By: Amanda Pipher
Friend, I don’t know how you find yourself today.
Perhaps you are a thriving church member and are well plugged into the ebbs and flows of women’s ministry? Or perhaps you feel unsure and are a little nervous to participate in the women’s ministry events? Or perhaps you are a leader who has become tired of leading a women’s group? Or perhaps you know someone who is wavering in women’s ministry and wonder how/if you should encourage them?
No matter how you find yourself today, I want to encourage you to believe that women’s ministry glorifies God and is a worthwhile investment.
Now, what exactly is women’s ministry? Women’s ministry can take many forms – formal church setting with set Bible studies, prayer groups, and social gatherings, or more informal – one-on-one friendship evangelism where you are intentional about just doing life with others, like inviting a friend out to coffee.
My husband, Brooks, and I live in Burbank, California (Los Angeles County), and have the joy of participating in what God is doing through the church-planting work of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery. As a small church plant, we don’t have the same long-standing women’s ministry history you may have at an established church. Covenant Church launched worship services in 2023, and a monthly women’s gathering in January 2024. So our church is new to women’s ministry, and many of our people have never participated in anything like this before.
What does women’s ministry look like in your life and in the life of your church?
Again, I want to encourage you to believe that women’s ministry glorifies God and is a worthwhile investment.
I wish we could sit down and chat about what God is doing in your life, and in your church. But what a joy it is to connect in this way. I don’t know about you, but I have always loved mail – both sending and receiving. How lovely when you open your mailbox, and find a handwritten envelope addressed to you!
Because of my love of letters, I have written three letters with the hope of encouraging you to believe in the value of women’s ministry, in light of a passage from Proverbs. Please consider yourself the recipient of whichever letter best suits you.
Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
To my weary friend,
I know you’ve had a difficult time. I know you want to quit. But hang in there. I think you should continue in women’s ministry.
These may be familiar to you. “I am not interested in helping.” “This isn’t for me.” “This isn’t worth my time.” Or perhaps you’ve been ghosted — texts and calls left unanswered. Apathy. Low attendance. “I’m planning to go to another church.” FOMO culture and last minute cancellations can really affect all of us.
You may feel like the only one to experience these things, but let me assure you, you are not alone.
Brooks and I saw something online that we often joke about now. Something like “We did not do ‘blank’ because it was easy, but because we thought it would be easy.” This makes me think of ministry sometimes. Have you found this to be true of your experience with women’s ministry?
Women’s ministry is hard, but you should press on in the strength of the Lord. I love this passage from Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. How can you be strengthened? By the Lord. Rev. Jan Sattem shared years ago during our church planter’s assessment that you don’t put on the armor of God (Eph. 6) right before you go to sleep! You prepare in the morning hours (and throughout the day) by intentionally praying, reading God’s word, and getting prepared for the day ahead. You suit up! You prepare. For what? For battle. It is not easy, so we shouldn’t be surprised when it is hard sometimes. Remember you have to approach all things with strength and perseverance in the Lord, or you will not be effective.
I find great comfort in reading how others in scripture have found strength in the Lord. Here are two favorites:
Isaiah 40:29 (ESV) – He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength
2 Samuel 22:40 (ESV) – For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me
Press on, friend! The call on every Christian is to make much of Christ and to share the gospel wherever the Lord has called us. I would argue that women’s ministry is a wonderful place to live out your calling. So stick with it! You are doing a great job. I know you’re tired and discouraged and wondering if this is all worth it, but don’t lose heart. It is worth it.
Remember that you are not our own, but you were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19–20). You are so loved. I am praying that you always remember the great love the Lord has for you (think: John 3:16), and may that love spur you on to continue to serve and love others. People are messy (ourselves included!), but they are worth the investment. Keep going!
Praying for you,
Amanda
To my confident friend,
I am encouraged to hear how the Lord is using you and your ministry to make much of Christ! It is so great to hear that people are showing up excited to participate in Bible study and your recent arts and crafts night.
You may have heard these things before, or something similar: “I’m so glad I came!” “This was so needed!” “I didn’t know what I was missing, thanks for hosting!” “I didn’t know groups like this existed.” “You encourage me.”
Although these compliments are flattering, and sweet encouragements, please don’t become complacent and stagnant for the gospel. Allow these things to encourage you to keep going!
