KARI STAINBACK | GUEST
A new year of ministry is about to begin. How in the world did the summer months fly by so quickly? Are you ready to launch a new year of ministry to women? Perhaps you are coming off a fabulous restful vacation with loved ones or friends. Or maybe the summer brought you anything but rest. Maybe you have walked through unexpected trials and troubles which have left you drained and feeling depleted. Maybe you are wondering where the energy will come from to begin another year of ministry to the women in your church. Or perhaps this finds you doing fine as a ministry leader. Nothing out of the ordinary is happening in your life, and you feel ready to crank up the engine of your ministry again. Wherever you are today, each of us share this prayer or something like it each fall: “Oh Jesus, will you refresh my soul that I might shepherd other women according to your will and way?”
In Mark 6, Jesus sends His disciples out in pairs to do ministry. They were hard at work, proclaiming that people should repent, casting out demons, and healing the sick. Meanwhile, Jesus’ forerunner, John the Baptist, was murdered by Herod. This had to be a terrible blow to Jesus and the disciples once they found out. When the disciples return to Jesus, they are eager to be with Him and tell him all the things they had experienced. Jesus responded by suggesting they go away for a few days to a quiet place and get some well-deserved rest (Mark 6:31-32). So, they get in a boat to escape the crowds. But the crowds follow them. Long story short, what started out as an intentional time of restoration from long days of ministry for Jesus and His disciples ended in serving dinner to 5,000 not including women and children! And the activity didn’t stop then. The chapter goes on to teach that the disciples got back in the boat, leaving Jesus to pray. A severe storm arose in the darkest part of the night. They looked up and Jesus was walking to them on the water. He calms their fears and miraculously calms the storm. When they reach their destination, people come from everywhere. They bring the sick to be healed. Through all of this, Jesus was demonstrating to His disciples who He is: the Bread of Life to feed on, the Creator who could be trusted in the storms of life. He is the Healer of all our diseases.
It would seem during these two very full days, despite the best intentions, that the disciples did not rest from their hard work of ministry with people. However, learning who Jesus is by participating in all these miracles must have filled their weary souls and energized their hearts for Jesus’ ministry as nothing else could possibly have done. And Jesus knows just how to ready us for a new season of ministry to women.
After twenty-five plus years of “starting a new ministry year”, a few key principles of wisdom come to mind. I pray these will be restorative as you enter this new season of ministry.
- Pray First – Seek the Lord in prayer, not only for what you are doing, but for the individuals in your ministry. You know this, but it is so true. We don’t have anything to do until we pray. We all need to be reminded that to abide in Christ and to stay in a continual state of prayer is essential to produce fruit for His Kingdom. This year, I’m challenged to pray for each and every woman registered for our Bible studies. Several years ago, we had cards that said “Pray First” on them and placed them all around the church. Those simple two words meant so much to many, including our pastors.
- Stain not Paint – This one came from our pastor, Mark Davis. It means to soak in the word, don’t just read through it quickly. Stain goes deep into the wood, whereas paint only stays on the surface. Make time to read God’s Word deeply. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, encourage you, and guard your ways. You help disciple and care for the women in your church; you must fill your heart and mind with the Word of God.
- People before Program – It is easy to get so caught up in the logistics and plans for your ministry that our attention span for people can become too short. For women to feel loved (and that love comes from God the Father above), we have to be present to our women. Look at them right in the eyes, listen intently and lovingly, and pray for them. Then take care of your event’s to-do list. Otherwise, we are in danger of making a person a ministry project.
- One on One’s – Take the time to have coffee or a meal with a woman you don’t know or do not know well. Ask her good questions, see how she loves and serves the Lord. Find out how she is uniquely gifted. You’ll find yourself rejoicing in another woman who is a unique image bearer of God. One of my favorite things about being in this role is helping a woman discover ways she can grow in the knowledge of Christ and serve Him in our church.
- You’re on a Team – The church is a family of God to be grown and nurtured. Women’s Bible studies and events are so key to that. Women typically make up over half the church. But do not let yourself or your ministry become a silo, hanging out there on your own, and surrounded only by women. When I am around a table with the pastors of our church, I am energized by their wisdom, their creative ideas, their knowledge of God’s Word, and even their humor. Thankfully, it never fails that they want my feedback and my input on discussions at hand. Let’s do our best to stay in good communication with the pastors in our church and function well in complementarian ways. Working as a team who serves the Lord together helps to make for a healthy church family.
May these thoughts and principles encourage each of you as you prepare for a new year of ministry. I am right there beside you, asking the Lord to give me rest and refresh my soul as September is right around the corner.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
