Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Why Women's Ministry Is Important

Very soon, I will be stepping down as women's ministry leader.  I have been chronicling my return to full-time work in previous posts, so hopefully this will not come as a shock.  As my tenure as leader comes to an end, I would like to post my speech to the ladies of FBC of The Colony.  I gave this speech in January of this year, and call it my "Women's Ministry Manifesto."

Enjoy!

Why Women’s Ministry Is Important


By Jennifer Cottle



Ministry to women, just like any other ministry work, has its challenges. One of the most difficult aspects of ministry to women involves the misconceptions of those on the outside of women’s ministry. Oftentimes, those not involved in this type of ministry view women’s ministry as the ‘party planning committee’ or the ‘kitchen crew’. While fellowship and hospitality are often key aspects of ministry to women, these are not the only roles that women are limited to. No matter what area of ministry that you serve in, your service touches the lives of women. It is for this reason that I would like to share with you three reasons that women’s ministry is important in the life of the church.

First of all, Jesus ministered to women, and we should do as Jesus did. Remember that in Jesus’ time, it was unseemly for a rabbi to be seen with a woman. Women were to not to be taught God’s Word in the same way that men were. Boys went to school and studied the Torah, and girls stayed at home and learned to care for the home and the children. Jesus permitted women to not only serve Him in ministry, but to sit at His feet and learn the Scriptures! We are all familiar with the story of Mary and Martha in the Gospels. We know that Mary is praised for her desire to learn the Word of God. We also see that Martha is gently admonished for her worry and distractions. Martha is a model to women all over the world in that she heeds Jesus’ admonishment and later confesses His deity and her faith in Him as recorded in John 11:27. For me personally, I appreciate the story of the woman at the well in John 4. I like that Jesus took time to speak to a woman who was an outcast and who others looked down upon. He took the time to minister to her where she was, in her culture. He showed her the truth gently and without condemnation. By revealing Himself to be the Messiah to her, He allowed her to receive salvation. By showing her the sin in her life, He gave her the opportunity to repent. In turn, she ran—not walked—to the other people in her town in freedom and in victory declaring the coming of Christ. What a beautiful picture of how ministry works: We take a moment to relate to someone, we listen for their needs, and we share the Truth of the Gospel with them. The Gospel message frees and liberates those who receive it.

The second reason that women’s ministry is important is that in our culture, children exist within the context of women. When I was called at nineteen by God, I was called to work with children. It may surprise you to know this, as I have been serving in women’s ministry for ten years now. The realization that Bible study made me a better wife and mother came only shortly before I realized that I should share this realization with other women. That other women needed to be liberated from the same worries and fears that I had: Fears for the health, safety, and well-being of my husband and children. Just as Bible study gave me the wisdom to raise my children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and it enabled me to give my husband good counsel, it could raise other women up no matter what their age, role, or cultural background. The truths found in God’s Word are timeless and priceless and are capable of helping us in whatever role that we may find ourselves in, and –better still—whatever predicament we may find ourselves in.

My professional career was spent in Early Childhood Intervention. What I found pretty quickly was that there is no better—or earlier—intervention than women’s ministry. Think about it: Children are born of women, raised by women, and taught by women, in general. We know that men are both necessary and integral in the lives of well-rounded children. However, practically speaking, men are not involved as often as women are in the daily lives of children. Whether a child is raised by his stay-at-home mother or grandmother or is cared for daily by a nanny or a child care worker, most likely the role of primary, day-to-day caregiver is being filled by a woman. When a child enters school, he will most likely be taught by a woman. Yes, there are male teachers. Yes, there are male administrators and coaches. But, the field of education is mostly filled by women. In essence, ministry to women makes for stronger children. This is why women’s ministry, preschool ministry, children’s ministry, and youth ministry should work together. Together, we make stronger families. We help to prevent divorce. When catastrophic things happen, we can help to empower moms and dads to manage them.

