WHY SMALL GROUPS IN WOMEN'S MINISTRY?

VISION OVERVIEW

Small groups in women's ministry provide koinonea, intimate spiritual fellowship with Christ through his presence in all of us. The unique goals of all-female small groups are the healing and individual growth of each woman and the bonding of women in local chapters of women’s ministry. This leads to church growth through the increased spiritual health and confidence of the women and the congregation they serve.

All-female small groups are often the best way to start a new local chapter of women's ministry. The bonding, healing and spiritual growth allow for harmony as the group tackles projects together. Small groups prepare women to move in the same direction in the future.

Carl George, a small group expert, says the primary purpose of small groups is koinonea. His secondary purpose is church growth through evangelism and community service. Though we recommend George’s training tapes, they must be adapted for women’s ministry, as sometimes evangelism and community service need to wait on healing.

OUR VISION AFFECTS THE FUTURE

A healthy women’s ministry in each church area strengthens the overall health of that church. Many areas report groundswells of energy and momentum once small groups are in full swing. The bonding from small groups for women leads to a successful women’s ministry program.

Women's ministry small groups eventually feed into the mixed groups as women gain experience, confidence and a sense of safety. Even so, there will always be a role for all-female groups because of topics they may not wish to discuss in front of men, and for leadership development.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Women's ministry small groups, like women's ministry itself, are overseen by the pastor. It is most beneficial toward maintaining their uniqueness and freedom to have direct communication and contact with the women’s ministry coordinator and women’s ministry small groups coordinator, rather than through another person.

To promote communication and further training, the coordinator of the women’s ministry small groups could be a liaison to the church-wide small groups coordinator. She can assist each group in choosing training materials and help guide women's groups to curriculums beneficial to the women. This is desirable to maintain the identity, goals and purposes of the women’s ministry small groups. It also provides a leadership opportunity involving a high degree of responsibility.

Coaching, suggested goals or format from a source other than women's ministry can inadvertently shape the groups away from their unique purposes. The women’s ministry small groups coordinator will be aware of this and sift out what is not pertinent to women's small groups according to the training given to small groups in general.

GOALS

The specific goals of women’s ministry small groups include:

A) Provide a healthy, safe place for women to: heal, be nurtured, grow spiritually, gain confidence, learn to pray with others, learn leadership skills, test their new skills, discover their gifts and find their ministry.

B) Find a community where they can give and receive care

C) Strengthen their own spiritual identity (which may have been their husband's identity)

D) Find acceptance as a female Christian

E) Bond the local women’s ministry members

F) Mentor each other as only women can for women.

Reference books on this subject:

In the Company of Women, by Brenda Hunter

The Mentor Handbook, by J.R. Clinton and R.W. Clinton, 1991

Effective Teaching and Mentoring, by L.A. Daloz, 1990

The Fine Art of Mentoring, by T.W. Engstrom, 1989

Beyond the Myths and Magic of Mentoring, by M. Murray, 1991

Connecting, by P.D. Stanley and J.R. Clinton,1992

Servant Leadership, by Robert Greenleaf

Follow the Leader, Women's Ways of Mentoring

Joining an all-female group can encourage women to make the step into mixed small groups. Some women do not feel safe with the concept of small groups. They will probably join an all-female group sooner than a mixed group. It has the natural appearance of more safety for expressing personal needs.

Evangelism may fit in with these goals right away. At other times, the members of the group may need to do some healing first. It's advisable not to rush a group into evangelism or other outreach projects, rather let the group bond, heal and grow together at their own pace. Outreach will then come as a natural result of their Christ-centeredness.

Community service may fit with these goals right away. Or because of participation through other organizations (such as the larger group meetings of women’s ministry or their child’s school), they may not have the energy or time to include this in a small group at first.

FREEDOM

The freedom to establish individual purposes, goals, methods and curriculum for each individual women's ministry small group promotes the success of the overall goals. Each group decides its temporary purpose and covenants for a length of time to fulfill that purpose. (For a clearer understanding of the Covenant Contract, see the form at the end of each Serendipity curriculum.)

