From Chris Adams: Today Shirley Moses shares about a state-level leadership team the Lord used her to develop. Please be sure to read part one and part two before you read this article.
My next stop in growing teams in women’s ministry was the state of Texas. This was a huge step for me and I must say I felt very inadequate. It was just me, no team, starting from scratch. This was a new denominational convention and my assignment was to help women across the state establish women’s ministry. That meant organizing a team, offering training, and networking the churches together.
May I just say … Texas is a big state! I still stand in awe of how God uses our past to prepare us for our future. I had the same assignment I share in part two of this article series, but on a much larger scale — from 40 churches to 2,000.
I started with prayer: Lord, how will I ever find a team? God literally brought women right to my doorstep. I wish I had the space to tell you about each team member and how God caused our paths to cross. I still stand in amazement. God gave me a team of leaders from across the state. Here I was leading leaders, and God had big plans for each of them.
Here are a few steps you might consider when establishing a team:
1. Create a plan together: I called a friend, Martha Lawley, to assist us in a process called master planning. It was a hard three days of work for my team, but well worth the time. It resulted in a direction for the following 10 years. This included needs, goals, roadblocks, and strengths. I would highly recommend this process of having another person lead the brainstorming session so you can join in the work.
2. Share the Plan: I think it might be beneficial for you to see part of what the outcome of the meeting was. Keep in mind that your team, needs, and goals will be different based on the context of your ministry.
Summary of Needs
- Leadership Training
- Encouragement
- Multiplication of leadership through process of coaching
- Ministry restart
- Self-esteem
- Ministry on a small budget
Discipleship
- Establishing a personal quiet time and a time for personal Bible study
- There is an expectation of change (transformation)
- Accountability
Needs of Churches
- Awareness of making disciples/process of discipleship
- Spiritual giftedness
- Calling or purpose
- Define Kingdom perspective
- Breaking down walls and barriers
- Giftedness
- Sects (not just denominations)
- Cultural and racial differences
Turning Ideas into Goals
Develop and maintain relationships with local churches.
- Welcome call to new churches
- Follow-up welcome packet
- Build regional relationships
- Prayer network
Develop and implement biblically based training for leaders.
- Place forum and regional topics online
Establish and maintain a healthy statewide leadership network.
- Connect churches with each other
- Offer opportunity for networking partnerships
Assist and encourage women to discover and fulfill their God-given purpose.
- Write newsletter articles
- Utilize a spiritual giftedness tests
- Develop conference or training on understanding God-given purpose
- Send e-newsletter
God did amazing things during the 10 years I was with this team. Because we took the time to seek the Lord, ask for His direction and develop a plan, He blessed our efforts. I’m happy to report that team is still going strong under the leadership of an amazing woman.
Will you allow God to use you as He determines? Has He called you to lead and build teams? Is He leading you to serve on a team? Look for ways to serve our might God!
Look for Shirley’s last article in this series tomorrow: Building Successful Teams Part 4: National Ministry. When have you been given an overwhelming leadership team challenge? Share with us how God led you.
Shirley Moses is an author, speaker, women’s ministry team advisor at Hagerman Baptist Church in Sherman, Texas, and founder of Beyond the Call Ministries. Formerly she served as the women’s Ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. She also serves currently as a Lifeway Ministry Multiplier, helping train women’s ministry leaders across the country. Shirley contributed to Lifeway’s leadership book, Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level and is co-author of Heart Friends: Beginning and Maintaining a Small Accountability Group. Shirley has completed her Advanced Certificate of Women’s Ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
