Beginning January 1st, my role as the Director for Women in Ministry moves from ten hours a week to 25 hours a week. With more hours comes an opportunity for more ministry to women leaders in the 172 churches in our district. I’m eager for what God has in store!
Some of the same questions I tend to ask myself at the end of each calendar year are also good questions to ask myself and then pray about during ministry changes.
Looking back: How have I seen God’s faithfulness? What was an unexpected joy? An unexpected difficulty? Who encouraged, challenged, or taught me? What hindered me emotionally, relationally, or spiritually? What helped me emotionally, relationally, and spiritually?
Looking forward: What good am I doing that I’d love to do more and more? What doesn’t exist yet that could… for the glory of God, the growth of the found, or the pursuit of the lost? What do I need to prioritize in this new season?
I’ve been actively reflecting as I am praying and planning because I want to faithfully steward hours in ministry in this new year. Do you want to know what I get to do to invest in building up the church in love?
- Provide coaching and mentoring for women who serve in ministry leadership (both paid and volunteer roles).
- Develop training opportunities for women in ministry.
- Teach, as it is fitting, at retreats, day conferences or workshops.
- Start and oversee networks, clusters and cohorts for women who serve in ministry leadership roles within our NCD congregations.
- Be available to consult with NCD pastors and church leaders who want perspective on how to equip and empower women in their local congregations.
- Initiate connection and communication with NCD churches to learn who their female staff and key lay leaders are so they can become aware of opportunities that are open to them.
- Curate resources for women in ministry.
- Together with our NCD staff, care for and support NCD pastors, church leaders and churches.
- I’ll still serve 15 hours a week in my local church on staff too.
I love using my God-given gifts and time to pour into people who pour into others. My heart in ministry echoes words like Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” My aim in ministry is Ephesians 4:11-13 to do my part to work properly in love to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the state of the fulness of Christ.” I’m eager to continue to see how God will use me as an encourager and equipper who helps women in ministry to grow.
As I invest in this role with more hours, I’d like to share one need and one opportunity:
One Need: Financial and Prayer Support
In order to serve in the role, I need to fundraise both for my salary and for the ministry expenses that come with going to people, eating with people, and training people. If you or your church would like to give one-time to support this work or become part of my regular team of ministry partners with finances and prayer, I would love to talk with you more about that.
You can give on the NCD website by clicking on the “Give” link below my picture or by mailing a check with attention: Women in Ministry to go toward my account.
One New Opportunity: Women’s Theology and Licensing Cohort- January 2025
The first cohort I’m starting is the Women’s Theology and Licensing Cohort. It will meet the second Thursday of each month from 10:00 am- noon at our NCD Oakdale office. This cohort will include active learning through pre-reading and
writing along with in-person discussion. I’m partnering with Coley Waataja to teach and facilitate time going through the EFCA statement of faith one article of faith a month with the women who participate. If you are or know a woman in the NCD who is interested in growing in her theology, her ability to discuss it and live it out with others as well as any woman who might be interested in being licensed for ministry, please reach out to me to see if this might be a good fit for her.
I’m praying this for you today and welcome you to pray it also for me: “…May our God make us worthy of his calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
Serving Jesus,
Director for Women in Ministry | NCD EFCA