Please don’t forget that the strength is not from yourself – but from the Lord. I love this passage from Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. It’s easy when things are going well to forget that it is only from the Lord that these things are so. Be thankful that you are being used by God, but remember you are not the end all be all. Please keep reaching out to those outside of Christ. Be continually sharing the gospel with yourself, and with others so that Christ may continue to receive the glory.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV): May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ
You are doing great, keep going! Praise God for what He is doing!
Praying for you,
Amanda
To my friend considering jumping in,
I know you are considering joining the Bible study and the upcoming ladies tea, and I think you should! Great opportunity to get involved! Women’s ministry is worth it, even in the unknown.
I get it, it can be scary. Not sure what to expect. You haven’t been to something like this before — will you be called on? Will they make you pray aloud? Will there be a Bible quiz? I’ve been where you are.
The fact is, we aren’t designed to do life alone, and God has instituted the church for fellowship. We need others for mutual encouragement, and growth. Your presence at events could really change the whole dynamic. You may connect well with someone who comes for the first time and perhaps that will make them comfortable and wanting to come back?
With your attendance, you are showing love for not only the Lord, but for the leaders by valuing their hard work and their time.
I love this passage from Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
Can this be said of you? You know your strength comes from the Lord. And especially in the unknown, we can remember this great promise from Psalm 46: 1-2a (ESV), God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. Don’t be afraid, God has this!
We can often get bogged down in thinking too much through when and where we should get involved. And making excuses why we don’t get involved. I love reading the letters of Samuel Rutherford, and I think what he writes here is so helpful. “The Great Master Gardener, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in a wonderful providence, with his own hand, planted me here, where by his grace, in this part of the vineyard, I grow; and here I will abide till the great Master of the vineyard think fit to transplant me.”
Where is the best place to get involved in ministry? The place that God has put you. Don’t be scared — jump in, and remember you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13).
Praying for you,
Amanda
—
I would be honored to pray alongside you! I wish physical distance did not separate me from all of you, but I am very glad to connect as best we can!
Amanda Pipher, 803-767-6892, p[email protected].
Strength and Dignity in Women’s Ministry
By: Amanda Pipher
Friend, I don’t know how you find yourself today.
Perhaps you are a thriving church member, and are well plugged into the ebbs and flows of women’s ministry?
Or perhaps you feel unsure and are a little nervous to participate in the women’s ministry events?
Or perhaps you are a leader who has become tired of leading a women’s group?
Or perhaps you know someone who is wavering in women’s ministry and wonder how/if you should encourage them?
No matter how you find yourself today, I want to encourage you to believe that women’s ministry glorifies God and is a worthwhile investment.
Now, what exactly is women’s ministry? Women’s ministry can take many forms – formal church setting with set Bible studies, prayer groups, and social gatherings, or more informal – one-on-one friendship evangelism where you are intentional about just doing life with others, like inviting a friend out to coffee.
My husband, Brooks, and I live in Burbank, California (Los Angeles County), and have the joy of participating in what God is doing through the church-planting work of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery. As a small church plant, we don’t have the same long-standing women’s ministry history you may have at an established church. Covenant Church launched worship services in 2023, and a monthly women’s gathering in January 2024. So our church is new to women’s ministry, and many of our people have never participated in anything like this before.
What does women’s ministry look like in your life and in the life of your church?
Again, I want to encourage you to believe that women’s ministry glorifies God and is a worthwhile investment.
I wish we could sit down and chat about what God is doing in your life, and in your church. But what a joy it is to connect in this way. I don’t know about you, but I have always loved mail – both sending and receiving. How lovely when you open your mailbox, and find a handwritten envelope addressed to you!
Because of my love of letters, I have written three letters with the hope of encouraging you to believe in the value of women’s ministry, in light of a passage from Proverbs. Please consider yourself the recipient of whichever letter best suits you.
Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
To my weary friend,
I know you’ve had a difficult time. I know you want to quit. But hang in there. I think you should continue in women’s ministry.
These may be familiar to you. “I am not interested in helping.” “This isn’t for me.” “This isn’t worth my time.” Or perhaps you’ve been ghosted — texts and calls left unanswered. Apathy. Low attendance. “I’m planning to go to another church.” FOMO culture and last minute cancellations can really affect all of us.
