The Living Room with Joanna Weaver
038: Rethinking Women’s Ministry with Cyndee Ownbey
“There is not a cookie-cutter approach to women's ministry!”
Are you a women's ministry leader or have a desire to see a thriving ministry for the women of your church?
There is nothing more powerful than women coming together around the name of Jesus - but we need to rethink women's ministry in order to reach the hearts of women today. And no one knows their hearts better than the God who loves them so much. The Holy Spirit wants to help us shape a ministry that changes women's lives.
Nobody understands this better than my friend, Cyndee Ownbey. She has devoted much of her life to ministering to women through her popular website, Women's Ministry Toolbox, and has recently published a book called, Rethinking Women's Ministry: Biblical, Practical Tools for Cultivating a Flourishing Community. Women long for connection and friends to grow beside and God wants to use the church to cultivate those relationships with each other and with Him.
In this episode, Cyndee walks us through the challenges and joys of women's ministry today and how we can keep it both current and purposeful.
{ USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We have to prayerfully seek out God's heart and His desire for the women of our area
Consider the unique demographic you are trying to reach
Survey the women of your church and community to discover what their needs and availability are
Incorporating all of the generations takes intentionality
Find ways to create a mentoring culture between generations
Take time to consider how your ministry affects women in all different stages of life
Intentional icebreakers are a great way to create connection
Use assigned seating at events or find ways to encourage ladies to engage with those they don't already know
Don't try to do it alone; We are stronger with a team
When we do everything ourselves, we rob others of the opportunity to use their gifts and experience personal growth and joy
Stop and pray before you jump into any opportunity
When creating a team:
Start with prayer
Get advice from leadership
Search for people with specific gifts to fill specific roles
Invite them to prayerfully consider the opportunity
Use social media as a tool to engage your women outside of the church
Honor people where they are and help them navigate forward
Take small steps toward changing the culture
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12
Links from Show
Women's Ministry Toolbox
Rethinking Women's Ministry: Biblical, Practical Tools for Cultivating a Flourishing Community
Connect with Cindee Ownbey
Website | Facebook | Pinterest| Instagram
Connect with Joanna
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates!
We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Cindee's interview?