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RENEW
Let’s get real!
By Liza Kittle

Women’s ministry transforms lives, fosters strong marriages and families, strengthens congregations, and builds up the kingdom of God. Experience and research show this to be true. Paul writes, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In the midst of the changes taking place at Renew, I attended the annual retreat of Women of the Vine, the women’s ministry of my home church, Trinity on the Hill in Augusta, Georgia. It was a time of wonderful fellowship, Spirit-filled worship, sound biblical teaching, inspiring testimony, and quiet reflection—an opportunity to just “get real” with the Lord and sisters in Christ away from their busy schedules.

In 2002, I had the opportunity to share my personal testimony at the retreat and it became a milestone in my faith journey. After years of struggling in darkness and sin throughout adolescence and early adulthood, I came to know Christ in my early thirties. Jesus completely changed my life and worldview, saved my broken marriage, and freed my husband and me from the ravages of alcohol abuse. I was so excited about sharing what God had done in my life, but as I stood there, I was petrified! Three of my dear friends were literally kneeling in front of the podium to give support as I shared my story through tears and trembling. As I spoke, something remarkable began to happen. I could literally see the masks on women’s faces melt away.

After the session, there was a new atmosphere of transparency—women began sharing with one another, praying together, and bonding as sisters in Christ. The Holy Spirit was present and working in a powerful way. By taking a leap of faith, God used my brokenness and feelings of unworthiness to minister to other women for his glory.

I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of women’s ministry that weekend. When women are given opportunities to grow in their faith through substantive biblical teaching, to praise God through Spirit-filled worship experiences, and to minister to each other through their brokenness and shared life experiences, miraculous things happen and lives are changed.

Women’s ministry is not only important to individual spiritual growth, but also to the health of families and the church as well. A George Barna study shows the importance of women to the vitality of Christian congregations in America. Women make up 60 percent of total church membership in the U.S. (and the UM Church). Women are more likely to acknowledge a deep faith commitment, with 75 percent saying their religious faith is a critical aspect of their lives (60 percent for men). According to Barna, women are twice as likely to take part in a discipleship process; 57 percent more likely to attend Sunday school; 54 percent more likely to participate in a small group; 46 percent more likely to disciple others; 33 percent more likely to volunteer for a church; 29 percent more likely to read the Bible regularly; 29 percent more likely to share faith with others; 23 percent more likely to donate to a church; and 16 percent more likely to pray regularly.

“Women… take the lead role in the spiritual life of the family. Women typically emerge as the primary—or only—spiritual mentor and role model for family members,” Barna commented. “And that puts a tremendous burden on wives and mothers. If the Church is to stem the tide of biblical illiteracy and waning commitment to the Christian faith, men will have to reestablish themselves as partners and leaders of the spiritual functions of families. The family unit is the key for spiritual growth and maturation in our decentralized, relationally isolated culture.”

I have observed this reality at the local church level. While we pray for men to take their spiritual leadership role seriously, God can use women as a powerful example, bringing about transformative change in the lives of their husbands and family members. In order for women and men to develop their full potential, they need the blessing, provision, protection, and encouragement of the church.

Nurtured women also bear eternal fruit for the kingdom of God. A spiritually mature woman’s life lived and devoted to God is one of the most effective tools for evangelism. Younger women today yearn for godly role models who are transparent and “real” with them. Women who know their true identity in Christ are “other-centered” and want to share their gifts with the world around them. “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

It is the prayer of Renew that pastors and bishops of the UM Church will embrace the need for dynamic women’s ministries within the local church. With only 15 percent of the women in the UM Church participating in the only “official” women’s ministry program available, isn’t it time for us to “get real” and remedy this problem by encouraging and promoting transformational women’s ministry in our churches? Renew is here to help and support you.

Liza Kittle is the President of the Renew Network. Visit us at www.renewnetwork.org, or write us at 3540 Wheeler Rd., Suite 410, Augusta, GA 30909, or call us at 706-306-2851.



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