis Sonia heads a newly formed women's ministry at St. Peter's UMC in Moorehead City, North Carolina. The women of St. Peter's have never been a part of an organized women's group until now. They opted not to form under the Women's Division as a United Methodist Women's organization.

Although new to leadership in women's ministries, Sonia has a vision and a heart for the women of her church. The envisioned ministry would include Bible-based programs which: uphold the Christian faith and Wesleyan tradition; encourage women to share their needs and joys with one another; nurture women in their spiritual walk; facilitate discovering the gifts God has given and how to use those gifts; teach older women to mentor younger women in faith and life issues; reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Dawn Marks Dawn is the worship leader at the contemporary service at Calvary UMC in Jackson, Ohio. She has been active in the local UMW, and remains a member. She is also the leader for L.E.A.R.N. (Lady Evangelicals and Renewal News) a new women's ministry, formed under Calvary's Administrative Council. L.E.A.R.N. is connected with the RENEW Network, but is a program ministry of the local church. Still new in its inception, this ministry is supplemental to the UMW program. L.E.A.R.N. anticipates a ministry of renewal and discernment within the local church and beyond.

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I . R E S P O N S I B L E S T EWA R D S H I P Our earnings represent our life-energy. The spending of those earnings is, in essence, a giving of ourselves. Good stewardship means we will be responsible to give our money to causes that represent our heartfelt beliefs.

Undesignated Pledge to Mission has been foundational to United Methodist Women and the Women’s Division. Because the funds collected by the Women’s Division through Pledge to Mission represent the energies of thousands upon thousands of women, translated into POWER within The United Methodist Church and beyond, it is important to look at how that power is used and how it reflects the actual concerns of many of the women who provide the funds.

Many of the programs the Women’s Division supports financially are worthwhile programs. Some are long-standing institutions that are supported largely through designated Supplemental Giving, such as the various Wesley and Bethlehem community centers. Others are stateside or overseas properties and ministries that receive funds from Undesignated Pledge to Mission. While some of these projects may need scrutiny to determine how the liberal agenda of the Women’s Division has affected their program, many of these institutions continue to share Christ and assist the local populace with required social services and appropriate political advocacy.

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F O R E F F E C T I V E W O M E N ’ S M I N I S T RY

Peggy McGinnis Peggy is a UM pastor's wife from Hoschton, Georgia. This is a second career for her husband, Darrell, who pastors Hoschton UMC while completing his seminary education. The church has grown under the leadership Darrell and Peg are providing.

Formerly, Peg attended a large church in Norcross, Georgia, where she was a leader in the women's ministry program of the church. Since relocating to Hoschton, Peg has become involved in leadership with the women of her church. They have a vision of not only revitalizing their local ministry, but of hosting larger events for the community and for the women of churches within their area.

In a way, these women are similar to the Christian “family” that nurtured my faith. They recognize the ways God is at work among the women of their individual churches, and appreciate the vision God has given them. So much so, that they want to share it with you through this women's ministries packet.

It reminds me of one dear man in my church who gave his testimony and said, “God has been so good to me I wish I had a wheelbarrow of that goodness so I could just shovel it out on others.”

We sincerely pray that this resource packet will seem like God's goodness poured out on you--and in fact, it will be!

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Faye Short

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CHALLENGING

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Resources The Feminist Gospel: The Movement to Unite Feminism with the Church

by Mary A. Kassian, Crossway Books

Can feminism be squared with the Bible? Mary Kassian meets this question head on as she offers a thorough inquiry into 20th century feminism. Her careful examination of feminist thought—both religious and secular—gives readers a solid basis for making up their own minds about feminism.

Essential Truths for Those Who Would be Faithful edited by Den Slattery and Gary Wales, Bristol Books

In a world where everything seems relative, is there truth we can cling to as we try to live a faithful Christian life? In this collection of essays, respected pastors and teachers (including David Seamands, Robert Tuttle, Robert Coleman, James Heidinger, and Rose Sims) help the reader understand why truth is important. They discuss topics such as the Church, holiness, Satan, mission, discipleship and salvation. Questions at the end of each chapter make this volume ideal for Sunday school, small group study or personal reflection.

The Supremacy of Christ

by Ajith Fernando, Crossway Books

An exquisitely researched defense of Christ’s supremacy by an outstanding Sri Lankan theologian.

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Have you ever questioned the content of a program resource?

RENEW President Faye Short offers some guidelines for discerning truth

"…I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me...I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

- - P H I L I P P I A N S 3 : 12 b- 14

“I DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT I AM TROUBLED” Discernment and accountability are linked. If we have discernment (insight, awareness, perception) about something, that knowledge makes us accountable, or invites us to ask others to be accountable. As Christians, we understand that discernment is both a gift of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 2:14; 12:10), and a result of understanding God’s Word (Psalm 119:9-16; Hebrews 4:12).

If we are to have discernment, it is essential to be engaged in regular Bible study, and to ask God, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to guide our understanding.

Let’s examine a practical application of discernment, linked to accountability.

The 2004 UMW Program Book, Who Is My Sister? contains a program about the Cross as the symbol for Christian faith.

The program postulates that we need to change the symbol of Christian faith to something less offensive. The author writes, “To women, perhaps many other symbols would be much more to their liking than the cross as a symbol of crucifixion and death.”

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This is an astonishing program! How would we apply discernment to this program? We would immediately know that the content runs contrary to the teaching of Scripture about the importance of the crucifixion, symbolized in the cross (I Corinthians 1:18-24; Galatians 6:14).

The Holy Spirit within us would recoil at such a suggestion. We would recognize that if we change the symbol of the Christian faith from the cross, then we need to also eliminate from The United Methodist Hymnal all the hymns that reference the cross or the blood of Christ.