Openness to new members will normally be appropriate and encouraged, but there may be times when openness to new members would need to be deferred until the end of a covenant time (i.e., focusing on abuse or marriage needs where trust takes time to build, or when a sequential curriculum is being used). A closed group should not be discouraged. When they are ready they will emerge if the facilitator effectively does her job.

SPECIAL NEEDS OF WOMEN

Examples of unique topics that emphasize the need for all-female groups and demonstrate possible needs to form a closed group for a time: mothers of small children, mothers of teens, nursing moms, infertility, the role of women, sexual abuse, spiritual abuse, mentoring, using the gift of exhortation and using the gift of administration.

Examples of focused women’s groups that may need to be covenanted as a closed group for a time: sexual abuse, infertility, marriage boosters, spiritual abuse, learning to pray in public, low self-esteem, ministers’ wives, sequential curriculums or when maximum capacity has been reached.

TRAINING

1. Coordinator: It is recommended that the coordinator of small groups for women view the Carl George tapes Nine Facets of Effective Group Leadership; Serendipity also has a tape series for training. The coordinator should be committed to learning all she can about the variety possible in small groups. Confidentiality should be stressed repeatedly by her to the facilitators.

2. Confidentiality: Inform women there are different levels at which degrees of personal revelations are exercised. Some disclosures may be more appropriate in a small group than in an open women’s ministry meeting (we are responsible to maintain each others' reputations). Some women may wish to reveal certain things only to their personal prayer partner.

Prayer changes things. It is important to realize that a situation may change as a result of the group praying about it. Even though a woman may feel comfortable asking the group to pray about something, she may not want the whole church told about her problem. Women need to learn that even if their intentions are good, they do not have the option of sharing private information outside of the small group.

It is also important for women to realize that they are responsible for their own relationship with God and their own salvation through him. It can be helpful to remind the women that Christ is present at each meeting and knows what occurred there. Each member has an obligation not to reveal confidences. Indeed the success of the small groups and women's ministry is dependent on understanding that what is shared with sisters in Jesus' presence goes no further.

3. Coaches: Coaches for women’s groups should be women as they visit the groups where women expect privacy. The female coaches understand the vision of women’s ministry and all-female small groups.

4. Facilitators: We recommend that they view Carl George's training tapes and participate in small groups together to experience koinonea before establishing the new groups.

DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

When there is a problem, the facilitator should work with the person to help her focus on the purpose and direction of the program and her role in it. Leadership of facilitators should also be developed. Making mistakes is an important part of learning and women's ministry is designed to be a safe place for that learning. This does not mean that a facilitator, coordinator or member of a small group would never be removed, but that time and interest invested in developing her skills will produce fruits. See #2 under training.

If anyone is still concerned about the appropriateness of an all-female group they may want to remember that Christ is the true facilitator at each group. He is present in the koinonea that occurs in a healthy group. His presence creates the spiritual intimacy described in the verse, "Whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name there is love." Fellowshipping with others in the presence of God, with his love flowing through us is wonderfully life changing and growth inducing.

TRAINING RESOURCES

Nine Facets of the Effective Small Group Leader (nine videos), $29.00 each and $3.95 for the workbook, or $179 for the nine volume set with workbook (value ($264.95). Available from CDLM (Center for the Development of Leadership for Ministry), fax: 909-396-6845, phone: 909-396-6843.

CURRICULUM RESOURCES

Basic Training for Small Groups in Your Church, Serendipity. Serendipity has a wide curriculum. Their gathering portion of the lessons is especially bonding for women.

Kay Arthur has a series of inductive Bible studies for small groups.

Becoming a Contagious Christian dispels the myths of evangelism and shows how the personal styles of evangelism can be different yet effective.

Good Things Come in Small Groups, by InterVarsity Press.

Life Guide Bible Study, by InterVarsity Press.

New Testament Characters by Carolyn Nystrom. This insightful study guide covers 12 minor biblical characters.

Resources for Caring People, by Jean Le Peau. This study guide is very helpful for women's care groups.