You may feel like the only one to experience these things, but let me assure you, you are not alone.
Brooks and I saw something online that we often joke about now. Something like “We did not do ‘blank’ because it was easy, but because we thought it would be easy.” This makes me think of ministry sometimes. Have you found this to be true of your experience with women’s ministry?
Women’s ministry is hard, but you should press on in the strength of the Lord. I love this passage from Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. How can you be strengthened? By the Lord. Rev. Jan Sattem shared years ago during our church planter’s assessment that you don’t put on the armor of God (Eph. 6) right before you go to sleep! You prepare in the morning hours (and throughout the day) by intentionally praying, reading God’s word, and getting prepared for the day ahead. You suit up! You prepare. For what? For battle. It is not easy, so we shouldn’t be surprised when it is hard sometimes. Remember you have to approach all things with strength and perseverance in the Lord, or you will not be effective.
I find great comfort in reading how others in scripture have found strength in the Lord. Here are two favorites:
Isaiah 40:29 (ESV) – He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength
2 Samuel 22:40 (ESV) – For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me
Press on, friend! The call on every Christian is to make much of Christ and to share the gospel wherever the Lord has called us. I would argue that women’s ministry is a wonderful place to live out your calling. So stick with it! You are doing a great job. I know you’re tired and discouraged and wondering if this is all worth it, but don’t lose heart. It is worth it.
Remember that you are not our own, but you were bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19–20). You are so loved. I am praying that you always remember the great love the Lord has for you (think: John 3:16), and may that love spur you on to continue to serve and love others. People are messy (ourselves included!), but they are worth the investment. Keep going!
Praying for you,
Amanda
To my confident friend,
I am encouraged to hear how the Lord is using you and your ministry to make much of Christ! It is so great to hear that people are showing up excited to participate in Bible study and your recent arts and crafts night.
You may have heard these things before, or something similar: “I’m so glad I came!” “This was so needed!” “I didn’t know what I was missing, thanks for hosting!” “I didn’t know groups like this existed.” “You encourage me.”
Although these compliments are flattering, and sweet encouragements, please don’t become complacent and stagnant for the gospel. Allow these things to encourage you to keep going!
Please don’t forget that the strength is not from yourself – but from the Lord. I love this passage from Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. It’s easy when things are going well to forget that it is only from the Lord that these things are so. Be thankful that you are being used by God, but remember you are not the end all be all. Please keep reaching out to those outside of Christ. Be continually sharing the gospel with yourself, and with others so that Christ may continue to receive the glory.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV): May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ
You are doing great, keep going! Praise God for what He is doing!
Praying for you,
Amanda
To my friend considering jumping in,
I know you are considering joining the Bible study and the upcoming ladies tea, and I think you should! Great opportunity to get involved! Women’s ministry is worth it, even in the unknown.
I get it, it can be scary. Not sure what to expect. You haven’t been to something like this before — will you be called on? Will they make you pray aloud? Will there be a Bible quiz? I’ve been where you are.
The fact is we aren’t designed to do life alone, and God has instituted the church for fellowship. We need others for mutual encouragement, and growth. Your presence at events could really change the whole dynamic. You may connect well with someone who comes for the first time and perhaps that will make them comfortable and wanting to come back?
With your attendance, you are showing love for not only the Lord, but for the leaders by valuing their hard work and their time.
I love this passage from Proverbs 31:25 (ESV): Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
Can this be said of you? You know your strength comes from the Lord. And especially in the unknown, we can remember this great promise from Psalm 46: 1-2a (ESV), God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. Don’t be afraid, God has this!
We can often get bogged down in thinking too much through when and where we should get involved. And making excuses why we don’t get involved. I love reading the letters of Samuel Rutherford, and I think what he writes here is so helpful. “The Great Master Gardener, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in a wonderful providence, with his own hand, planted me here, where by his grace, in this part of the vineyard, I grow; and here I will abide till the great Master of the vineyard think fit to transplant me.”
Where is the best place to get involved in ministry? The place that God has put you. Don’t be scared — jump in, and remember you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Phil. 4:13).
Praying for you,
Amanda
—
I would be honored to pray alongside you! I wish physical distance did not separate me from all of you, but I am very glad to connect as best we can!
Amanda Pipher, 803-767-6892, p[email protected].