Accountability comes into play when we decide that we need to let the Women’s Division know how offensive this program is to us as United Methodist women. It would also be important to inform others of the destructive content of this program. Discernment and accountability—both essential as we keep the faith!

MOVING ON REACHING UPWARD

Establishing new paradigms of ministry to, with, and for women

Women within The United Methodist Church are longing for revitalized women's ministries to meet the deep longings of their personal lives and to enable them to be all that God would have them be in relation to Himself, their families and friends, their churches, communities and the world.

A quote from a women's seminar brochure put it well, “An effective ministry is not necessarily a big or busy ministry but one that is regularly reaching new people for Christ, building them up in the faith and equipping them to reach their generation for Christ.”

This is an important time to move onward and upward as characterized in the Scripture passage above. An “upward call” tugs at our hearts.

It is our anticipation that the resources in this packet will be used of God toward inviting the women of your church to respond to that “upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

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IV. ACCOUNTABILITY/

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REFORM OF THE WOMEN’S DIVISION Evangelical women within The United Methodist Church have called for accountability and reform of the Women’s Division for many years.

Concerns have been expressed regarding the theological, political and social witness of the Women’s Division as disclosed in program resources, policies and spending patterns of the Division. United Methodist Women and its predecessor organizations have done great good over a 135 year history, and continue to do so. However, when the worldview and actions of the governing board fails to coincide with the mission understanding of many women within the organization, a call for reform is in order.

If your women’s ministry is not associated with United Methodist Women, it is still important for you to have concern about how the Women’s Division is impacting the lives of the women of the United Methodist Church. All of us are called upon to be informed and to pray for the Body of Christ. Receiving the RENEW Network monthly letter and quarterly newsletter is an excellent way to stay informed in order to pray effectively.

You may add your name or group to the RENEW Network mailing list by calling (706) 778-4812, or e-mailing us at renew1a@hemc.net.

The order form in the resource packet offers documentation to substantiate our basis for concern and offers documentation to support a call for reform of the Women’s Division.

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II. DISCERNMENT—A GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT In a day when “progressive revelation” attempts to replace “revealed truth,” discernment is at a high premium. How can we know what is true?

Does God’s standard change with the times? When we are presented with literature or presentations that contain a curious mixture of truth and error, how do we discern what is right and know what to discard?

Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian believer. Discernment is strengthened by a knowledge of the Word of God and an understanding of the central tenets of Christian faith that have formed the foundation of Christianity since its inception. The early Christian Church, just as Jude indicated, had false teachers among the believers who attempted to lead them away from the truth and into a lie. The doctrinal statements and creeds arising out of early church councils dealt with various heresies and affirmed the heart of the Christian gospel.

Discernment is encouraged and strengthened by the items found in the resource packet. Resources are listed on the order form to aid in this area.

I I I . E D U C AT I O N & I N F O R M AT I O N In order to effectively address any concerns we have today about the need for church reform and accountability, we must be educated through welldocumented information. If we disagree with a theological, political or social position of our boards and agencies or church leaders, we need to be able to state why, and what course of action, if any, we recommend.

Even if we prefer not to speak directly to issues relating to accountability and reform, we must be informed in order to pray effectively for change, and for those who are change-agents. Ignorance is not bliss; it is irresponsible.

The resource packet offers informative educational resources.

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ORGANIZING

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Begin by praying, asking God to guide you in the formation or revitalization of your women’s ministry. You might want to call for a set season of prayer and ask the women (and men) of your church to join in a designated time for prayer (one week, two weeks, one month).

You will find a prayer guide in the resource packet to aid you in directed prayer as you form your women’s ministry.

I I . TA S K F O R C E If you already have an executive committee or other organized core leadership group, this group can be your taskforce to study the options in this resource packet. If you do not have a core group already, choose a taskforce of 3-6 interested, committed persons to work on a plan to present to the women of your church.

The taskforce is not your final leadership structure, although they may be a part of your group leadership team. You will make this determination at a later time.

If you already have an organized UMW or women’s ministry, you may want to continue with the same officers, or you may determine that an election of new officers could help revitalize your group. Be very prayerful as leadership determination is finally made. Look for “called” persons, who sense God leading them to be a part of the leadership team. For the present, designate a leader for your taskforce if you are not utilizing leadership that is already in place. This individual can be a spokesperson for the taskforce and also a liaison with other individuals 13

within the church, or beyond, as needed to coordinate your women’s ministry with the total church program. If you are using your executive committee, use an appropriate officer, or appointed person, to fill the role of women’s ministry taskforce leader.

As a taskforce or executive committee, study this handbook and the contents of the resource packet, prayerfully considering what your course of action should be. Make an outline of steps you sense God is calling you to take to revitalize and reformulate your current UMW or women’s ministry program.

Decide what concepts in the material need to be shared with the women of your church, and who will cover each element. Think of creative ways to convey this information to the women of your church.

You may want to host a special one-day event that will include prayer and worship. Make it an enjoyable, exciting time for revitalizing your women’s ministry program. Look for ways from the beginning to give all of the women of your church a sense of ownership in the ministry. Challenge them to be ready to both receive from and give to this revitalized women’s ministry program. Encourage them to prayerfully ask God what their role should be in the group.

Under “Leadership Development” there are helps for identifying and developing leaders.

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I. CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH—A POSITIVE ACT In the little book of Jude, the author admits that he was “eager to write to you about the salvation we share.” However, he confessed, “I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

We would all probably much prefer to talk about the “faith we share” than to “contend for the faith entrusted to the saints.” But contend we must.

It is important to remember that this is a positive, not a negative, act. We are called upon to safeguard that which brings redemption and release to all who will receive it. To lose the message of the Gospel, or to so compromise it that it loses its power, is to have nothing to offer this generation, or the one to follow.

The resource packet contains some excellent pieces that accentuate the positive nature of “contending for the faith.” These resources will offer encouragement and challenge.

