October is my favorite color. The change from summer to fall welcomes us to a cozy palette of crunchy leaves, crisp mornings, and crackling fires. The season draws us in with its unfolding cooler air, warmer tones, and cozy textures.
Have you ever thought about what excites women in taking that first sip of pumpkin spiced latte of the season? The drink has become a celebration of the exciting change that’s on the way. We know it will be a good change, and we look forward to it each year.
So how do we get women in our churches to embrace, get excited, and look forward to healthy changes to our ministry programs and offerings? Here’s some encouragement as you navigate change in your own ministry landscape.
THREE WAYS CHANGE REFLECTS A HEALTHY MINISTRY
We’re conditioned to believe that change is bad. We often see change as only necessary to reset a ministry when something is not working, right? But change can also be a great indicator that your ministry is healthy and thriving. Here are three situations when change reflects a healthy ministry:
- when ministries experience numerical growth
- when ministries experience seasons of spiritual fruit
- when God opens doors within the culture and community to meet new needs in Jesus’ name
SO HOW DO WE INITIATE CHANGE?
How do we make small and big changes to welcome and include new women, continue discipleship among the generations, and be a light in our communities?
- Reevaluate your mission statement and ministry goals. Is what you’re currently offering meeting your mission and goals, or do you need to pivot to meet the needs of the women who are in your current congregation?
- Acknowledge what was and honor those ministry leaders in private and public. Celebrate the women who have been leading and serving and bring them with you as you move forward.
- Change with purpose and confidence. Remember God has called you to lead, and He always equips you.
- Lead in a spirit of gentleness, gratefulness, humility, and grace. Stay humble, dear sister. Women will respond to authenticity and vulnerability more than forced change. Let them hear and feel your pure motives and intentions.
- Invite senior leadership to champion change from the pulpit. When your senior pastor is behind your vision, people will follow suit.
- Inspire your leaders by involving them. Remind—and keep reminding—your leaders that you want them as you move forward. They need to hear your desire for them to stay connected. When they feel wanted and needed, they will inspire others and be an encouragement to you.
- Lead with an emphasis on connection and relationships. When the women in your ministry have a relationship with you, they will follow where you lead. So, make an effort to learn names, spend time with the different generations, and let them feel connected to you.
- Over-communicate. When you initiate change, use every possible resource available to you and be sensitive to the needs of every generation. Record a video clip letting women hear your heart and soul and play it in service. Involve the younger generations in helping to communicate through social media and fun reels about the changes. Consider having a kick-off event and inviting women to hear of these changes directly from leadership in a fun, casual setting.
We must make small and big changes to welcome and include new women, continue to fulfill the Great Commission, and be lights in our places and spaces. So, the next time you take a sip of pumpkin spiced latte (or your favorite fall drink), consider how the Lord might be preparing and calling you to exciting changes ahead for His glory.
Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us (Eph 3:20).
