How do you plan for future women’s ministry? Do you plan for next year and give no thought beyond that? Begin now to begin planning for years ahead. Ten years from now, do you see women in your church growing spiritually? serving? leading others in their spiritual walk? If so, plan to build a lasting ministry. Strategic planning is not just about running programs; it’s about equipping people, training trainers, and reproducing leaders.
If you leave your leadership position, what do you want people to say about you? Would it affirm what God desires in leadership results? What do you need to do now to ensure those results? Your ministry focus must be on Christ and the women with whom He calls you to minister.
The Bible has many examples of strategic planning, such as Joseph’s 14-year anti-starvation plan (Gen. 41:28-36) and Nehemiah’s wall rebuilding (Neh. 2:11-14). Likewise, your leadership team must begin a future-focused planning process. This chapter will help you effectively plan for the future.
Purpose
You must know your women’s ministry’s purpose to plan. Your statement must also support the church’s. Always keep the purpose visible to your leadership team and the church’s women. Constant awareness provides focus, direction, and motivation to serve.
Purpose provides a tool to evaluate your women’s ministry and establishes a standard as you plan and set goals. It provides structure for the budget, leadership needs, and planned activities. Consider gathering a group of women (all ages/life stages) to pray and brainstorm reasons for ministering to/with women. Study Scripture to discover a foundational passage for your purpose statement. Consider these essential: ministry, missions, evangelism, worship, discipleship, and fellowship—all undergirded with prayer. Share your statement with the church staff; ask for their support and approval.
Objectives
After prayerfully determining your purpose, establish objectives for accomplishing it. Objectives are general areas toward which you direct your efforts—the purpose is the “why” and objectives are the “whats” of ministry. Use your purpose and objectives to plan how you believe God wants your ministry to accomplish His desires. Develop main objectives for 1-10 years to focus your time, energy, and budget money. Structure your ministry according to these objectives by setting priorities.
Focus on 12-month priorities that are measurable, dated, and drive you toward your purpose and objectives. They guide planning for activities and events that bring objectives to fruition and accomplish their purpose.
This article is adapted from a chapter written by Chris Adams and found in Transformed Lives: Taking Women’s Ministry to the Next Level compiled by Chris Adams.