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III. THEME SCRIPTURE

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Choose a theme scripture for your group. This scripture should identify the calling you sense God is giving for your group, or it should identify the goals you feel God would have undergird your women’s ministry.

For example: The group “Celebration,” which is an official supplemental women’s ministry to United Methodist Women in the Texas Annual Conference, chose the scripture, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

(Luke 4:18-19) Celebration chose this scripture to fit their ministry vision of: bringing women to salvation through a personal knowledge of Christ; facilitating healing for women’s spirits, souls and bodies; and equipping women in the knowledge of who they are in Christ, according to God’s Word, so that they might do the work of ministry.

Mount Oak Women’s Ministry in Mitchellville, Maryland is based on the servant leadership model found in Mark 10:43-45, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

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I V. A NEW NAME

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Choosing a new name for your women’s ministry group, or for a sub-group under your current structure helps to define who you are and what your mission is.

One example: A group of women in Kentucky formed a women’s ministry within their church and called themselves WINGS. This is an acronym for Women In Need of Growing and Serving. Not only is this a creative name, but the acronym helps to define their purpose.

V. MISSION/PU RPOSE STATEMENT Create a brief mission statement that simply states the heart of your ministry. This statement provides the boundaries for your ministry and keeps you focused. The mission statement should also work within the whole structure of your church. The mission/purpose statement provides a filter or measuring stick for determining and evaluating all programs.

Without a clear, concise mission/purpose statement it is difficult to make wise, Godly decisions and to maintain the priorities of the ministry. Mission/purpose statements should periodically be re-evaluated to determine if the statement adequately reflects the ministry purpose or if changes need to be implemented.

In developing or re-evaluating your mission/purpose statement ask yourself these questions, with prayer being your foundation:

Each woman is given up to six outfits, along with a wrapped basket of hygiene items, new undergarments and pantyhose. Before a woman leaves the shop, the volunteers pray with her, give her a Bible and a promise book. “Many of the women have never had anyone give them anything,” says Kim. “They are just overwhelmed that someone cares enough to give them something with no strings attached. We tell them that these clothes are just one of the ways that Jesus is expressing His love for them. . . .They come in to get something to wear; they leave with hope.”

“The women of St. James have been visionary in this project,” Kim continues. “We took a chance because we felt the strong urging of the Lord to do this and, in obedience to Him, we did. He has blessed it over and over again. Kate’s Closet radiates God’s love, and there is nothing more exciting than being in the midst of that.”

• Where is God leading our women’s ministry?

• Where do we see God working and how can we partner with Him to accomplish His work?

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To order a four-minute video and brochure about Kate’s Closet, send $2.00 for postage to: RENEW Network, P.O. Box 889 Cornelia, Georgia 30531 (or use enclosed order form)

• What does God want us to accomplish?

• Are we adequately meeting the needs of women in our church and community?

If you are interested in starting a “Kate’s Closet” or a similar ministry in your area, please contact Kim Bullard at St. James UMC at (334)277-3037.

Sections of this article were excerpted from “Finding Hope in Kate’s Closet,” by Dr. Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D., from February 10, 2003 edition of Dot Commentary, by the Beverly La Haye Institute.

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This ministry of care reaches released women inmates with the love of Christ.

KATE’S CLOSET

Some mission/purpose statement examples:

1

• “To know Christ and make Christ known” • “To prepare women to be effective and faithful ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve Him in Spirit and in truth.”

In June 2002, the Women in Missions (formerly UMW) at St. James United Methodist Church launched an unusual ministry. They opened a boutique.

Called Kate’s Closet, it is named for Kate Richardson, a former prison inmate, who now works for a prison reconnect program. “Kate motivated us to do something for those who were coming out of prison,” says Kim Bullard, president of Women in Missions, whose idea gave birth to this unusual outreach. Today, Kate’s Closet exists to give released inmates an experience of the love of Christ.

“Many programs are offered within the prison walls,” writes Kim. “But once a woman is released, she is often alone and unsure of the future.” Released inmates of Julia Tutwiler Prison in Alabama, for example, are issued tan slacks, a white shirt, a $10 check and a one-way bus ticket. That’s all—no money, no job, no identification and no place to go—and wearing what is easily recognizable in the region as standard-issue prison-release garb. What’s more, the stigma of a prison record is demoralizing. For these oftenfrightened women, Kate’s Closet offers an experience of being surrounded by beauty and “overwhelming acceptance.”

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The trendy racks and cabinets and the brightly-painted walls give this converted barn the charm and class of a high-end mall boutique. The stylish suits, dresses, shoes, purses and accessories lining the walls are donated, but you would never know it. Many have the price tags still attached.

The shop is run totally by volunteers from the Women in Missions group.

They welcome each woman with a hug and a smile. The “shopping” experience includes a makeover by a make-up artist and accessories to complete the outfits each woman chooses. “We don’t ask questions about her past,” says Kim. “The only questions we ask are: What is your favorite color? Do you prefer suits or dresses?”

“The atmosphere in the boutique is one of concern and love. The women walk in feeling alone and scared, and walk out an hour later feeling confident and cared for,” says Carol Potok, who heads AIM, Aid to Inmate Mothers, which partners with Kate’s Closet.

• “To establish a vibrant women’s ministry to reach women of all ages, at all stages of their lives.”

• “To love the women; meet women at their point of need; raise women up in Jesus.”

As United Methodist Women it is appropriate to maintain the current purpose statement of the organization, and, at the same time, create a new vision or mission statement that defines the new direction of the local unit.

VI. VISION Your vision statement can expand your purpose further. It can be concise, or expanded to identify the core values of your ministry to women.