In the culture in which Jesus lived, the man was primarily responsible for the care and education of the child once he was weaned. Daughters stayed with their mothers, and the little boys learned the Scriptures from the rabbi and their vocation from their dads. In our time, boys and girls learn together in school. A boy learns to be a man under the watchful eye of a woman, and in the evenings and weekends with their dad—if he is able. Far too many homes are led by single moms. This means that women must fill in the gap for absent dads. When the world has not provided a father figure, the Lord has. As women in ministry to single parent homes, we can direct single moms to Jesus and can show them how God desires for men to be through His Word.

In no way am I suggesting that men’s ministry is not as important as women’s ministry. I am not saying that women are superior to men, either. I am simply acknowledging the reality of the world in which we live and am encouraging us to remember that we can make a difference in the lives of families.

The third reason that women’s ministry matters is that the world gives unrest to the hearts of women. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The peace of Jesus gives peace to us. The world gives us unrest and discord.

A month or so ago, I was visiting with one of the teachers at preschool. She was sharing with me that she was not going to go to a women’s business club anymore. She related an unpleasant experience that she’d had at one of the meetings. As a stay-at-home mom, she was made to feel bad about her choice because she was not working full-time outside of the home. I cautioned her that she could not go to a worldly event and expect to receive validation there. The world does not give peace to us. Look around while you are at the mall or the grocery store. Look at the visuals as they are related to women: Thin, busty women with heavy make-up and revealing clothes. The magazine covers are gossipy and devalue the women that they sell to. Women’s pictures are airbrushed into impossible proportions and appear to be ageless. It is all lies, meant to steal our satisfaction, contentment, and joy. Television is no better. Satisfaction comes from career or sex. Commercials vacillate between food and weight loss ads. Women dance in bikinis on beer commercials, or they are seen dancing around their kitchen with a mop. News shows reveal a dark and scary world in which children are preyed upon—certainly this takes away our peace. But remember that Jesus said that we should not let our hearts be troubled and that we should not be afraid! How can a woman experience peace when there is so much unrest around her? By staying grounded in the Word of God. I receive so much comfort from God’s Word. The truth found there gives me hope and keeps me sane. My desires are put in their place when measured against the Bible. I can face the uncertainty of daily life when I am connected to God through prayer and His Word. You know what else keeps me grounded? The fellowship of other women! As a younger mom, I sought out the perspective of mature, godly women. They helped me to see that the trials with my children were only temporary. They gave me a sense of peace with their godly counsel and wise words.

If we are wise as women in ministry, we will bring hope to the hopeless. We will bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free. Becky is bringing hope and freedom to the real-life captives through prison ministry. Celebrate Recovery seeks to bring hope to the hopeless. Divorce Care desires to bind up the brokenhearted. By the same token, for women in bondage to worry, fear, financial stress, past abuse, or simply to sin can be released from their shackles and can walk in victory through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Feminism has done a number on the hearts of women. Practically speaking, it has taught women that sexuality can be used casually or to get what we want. It has taught us that men and women are no different, or that women are superior to men. It has devalued our ability to bear children in a thousand different ways. It has taught women in our society that mothering has very little intrinsic value. Now, I realize that the rights to vote, for women to be able to work, and for women to have equal rights to men were won by the diligence and perseverance of women—many of them Christian women. However, I do not think that our foremothers ever intended for us to devalue the beautiful gift of femininity. Women’s ministry must also be about challenging the worldview of secular humanism and feminism. It must be about teaching women the truth, and showing them how that truth is practically applied to their lives. It must be about challenging the philosophies and ideologies of secular education, and it must be about revealing false prophets in the church. God’s Word is our Sword of the Spirit, and we must do battle.

We have a responsibility to the generations that are coming up behind us to teach them godly principles and to model for them virtue and truth. We must overcome our own strongholds and come alongside the girls who are in our church and community to teach them to be strong—strong in their faith and strong in their chastity. We must be unflinchingly honest about self-discipline, about character, and about true beauty. The pitfalls that lie before the girls in our church are many. The temptations that we faced as young women are nothing compared to the snares that are set for our daughters. However, if we work together, we can raise women who are like the Proverbs 31 wife. We can raise them up to be women of valor—women who can face adversity and can be discerning.

May God's richest blessings flow over you,

Jennifer