Creating Space for Women in Your Ministry Strategy

If you are a ministry leader—pastor or elder—how valuable is it to have as many of your people onboard with your ministry goals, shared language and training? Have you thought about how, most likely, more than half the church will get there? 

I’m talking about the women in your church. How much more effective would your mission be if the women leading your ministries were equipped with the same tools and vision as your men?

Opportunities like our VG26 retreat help women see both the beauty and the weight of ministry. They help us understand the “why” behind decisions and the “how” behind healthy ministry structures. When women are invited into that understanding it creates partnership. A partnership energizes all people, all disciple-making disciples, to serve more effectively and support their appointed leaders with greater clarity and joy.

Hear me out

As someone who serves in women’s ministry leadership, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is for women to be informed, equipped, and connected to the broader vision of the church. It is also a privilege to see the fruit of a ministry team that isn't just 'active,' but is intentionally trained and aligned with our elders and pastors. 

I’m not looking to revolutionize your structures, but simply to remind you that building a culture of training requires a deliberate effort to bring women into the fold. At my church, the most encouraging moments haven't come from changing our roles, but from the men in leadership inviting our input. That simple act of inclusion ensures that every corner of the ministry is moving toward the same goal.

With that being said, when I’m given insight into what’s going on in the life of the church, it changes how I serve. It helps me pray more specifically. It helps me see where there are gaps or needs. It helps me align what we’re doing in women’s ministry with the bigger picture of what God is doing in our church.

In my experience, the training and collaboration includes a clear, shared language for women who are leading Bible studies, running childcare, or serving in various ways throughout the week. With that shared understanding, it allows everyone to see how these roles fit into the bigger picture of ministry.

So much of the relational ministry in a church happens among women. We’re already discipling, often in informal ways, whether we realize it or not. That’s why it matters so much that women leaders are equipped well. It’s essential to have a space where we can learn how we can serve our church better and where our input is valued. More importantly, we need to be grounded in God’s word. We need language for what we’re doing. We need training and encouragement so that we can disciple other women faithfully and clearly.

An invite for the women

I know that it can be hard to figure out how to best equip women in your church. What does it look like? Where do you start? How do you train women to lead well?

That’s part of what makes gatherings like VG26 so valuable. The team from Matthias Media US, including women who are actively serving in their own churches, will be there to encourage and support. Many of them are doing this kind of ministry week in and week out, and they understand both the challenges and the opportunities.

If there are women in your church who are already leading, or who have the potential to lead, I’d encourage you to invest in them. Invite them into spaces (like VG26) where they can grow in their understanding of Scripture, ministry, and discipleship. 

Because when women are equipped to handle God’s word well and to disciple others faithfully, it doesn’t just strengthen women’s ministry, it strengthens the whole church.

And that’s what we all want: a healthy church grounded in God’s word, growing together, side by side, for the sake of Christ.

See you in October at VG26!