Some examples: Our VISION is: Worship, Evangelism, Discipleship/Ongoing Spiritual Growth, Nurture & Fellowship, Service/Ministry (Vision for the ministry program at Trinity on the Hill UMC, Augusta, GA)

“To create a God-inspired, Spirit-filled team that is called, and thus charged (in keeping with II Timothy 4:1-5) to equip women leaders. This team will teach and exhort the leaders to meet the women right where they are with the goal of leading women to the heart of God.” (From the Taskforce on Women’s Ministry Models)

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V I I . COMPONENTS OF EFFECTIVE MINISTRY It is important to identify what makes women’s ministries effective and meaningful so those elements can be incorporated into our own ministries.

The RENEW Taskforce on Women’s Ministry Models identified the following list of components that help to foster effective women’s ministries: • Prayer & Worship • Bible Study • Good Literature/Resources • Leadership Development

Resources

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Lifeline: Sharing Christ in a Broken World Edited by Steve Beard and Maggie Schroeder Living Streams Publications

This collection of articles from Good News magazine draws together men and women from a variety of perspectives with the one aim: To winsomely and effectively live and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Contributors range from the Archbishop of Canterbury to an Australian biker evangelist to a Hollywood screenwriter and virtually every vocation in between. This book will inspire and encourage you to follow Christ’s challenge and call upon your life. To order contact Good News at 1/800-487-7784, www.goodnewsmag.org.

• Teaching & Mentoring • Deeper Life Ministry/Discipleship • Evangelism & Missions • Outreach & Mercy Ministries • Social/Political Advocacy

William Carey Library: The Great Commission Resource Catalog A valuable source for engaging your women in missions. There can hardly be a Christian mission book distributor that we could more highly recommend! To order a catalog, call 1/800-647-7466 or e-mail gabriel@omlit.om.org.

• Ministry to the Sexually & Emotionally Broken • Fellowship

Program Plans for Successful Women’s Events

• Education & Information

by the Women’s Ministries Department, Assemblies of God

• Ecumenical Outreach

This new resource for Event Evangelism prepared for use in all denominational settings, contains meaningful helps from promoting the event to 24 complete theme programs with decorating ideas, devotional outlines and two pages of original clip art for each of the programs. The clip art is also provided on CD-ROM. Also included are menus for serving large groups and ice-breakers. Combined, they form the basis for an exciting ministry tool for today’s Christian leader. Call 1/800-641-4310 or see www.ag.org/womensministries or e-mail: womens@ag.org and click on “on-line shopping.”

• Political/Social Witness • Discernment/Accountability • Age Inclusive • Integration Into Total Church Ministry

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V. M ULTIFACETED MINISTRY FOCUS To meet the varying needs of women, a local ministry must be multi-faceted. An effective women’s ministry will provide a supportive community and ministry resources for single women, divorced women, handicapped women, widowed women, working women, pregnant women, women of small children, barren women, women of varying socio-economic categories and varying cultural backgrounds. This list is not comprehensive as there may be other unique categories to consider.

This means that one size does not fit all. Small focus groups dealing with specific areas of need are appropriate. And, at the same time, individuals within these special focus groups should then be integrated into the whole women’s program so that understanding and concern can be shared by those not enduring the same circumstances.

The resource packet provides helps for a multifaceted women’s ministry focus.

Example: Mount Oak UMC in Maryland identified three important core values as significant to their women’s ministry: • Love the women • Meet their needs

V I . ECUMENICAL CONNECTIONS Contemporary Christian music concerts, national women’s ministry events and resources, books and literature, the web and many other progressive mediums for communication bring Christian women together across denominational lines. The Association for Church Renewal (ACR), is a network of renewal leaders from the mainline churches in America who come together to pray, discuss mutual concerns about lack of faithfulness to doctrinal standards, and to strategize regarding methods of accountability and reform on the part of denominational leadership.

International women’s conferences have proliferated as women come together to worship and explore cooperative ministry.

The resource packet recommends ecumenical events and resources for your consideration.

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• Raise them up in Jesus While many of the components listed earlier could be utilized to meet these three ministry goals, Mt. Oak selected specific ministry components to achieve their three-pronged goal, as described in the “Model for Sharing Christ with Women” brochure in the resource packet.

We will expand on many of the ministry areas listed above as we look at the various aspects of women’s ministries including: Enabling/Equipping; Revitalizing; Reaching; Challenging; Spending.

Next, let’s consider structure.

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V I I I. STRUCTURE No one structure will fit every situation. The best way to find viable models is to look to see where God is at work among other women’s ministries, and to ask what components of those particular ministries would work where we are.

The members of the RENEW Taskforce on Women’s Ministry Models were selected because they are presently part of an effective women’s ministry, or have a vision for such a ministry.

In the resource packet you will find models for their women’s ministries, which you can emulate or modify to fit your own needs.

Here are some tips for evaluating and altering your women’s ministry structure: • Size your structure to fit the size of your group.

• Diversify your structure to meet the needs of women of all ages, in varying circumstances of life.

• Celebrate and reaffirm what is good in your present women’s ministry, retaining any effective elements.

• Don’t be afraid to break with familiar patterns if change is needed.

Once you have determined a new paradigm for ministry that seems to fit the group, move forward with confidence that God will guide you.

• Be sure your structure allows for the discipling and mentoring of your own members, as well as for evangelism and mission outreach (locally, nationally and internationally), and for social ministries.

I I I . S O C I A L / P O L I T I C A L A DVO C AC Y Christian women, regardless of their political preferences, care about the poor and oppressed and desire to reach out in meaningful ministry.

Evangelicals have historically provided the catalyst for the building of schools, hospitals and churches around the world, and for providing emergency aid wherever disaster strikes. Our concern runs deep, even to advocacy for political and social change when oppressive systems require reform. Whether our advocacy is for the persecuted Christians and other religious minorities in Sudan, for women and children who are trapped in sexual trafficking, or for safeguarding marriage and family—our commitment to change is genuine.

