What are we ACTUALLY doing in our ministry to women?

Originally written - Sunday, November 1, 2009 on Facebook.

I was speaking with someone today about my gifting and calling in life. She commented that I mentioned a year ago that I don’t feel like I’m especially gifted in Women’s Ministries, this was a concern for her because I am considering helping a church plant with their ministry to women.

Let me clarify. There is a profound difference between 'Women’s Ministries' and 'Ministry to Women.' Now, this sounds like I'm splitting semantic hairs (if you don't like the names I'm using, come up with your own, but recognize the difference between them). We must understand that the difference between the two is not necessarily in the outcome (what actually gets done) but in the philosophy on which the ministry is built.

I have found Women’s Ministries are generally social or problem based ministries (like youthgroups can slip into being based on games/entertainment and socializing). As a Women’s Ministry major in college, I noticed that 75% of my women’s ministry classes dealt with the issues women have (depression, self harm, birth control, etc) or on social networking/family life (how to bake a pie, have a party, decorate your house, etc). I have felt that Women’s Ministry programs can create a inaccurate and ungodly view of women in the subconscious minds both men and women. A man (fellow Hebrew class mate) actually spoke the following words to me after seeing a poster for "Girl's Night" on campus, “What is wrong with girls? All the ‘girl’s nights’ are about depression, self harm, etc. Do you girls really have all these issues?” This view can come about because of the LEADERSHIP’s approach to ministry in regards to women. As a female, my main ministry in the church will be with women, teenagers, and perhaps children. But I will never run a “women’s ministry” program.

I realized as I was talking with my friend, that I had misspoken a year earlier (out of my own lack of understanding the complexity of the issue). I had said I was not gifted at Women’s Ministries – this I will still hold. But Women’s Ministries is far different than Ministry to Women.

If we are to minister the women in our churches, we must do it from a Bible base. I am not a Women’s Ministry director, I am a Bible teacher. Those in leadership of churches must realize the difference. We have to bring the WORD of God to be the central point of ALL our ministry, for men, women, children, singles, married, etc. We must not, cannot, let the issues of the world and the relational nature of those to whom we are ministering distract us from that focus. Do we want our women to be issue free and socially fulfilled? Or do we want them to love the LORD with all their hearts, souls, and minds, and love their neighbors as themselves?

Now, I am NOT saying some of the trappings that often accompany women’s ministries are bad (tea parties, social gatherings, moms’ groups, counseling). Those are often an enjoyable part of feminine life. What is bad, is the underlying philosophy that says THOSE are what women need. Churches are built on the Word, and as the church ministers to its women – those ministries must be Bibliocentric! Use the outer trapping, use women’s social bents, and domestic creativity (God created us that way) to minister more effectively, BUT base everything, and keep the focus on teaching and expounding the Word of God! Never, EVER, loose that.