Our Model for Local Church Women’s Ministries
Purpose
To provide an overview of a typical year of activities of the women’s ministries of our local
church.
Women’s Ministries Leadership
Structure
The pastor’s wife is chairwoman of the Women’s Ministries board and nominates the board.
The board is appointed by the pastor.
Typical 1-year Calendar of events
and emphases
(Note: This calendar is for all women. Some ministries included within the Women’s Ministries
have activities not included in this calendar.
A calendar of events must be turned in to Ministries Pastor in December that includes most of our
planned events. We actually begin our Ministry year in September.September
Board Meeting in late August to finalize plans for the fall events.
This is usually a business meeting where we present the fall schedule and the projects that are
sponsored by the general and state offices. Then we have refreshment and a fun time which allows for fellowship.
October
Fall Bazaar & Dinner - This is our one large fund raiser that gives us the funds to do ministry
throughout the year. Hallelujah Party – We help to sponsor this time of fun for the children instead of the Halloween
trick or treat. We rent pop corn and cotton candy machines (we ask for sponsors to cover the expense). This adds an exciting
flare for the children. We have different games that they can play and receive a prize. If they wear costumes, it must be
non-Halloween types. It is a fun time.
November
Church Homecoming – We host the homecoming meal that follows the Homecoming service each
fall.
Food is collected from all of our church for the first three weeks of November. Names are taken
of needy families in our surrounding area. On the third Monday the food is divided and delivered to needy families.
December
We help to sponsor the Angel Tree where many of our ladies take names of underprivileged children
and give them toys and clothes for Christmas.
Some years we sponsor a Church Christmas Banquet.
January
Bible Study - The pastor allows us to have the sanctuary on Wednesday nights for as many weeks
as we need to finish a study. The men usually have a specialized men’s class at that time. These classes last 6 to 8
weeks.
February
Senior Adult emphasis - Our State Women’s Ministries President sends out a list of retired
ministers and spouses or widows and many of our ladies send Valentine’s cards or write letter. Sometimes, we sponsor
a luncheon for our senior adult group, The Young at Heart.
March
Evangelism Emphasis – Spring is our best time of outreach. We do many things to help get
the church ready for Easter and the array of visitors – update visitor’s packets and visitor’s gifts, spring
cleaning, Evangelism Prayer emphasis,
Some years we use St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish Dinner as a fund raiser.
April
State Retreat – We encourage attendance to the state sponsored Retreat in Indianapolis.
Pastor Appreciation – Our Women’s Ministries is greatly involved with Pastor Appreciation,
usually with the chairperson being from Women’s Ministries. These ladies work hard to make it an event of love and appreciation.
Beautiful floral baskets are given to mothers in various age categories.
May
We always place emphasis on Mother’s Day. Sometimes it will be a brunch or banquet, and we
sometimes have a district banquet. Pastor takes the A.M. offering for the Smoky Mountain Home for Children.
June
"School’s Out Picnic" is usually the first Wednesday night of June and we help with the work
of making this picnic a success.
Camp Meeting Women’s Service or Banquet We encourage our ladies to attend.
July - August
School Supply Drive – We have our kick-off around the middle of the month, when the sales
on school supplies begin. We ask for the basic supplies needed for the elementary students. We take supplies to schools in
our area to give to students that do not have them. We give these supplies to approximately 1000 students.
During these months, we encourage Family Time.
Typical Kick-Off Event
This is usually an evening meeting where our working ladies can be present. We have a devotional
time, then we present the fall schedule for discussion and decide on some of the details. We discuss the projects are sponsored
by the general and state offices and we tell everyone what our goal is for the year and what we would like to do to meet the
goals. We then have refreshment and a fun time which allows for fellowship
A Favorite Event
A favorite event is our annual Fall Fundraiser. It is a bazaar, Soup & Salad Bar lunch, and
White Elephant Sale. We have work committees that include all ladies and the leaders involve as many as possible. Sometimes
we have a Family Portrait project during this week-end.
A
Meal Function
Our building doesn’t allow room for a sit down dinner so we usually have to go to a banquet
hall. We always enjoy this because our main emphasis is on the program or entertainment. At our Christmas Banquet this past
year, we asked the Young Adult Group to take care of entertainment and they provided a "old-time TV program with a singing-dancing
emcee. The food or décor isn’t as important as being able to fellowship together.
Our
Strongest Ministry
Our strongest area of ministry is probably in Benevolence. Many of our ladies give to the Smoky
Mountain Home for Children and WM Missions project weekly with $3000 to $4000 yearly. We also have a benevolence ministry
in our church. A bag follows the offering bag each Sunday morning to help those in need. We help with rent, utilities, food,
gas, prescriptions and other emergency needs. We have ladies who help with clothes give-away and others help with furniture
give-away. We also have individuals involved with the Community Thrift Shop. We have ladies who help the sick with doctor
and hospital trips and supply their medical needs. We have joined with other churches for Sharefest in the fall of the year
that supplies needed items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, diapers and etc. for those in need. We also supply about
25 Thanksgiving baskets and sponsor around 40 children for the Angel Tree at Christmas. In the summer we give basic school
supplies for around one thousand students.
Top 3 Favorite Bible Studies
Get Out of that Pit - Beth MooreBreaking Free - Beth MoreSpiritual Gifting and Temperament Study
– local teachers
Benevolent Ministries We Support
Smoky Mountain Home for Children: monthly support of at least $100 for the support of Cottage 5,
and Mother’s Day offering. (See Our Strongest Ministry)
Women With a Missions: We ask each lady to give $1 a week toward this project for 35 weeks. Most
women give a check for the entire amount. We always exceed our goal.
Local Benevolence: (listed above in Our strongest Ministry)
Age Level Opportunities
We sponsor the Blue Belle and Joy Belle Girls’ Club as prescribed by the International Women’s
Ministry. The clubs meet on Wednesday evenings.
We have a Single Adult Ministry.
We encourage age group activities that will give time for Christian communication with peers (These
often are couples, even family activities).
Small
Groups
We strive to meet the need of the people, supply the support or teaching that is needed. Many times
we are working with the programs of other areas of ministry such as Family Training Hour. We have had:
Grief Support Group
Singles
Substance Abuse
Intercessors
Widows Clubs
Widows
Grief Support and Help
Young at Heart Senior Ministry
Support for Iris Vest Widows Center in Sevierville and personal contact with ladies that that are
from Indiana.
Single Women’s Ministries
Single Mom’s Group
Other Ministries
Funeral Meals are supplied by our ladies when asked to help.
We try to be sensitive to the needs of people that come into our church and will sponsor groups
to meet short-term need.
We support events, projects and activities that are promoted from the state and general level of
the Church of God. This includes retreats, conferences, girls’ jamborees, camp meetings, and winter conferences.
We are involved with Pastor Appreciation Day with planning and activities of that week.
The Women’s Ministries of our church are fully involved in all areas of ministry in our church
and community.