We must always exercise care in this area to avoid political partisanship and narrow social interpretation. We want to assure that the Church speaks as the Church—not coming under the political control of any governmental or non-governmental secular agency. However, on many issues we must speak and act as Christ’s agent in a fallen world.

The packet offers challenging projects for your consideration.

I V. C RO S S - G E N E R AT I O N A L M I N I S T R I E S Within our culture and even within Christendom, we have sometimes divided the generations until they have lost communication and appreciation for one another. A strong and viable women’s ministry will break down these barriers and provide Christian nurture to girls and women of all ages and in all stages of their lives. A successful cross-generational ministry will bring women of all ages together in fellowship and service. In Titus 2 we see the progression of older women teaching younger women, who in turn teach their children.

See the resource packet for exciting concepts of cross-generational ministries.

Additional resources for organizing or revitalizing women’s ministries are listed in the resource packet.

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O R G A N I Z I N G

An outstanding mission ministry deserving our support is The Mission Society for United Methodists. MSUM was established in 1984 as a supplemental mission-sending agency by a group of evangelical, United Methodist churches and individuals. MSUM missionaries communicate Christ through a wide variety of ministries. Those include evangelism, discipleship, church-planting, medical and humanitarian aid, business training and community development.

More about financial support for missions and evangelism is explored in the “Spending” section of this handbook. Challenging concepts for mission outreach and evangelism are highlighted in the resource packet.

The Mission Society for United Methodists’ brochure is in the resource packet.

I I . OUTREACH & MERCY MINISTRIE S

Resources

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Designing Effective Women’s Ministries

By Jill Briscoe, Laurie Katz McIntyre, Beth Seversen Zondervan Publishing House, ($10.99)

The authors share what worked for them, and what didn’t. They explain how to start where you are, with what you have, and how to do what God wants. Includes tips and techniques for establishing groups and programs that meet the needs of today’s women and are specifically tailored to your church and your community.

Women’s Enrichment Ministry LifeWay, ($13.95)

Mercy and outreach ministries are a natural part of women’s ministries.

Women have a heart for those who have needs. There is probably not a single women’s group you can contact that has not been involved in reaching out to those in need. This includes pregnancy crisis centers, “safe” houses for abused women and children, prison outreach, soup kitchens and food closets, literacy programs...and the list continues.

Whether yours is a new women’s ministry, or one already established, this guidebook includes inspiring events, relevant Bible study resources, and proven techniques. You will find an abundance of resources and events designed especially for women’s ministry leaders.

Your local group may want to connect with a ministry that already exists in your area; or, like the women of St. James UMC who established Kate’s Closet (highlighted in this section), to form a new ministry to meet an obvious need. There may be Wesley Community Centers for youth or the elderly that you can support with various kind of ministries, both hands-on and financial. Many of the Supplemental Giving projects of the Women’s Division fall in this category, and you can designate funds to these projects through your district UMW treasurer. You may want to write to the Women’s Division for a listing of “Supplemental Giving” projects.

Leading Women to the Heart of God: Creating a Dynamic Women’s Ministry

See the resource list for additional mercy ministry suggestions.

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Lysa Terkeurst, general editor Moody Press ($12.99)

This book is for any woman involved in ministry.

Dynamic Christian leaders will encourage, instruct and inspire you to become a Christ-like leader in your sphere of influence. Let them lead you to the heart of God as you lead others.

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The leaders of Mount Oak Women's Ministry name the key biblical principles that helped launch their ministry—and could help launch yours

ARE

WE

USING

OUR TALENTS?

–By Nancy Schrumm and Bobbi Grossmiller

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R E A C H I N G

The Parables of the Talents explains how Mount Oak’s Women’s Ministry was launched. Through these parables, we were prompted to ask, “What are we doing with our God-given talents?"

Were we investing our lives into God’s Kingdom or allowing fears to dominate us? By being obedient to the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit (and our pastor’s wife!), we said yes to the call to develop a women’s ministry program.

It took lots of prayer, mentoring, networking and delegation to make it happen. God gave us several women who agreed to form a team committed to serving God’s women. We never lost sight that women are busy, involved and often overloaded. By breaking the ministry down to small increments, we kept everyone involved, but not overwhelmed.

With Mark 10:45 overaching our ministry, we set forth from a three-point foundation:

1. Love the women.

We began by having intimate coffees and small luncheons to build a support system. The emphasis was on connection.

2. Meet them at their point of need.

In the book of James, God says that if a person comes to you and has no food, and you respond by saying, “I’ll pray for you,” what good is that? The Word tells us to exhibit and overflow with good works. It is God’s intention that we become aware of a need and do all we can to meet that need. Teaching women to follow through with that example reaps blessings for both parties!

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I . M I S S I O N S & EVA N G E L I S M “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15 & 16) These words provide a strong catalyst for reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. First, because it is “good news” to all cultures. Second, it has the power to save from condemnation all who will receive it. We are called to evangelism and mission outreach.

Our women’s ministries can be self-serving or mission-minded. We can be comfortable with our friends and those most like ourselves, or we can have God’s heart to reach those who are within our sphere of influence.

Interestingly, with today’s technology, our sphere of influence has expanded to include local, national and international arenas.

It is good to give through general church (United Methodist) channels when they represent our hearts for mission and evangelism. United Methodist Women sponsor many excellent projects that we can support with confidence. Funds designated for specific Women’s Division projects, or funds for projects selected from UMW Supplemental Giving, Advance, UMCOR or World and National Mission program listings should be sent directly to your district UMW treasurer through the Supplemental Giving program. Such gifts should be clearly marked for their specific designation, giving project numbers whenever possible. If returned by your treasurer, send them directly to the appropriate agency.

