You’re a women’s leader at your church, so you want to gather your ladies for something fun, unique, and worthwhile, right? You’ve done some typical gatherings that have perhaps gotten a little stale (i.e., boring) or even cringy, and now you’re looking for something fresh.
Here are a few ways to bring women together, build community, encourage one another, and grow in Christ.
1. Plan an Outreach
Outreach is an opportunity to share Jesus and invite more women from the community into your group and church. There are millions of outreaches you can try! You could volunteer for a few hours at a food pantry, hand out cookie trays to local businesses, or deliver clothes and water to an impoverished community! Brainstorm together, and you’ll be amazed at the possibilities!
2. Prayer Walk Around Your Church Building or Community
Get up and move! Walking around your community’s schools or downtown areas is a great opportunity to get some fresh air, enjoy fellowship, and, of course, pray together. Give opportunities for everyone to pray out loud. You never know what the Lord is laying on someone’s heart.
If you decide to pray over your church, cover every inch! Pray over the seats, the worship stage, the pulpit, and the children’s ministry. My personal favorite is praying over the threshold of the entryway!
3. Have a Time of Prayer and Liturgy
Take an hour to facilitate prayer prompts with your women’s group. Plan the prompts and scripture reading ahead of time and ask the Holy Spirit to show up.
I recommend purchasing a copy of “Every Moment Holy” by Douglas Kaine McKelvey or similar books of liturgy to pray through with your group as well. However you prepare, plan to read a prayer prompt, and then allow a few minutes for your group to pray in response in whatever posture is comfortable for them. I recommend a bit of light music in the background!
4. Have a Worship Night
Plan a praise and worship night for your women! I recommend that you pull the worship leaders from the men in your church or outside guest worship leaders so that your ladies can show up and enjoy!
5. Use a Large Canvas
Purchase a large canvas and some markers. Have your women’s groups respond to a prompt by writing on the canvas. The prompts could be the names or initials of people they are praying will make decisions to follow Jesus, prayer requests they have for the year, personal growth goals, or anything else. You can also use posterboard, but using a canvas allows you to display it more easily and will last longer.
6. Use Index Cards
Like the canvas, have your women’s group write in response to a prompt you give them—prayer requests, names or initials, etc. They can put their names on the cards or keep theirs anonymous. Then, collect all the cards, place them in a bucket, and let your group grab them at random. Have the women commit to praying over the card they draw throughout the week!
Ladies, God has gifted you for a purpose. Visit bcmd.org/women to explore events, training, and resources designed to equip and encourage you in your calling!
Visit our website to learn more about BCM/D Women’s Ministry and how the BCM/D can support you and your church!
To learn more about BCM/D women’s ministry and how the BCM/D can assist you and your church, visit our website!
Payton Pope serves as BCM/D’s Planting Wives Care Coordinator.
Photo by Abby Caldwell