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ORGANIZING

1

Workshop Opportunities

3. Raise them up in Jesus.

The ultimate goal is to introduce them to Jesus. It has been proven over and over that most people come to know Jesus from a person with whom they have established a relationship. By building relationships, we earn the right to be heard. It’s encouraging to remember I Corinthians 3:6: “. . . we can plant, we can water, BUT God Himself causes the growth!” God gave us a spirit of enthusiasm and courage that was contagious. If He did it for this church, He can do it for yours. Trust, submit and always give Him the credit. After all, it’s really about loving the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind; and others as ourselves.

Begun in 1996, the women’s ministry at Mount Oak United Methodist Church in Mitchellville, Maryland now involves and reaches more than 150-300 women monthly. In addition to the principles outlined here, ministry leaders Nancy Schrumm and Bobbi Grossmiller teach and model the importance of nurturing, encouraging, recognizing and praying for their ministry team. Bobbi and Nancy offer women's ministry workshops. If you are sensing God calling you to begin a women’s ministry in your church or community, feel free to contact them at (301)249-2230.

(See the Mount Oak brochure included in the resource packet.) See also page 27 for more information about mass mentoring.

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23

REVITALIZING

Resources

3

From the Heart of the Word, Building Biblical Lives: A Tool for Mentoring

by Marilyn Anderes, Bristol Books

This study will be espcially helpful for new believers who are convinced of their need to be in the Bible, but don’t know how to begin. It is also ideal for mentors who want to help others draw near to God through the Word and be challenged themselves. Author Marilyn Anderes, a long-time friend and committee member of RENEW, is a magazine columnist, workshop speaker and Bible teacher.

The Love Exchange: An Adventure in Prayer

by Margaret Therkelsen, Revell, a division of Baker Books “Do you have three minutes a day to love God and another three minutes to receive His love by faith?” asks author Margaret Therkelsen.

“Such a love experience is for all Christians, because it is the core of our walk with Jesus.” The “love exchange” is a simple, biblically-based prayer method which touches the deepest need of the human heart; namely, to love and be loved. This method was born from the prayer journey of the author, a spiritual director and counselor dedicated to the life of prayer.

The Love Exchange is a threshold for rich communion with Christ.

Regeneration Books: Christian Resources Addressing Homosexuality and Brokenness Regeneration Books has more Christian resources on homosexuality and related topics than any other book company in the world.

It screens its resources to determine that what it offers is consistent with traditional Christian beliefs. All proceeds go back into the book ministry or to support the ministry of Regeneration and Exodus International. To receive a free catalog, call (410) 661-0284.

See regenbooks@juno.com. Also see www.exodus-international.org and click on “on-line shopping.”

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2

ENABLING/EQUIPPING

If we are to have successful women’s ministries, we must have capable, godly women leaders. Often there are women within the church who have a heart for the women of their congregation, who have talents and leadership potential, but who lack confidence and training.

I . L E A D E R S H I P D EV E LO P M E N T Establish non-threatening steps to leadership. A way to begin the process of identifying leaders for various categories of ministry is through the use of “spiritual gifts” resources: Network by Bill Hybels; Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

by Don and Katie Fortune; Small Group Leaders by Beth Moore; Net Results, a magazine from Texas; resources by Ken Kinghorn, Gus Gustafson or others.

When selecting leadership for your women’s ministry, it is essential for you to pray about whom to ask to serve in various areas of the ministry, and expect God to guide you. Next, ask potential women leaders to pray about taking a specific leadership position before giving you an answer. If a person perceives that God is “calling” them to a position, they will be a far more effective and dedicated leader. This confirmation in prayer will reaffirm your inclination that she would be a good leader. Match the person to the position you are requesting them to fill as much as possible. But always allow for God to raise up someone you might not have expected.

Let the potential leaders know that leadership training will be provided for them.

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REVITALIZING

A list of leadership development resources to aid in this training process are in the resource packet. A program on identifying and using our spiritual gifts is listed on the RENEW order form.

II. MENTORING The term “mentor” comes from the Greek and, in Greek legend, originally had reference to the loyal friend and wise adviser of Odysseus. Titus 2:4 references the older woman living a godly life and teaching younger women “good things,” such as how to love their husbands and children.

A mentor in the Christian realm is an individual whom we respect as a friend and worthy counselor, because of her faithful Christian witness and loving concern for others. A mentor may counsel one-on-one, or within a small group whose members honor the privacy of the information shared within the group.

Women (or men) can be mentored in Christian faith and spiritual disciplines, or in Bible study and application. Mentoring can be for the purpose of developing strong leadership skills in potential group leaders.

It may also cover such areas as family relationships, emotional or sexual healing, financial stewardship or other areas related to Christian discipleship and daily living. Christian mentoring is firmly rooted in the principles of Scripture, and there is a goal, or end result, envisioned.

Many resources are available to assist in establishing a mentoring program, or to encourage women to mentor other women. Some are listed at the end of this section and in the resource packet accompanying this handbook.

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get together to express concerns for the church positions they have undertaken and to pray for each others’ concerns.

Confirmation classes have teaching on prayer. Edenton Street UMC has reached out to enlist prayer from all conference UM churches before and during annual, jurisdictional and general conferences. A chapel for prayer has been maintained by the prayer committee at the last two annual conferences.

Just this year an interesting new development has occurred. A different lay-witness gives a testimony at each of the morning worship services once a month. These witnesses did not come from outside the church, but from within. God’s vision and answers are so much greater than our dreams and prayer.

The mission statement of the Edenton Street United Methodist Church is “Sharing Christ from the heart of Raleigh.” Through a strong prayer ministry, this mission statement is a reality. Undergirded by prayer, Edenton Street UMC is alive and well in the 21st century, reaching men and women, children and youth for Christ.

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2

Downtown church goes from landmark to lighthouse through prayer

SEEK GOD’S HIGHEST Edenton Street United Methodist Church is a landmark church in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. Like many mid-town churches it saw its heyday, and then, over the years, experienced decline in fervor and membership. But an awakening begin to occur as a couple in the church started a home Bible study.

The study grew until it had to return to the church facility to accommodate the number wanting to participate.

In the midst of this, a strong prayer ministry was developing. It was during this time that one woman began to pray for a lay-witness mission to come to Edenton Street UMC. “You’ll never get it here,” an elderly woman said to the praying woman.

Her words did not discourage continued prayer, but after some time the individual decided to pray for what God wanted for the church. Over the years things began to happen.

A Women’s Prayer Group was started through the UMW and later taken on by a woman who was exceptionally good at organizing and finding cooperation. She asked one person to take on the job of setting up an emergency prayer chain, while she took on the weekly prayer group, renamed 38

the Lydia Prayer Group. This group prayed for many personal requests as well as for new ministers and many church decisions.

As people prayed, God answered!

So much so that more people wanted to pray. A comprehensive prayer ministry was formed at Edenton Street.

The prayer ministry maintains goals of: (1) promoting awareness of intercessory prayer groups; (2) supporting all church ministries through prayer; (3) expanding opportunities to experience the power of corporate prayer; (4) increasing prayer education opportunities for all ages, and; (5) providing opportunities for the community to be touched by the power of prayer.

There are pew pocket prayer request cards, which are picked up by the Lydia prayer group each Tuesday.

Confidentiality is paramount in this ministry. Every committee at the church is undergirded by the prayers of church members who have agreed to take on this responsibility. There have been prayer ministry workshops.

Each year begins with newly-elected and continuing “servers” (leadership) being invited to a half-day prayer session, where, after worship and a time of personal meditation, small groups

Two examples of unique mentoring programs: At Edenton Street UMC in Raleigh, North Carolina, a grandmother began a mentoring program for teenage girls after their mothers asked her to meet with their daughters and share some of the godly and practical wisdom she had shared with them earlier in their own lives. This group evolved into “The King’s Princesses.” The teen boys became envious of this program and asked some men of the church to form a similar group for them.

See the resource packet for details on the “The King’s Princesses” ministry.

At the Mount Oak UMC in Mitchellville, Maryland, the women have formed a mentoring program called WOW (Women of Wisdom). This mentoring program incorporates a broader focus, allowing more women to be part of a mentoring program at one time. This program includes a fellowship meal as part of its mentoring activity, with designated persons serving as teachers, cooking experts, and hospitality hostesses. By dividing the teaching responsibilities, “experts” can teach in the field of their expertise. This type of program can mentor as many as 30-40 women at the time.

For more details about this program, see Chapter 14, Leading Women to the Heart of God. You may order this book from Moody Press, 1/800-678-8812, www.moodypress.org. Other mentoring resources are also on the resource list.

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V. B ROA D - B A S E D P RO G R A M R E S O U RC E S

3

Christ-centered, biblically-based resources are essential to an effective women’s ministry. Needed resources will include Bible studies, programs that cover a wide spectrum of issues and life concerns, reading material, mission education resources and more.

In the broader Christian community, there are outstanding women Bible teachers whose resources are useful across denominational lines.

There are excellent study materials and speakers we can utilize, and women’s conferences we can participate in, while maintaining our denominational distinctives.

The resource packet provides a listing of resources that are United Methodist and ecumenical.

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ENABLING/EQUIPPING

IV. HEALING FOR EMOTIONAL & SEXUAL BROKENESS Ours is a world filled with emotionally and sexually wounded individuals. Divorce, dysfunctional families, adultery, homosexual practice, sexual promiscuity, child abuse and more is rampant within our own nation and around the world. Statistics reveal that these marks of our fallen human nature are prevalent within the Church as well. It would appear the Church has failed to fulfill its call to impact the culture and the lives of its own membership with the message of God’s transforming power—and has instead allowed the culture to dictate a base and destructive morality that has broken many individuals.

To deny this, or to ignore the consequences of it within our own ranks, is to fail to proclaim the entire Gospel of Jesus Christ, intended by God to bring wholeness and transformation to all who will receive it.

Establishing ministries for emotional and sexual transformation is not an easy task, but it is essential if we are serious about discipling individuals and seeing broken lives and relationships restored.

To launch such ministries, it would be helpful to have speakers who are “experts” in particular areas (i.e., grief, long-term illness, addiction, homosexuality), to aid the group in establishing a model for ministry.

The resource packet recommends excellent resources for beginning a ministry to the emotionally and sexually broken. A brochure on the United Methodist Transforming Congregations program is included.

Resources

2

Release Your Potential: Using Your Gifts in a Thriving Women’s Ministry

by Elizabeth Inrig, Moody Publisher, ($12.99)

God can do amazing things in our churches when godly women are released to reach their spiritual potential, according to author and women’s leader Elizabeth Inrig. This book offers practical answers to questions like: “How can we build a thriving, productive women’s ministry?” and “What kind of woman does the church need?” The answer? Women who care about women; women who love God’s Word; women who are mature; women who are able; women who are teachable; women who are sensitive.

Learn to celebrate the blessing for the local church when godly women become the kind of women the church needs—when they make it a priority to serve other women.

Leadership by the Book

By Ken Blanchard, Bill Hybels, and Ken Hodges

Written in story form, this book teaches the significance of servant leadership. An illustration of an upside-down pyramid drives the point of servant leadership home.

Shepherding a Woman’s Heart: A New Model for Effective Ministry to Women

by Beverly White Hislop, Moody Publishers

Do you look at your full slate of Bible studies and women’s ministry programs and wonder why women who are hurting don’t get involved? The needs of women often go deeper than what can be met at beautiful luncheons and other events. This book is designed to motivate women to take the next steps in ministry to women. It provides both the understanding and the tools needed to formulate a new paradigm that moves beyond events and studies. The focus of the model is on people (healthy, young, lost, injured) not verbs (edify, evangelize, equip). Leaders are nudged to think of people rather than programs or actions.

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This trainer of leaders recalls those first moments of blessed unrest--when God called

II. BIBLE STUDY

RESPONDING T O THE

CALL TO LEAD

I am a pastor's wife. For more than 20 years, I had been involved in serving alongside my husband in The United Methodist Church. I had reached a pretty comfortable level, teaching Sunday school when needed, leading a women's Bible study, singing in the choir, etc. Then about two-and-a-half years ago, God began to call me to “step out of the boat”--to get out of my comfort zone. He brought me into contact with a new women's ministry in the Texas Annual Conference, called “Celebration Women's Ministry.” (See bio for Judy Graham in Forward.)

My friend and I went to a Celebration spring retreat--just to receive from the Lord.

As pastor's wives, we felt the need for refreshment and spiritual renewal. It was during those days apart that God began speaking to me about my need for mentoring in my life. So on the way home, I asked Judy Graham, president of our annual conference's "Celebration" group, if I could spend some time with her.

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By Cindy Masterson

As Judy and I began to meet regularly for prayer, my faith began to grow. After several months, I felt a stirring that it was time to start a women's ministry--a Celebration chapter--at our church! Now was the time.

Several women from church agreed to join me in prayer about this new venture. God had placed the vision and the calling in my heart; now I needed to be equipped! As Judy and I continued to pray, she answered my questions and walked me through the process of starting a new group.

As I answered the call to start and lead this new group, I sometimes felt hesitant and vulnerable. I was, after all, “getting out of the boat.” During those moments, Judy reminded me that the obstacles I encountered were just the “waves.” I needed to keep my eyes on Jesus.

About three months later, in September 2001, we held our first meeting. We meet quarterly now with more than 50 women in attendance, including many guests. We have a seven-member leadership team comprised of other women who have answered God's call and are growing in their faith!

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The study of Scripture is the next step in grounding and revitalizing any women’s ministry. A knowledge of the Bible is essential for discernment and right doctrine. By “right doctrine” we do not mean a dry, rigid belief system. Scriptural Christianity produces a vibrant Christian life, grounded in the application of God’s revealed Word to daily living.

Leaders can’t take people past where they are themselves; therefore, they need to commit to private prayer and Bible study time. This concept is part of the Mt. Oak UMC Women’s Ministry TEAM (Together Experiencing Awesome Maturity).

There are many excellent Bible studies, sometimes with accompanying videos, being used by UMW and women’s groups today. You will find a comprehensive listing of resources that were recommended by our taskforce members in the resource packet. For the most part, the studies we are recommending have been prepared for an ecumenical audience. In other words, there may be an occasional interpretation that differs from the Wesleyan/Armenian perspective, to which United Methodism adheres.

However, there will not be major departures from the core of Christian teaching around which all believers coalesce.

I I I . D E E PE R L I F E M I N I S T RY / D I S C I P L E S H I P Find positive ways to bring people into a deeper life: the study of a book that would lead in this direction; the inviting of speakers who would guide the group toward a deeper life; or small group structures that encourage the application of deeper life principles. Retreats, days of prayer and fasting and similar events are aids to deeper life ministries. Such events should be very intentional and focused. They should also be vibrant and Spiritdirected.

Additional resources for deeper life/spiritual disciplines are in the packet resource listing.

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ENABLING/EQUIPPING

A listing of prayer and worship resources is provided in the resource packet, along with some prayer resource samples. The book Transformed Lives

by Chris Adams has a chapter dedicated to “Beginning a Prayer Ministry and Prayer Groups” which is very helpful. The resource book Designing Effective Women’s Ministries by Jill Briscoe, Laurie Katz McIntyre and Beth Severson, has a chapter (15) on “Being Women of Prayer,” which includes several ministry models.

M U G S ‘N MUFFINS A monthly prayer meeting is held at the home of a friend.

She bakes muffins and those attending bring their coffee mugs.

The agenda for prayer is prepared before arrival. For 1 1/2 hours, the group engages in conversational prayer that covers the following topics: the pastor’s wife; the women on staff; women in leadership; women who are ill; upcoming women’s ministry events; anything

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Just when I thought my life was completely full, the Lord asked me to take another step. I was asked to be on the conference Celebration board and to head the leadership training. After persistently saying no for three months, the Lord prompted me to say yes. Once again, it seemed so clear that He wanted me to keep on walking with my eyes fixed on Him. Now I put together training for our leadership teams.

Staying connected to Jesus is the most important thing we do. It's also important to keep working on our skills--reading books, and talking to people for more insights. As God calls us, He also equips and empowers us, but we have to step out in faith to experience it!

I’m excited about where God is taking me.

Mentoring, equipping and empowering have all helped me answer God’s call to lead.

the Holy Spirit leads the group to pray about. (a program of Mount Oak Women’s Ministry)

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REVITALIZING

I . P R AY E R & WO R S H I P The incorporation of prayer and worship provides the foundation for the revitalization of any ministry. As you plan to take steps to revitalize your local UMW or women’s ministry, begin by having an extended season of prayer. Ask God: What changes are needed? What should we retain? Who should lead? How would God expand our vision? The prayer materials in the resource packet can aid in this initial prayer focus.

Various avenues for participation in prayer and worship should be structured within your UMW or women’s ministry program. Each of your meetings should begin with prayer and worship. It is important for this time to be directed and focused so that it is effective and supportive of what is to follow.

Beyond including prayer at each meeting, there should be opportunities for women to be involved in more extensive prayer ministries, and there should be special programs that center in worship through song and praise. Such opportunities can be provided through special events, retreats or participation in a para-church or ecumenical women’s events in your region.

There may be women who are called to intercessory prayer. This group could form a sub-group of the larger women’s ministry, participating in regular meetings, but also holding prayer sessions for those called to this ministry.

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