WOMEN MENTORING WOMEN

WAYS TO START, MAINTAIN, AND EXPAND

A BIBLICAL WOMEN’S MINISTRY

By Vickie Kraft & Gwynne Johnson

 PART ONE
THE SEED: THE WORD OF GOD

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. –Isaiah 40:8

Chapter 1
Qualified for Ministry
“Each woman is unique – there is no one exactly like you or me in all the world. Each of us is
influential in the sphere God has given to us in which to make an impact on our family, church,
place of employment, and friends. For that reason, each of us is responsible and accountable to
God for how we use the gifts and opportunities He has given us. Each of us will stand before
Him individually as women” (Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 27).
 PART ONE
THE SEED: THE WORD OF GOD

Chapter 2
Called to Ministry
Then they can teach the younger women to love their
husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be
busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,
so that no one will malign the word of God. –Titus 2:4-5

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 34)

 WHAT GOOD THINGS DO WE TEACH?

 Integrity and Reality  Submission to Her Own Husband

 Love for Her Husband  Kindheartedness, A Good Nature
 Love for Her Children  Purity
 Management of Her Home  Living So That the Word of God Will
Not Be Discredited

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 34-42)

 PART TWO
CONSIDERING THE FIELD

Chapter 3 - Identifying the Needs

An Effective Women’s Ministries Program

 Starts with prayer  Is founded on Bible study

 Knows its people
 Enlists its church leadership
 Articulates specific goals
 Is led by women
 Identifies and develops leadership
 Develops variety
 Provides support groups
 Encourages outreach
 Encourages personal friendships
 Remains flexible and relevant

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 48)

 Chapter 4 – Developing a Biblical Philosophy

“A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A SUPERNATURAL CAPACITY FREELY AND GRACIOUSLY GIVEN BY THE

SOVEREIGN GOD AT THE TIME OF A PERSON’S SALVATION, ENABLING THAT PERSON TO
MINISTER TO OTHERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCOMPLISHING GOD’S WORK”

Knowing Your Gifts:

 Gives you an indication of God’s will
 Helps you set priorities
 Helps you accept yourself
 Identifies areas needing improvement

- See 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:1-8, and Ephesians 4 - (KRAFT & JOHNSON, 2003, PP. 60-61)
 PART TWO
CONSIDERING THE FIELD

Chapter 5 – Assessing the Culture

 The Impact of Culture on Your Women

 Recognizing the Distortion of Sexual Relationships Today
 Consider the Unique Needs of Single and Career Women
 Give Your Program an Umbrella of Protection and Accountability

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 73-79

 PART THREE
BREAKING GROUND

Chapter 6
Developing a Design

Surveying the Needs: Special Problems You May Encounter:

Child Care Majority Older or Younger
Special Speakers When Leadership is Not Supportive

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 83-94

 PART THREE
BREAKING GROUND

Chapter 7 - Creating a Women’s Ministry Board

 Minister to Women
 Women’s Ministries Board Chairman
 Day Program Coordinator
 Evening Program Coordinator
 Outreach Coordinator
 Special Events Coordinator
 Electives Coordinator
 Communications and Child Care
Coordinator
 Heart-to-Heart Coordinator

 Hospitality Coordinator  Prayer Coordinator

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 95-105

 PART THREE
BREAKING GROUND

Chapter 8 – Offering Electives

 Securing Elective Leaders  Elective Class Suggestions:

 Women’s Ministries Survey  Skill Development
 Christian Life
 Guidelines for Elective Leaders
 Family Helps

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 107-112)

 PART THREE
BREAKING GROUND

Chapter 9 – Sponsoring Special Events

 Identifying a Purpose
 Planning Ahead
 Dividing the Responsibility
 Soliciting Feedback
 Finishing Well

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 113-118)

 PART THREE
BREAKING GROUND

Chapter 10 – Remembering Others through Outreach & Support

 Abortion Recovery  Crisis Pregnancy Center

 Cancer Support  Divorce Recovery Group
 Captain Casserole  Evening Bible Study for Business &
 Care Givers Professional Women
 Church Office or Library Assistance  Widows’ Support Group

 Citizens’ Awareness Table  Homeless Outreach

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 119-122)

 PART THREE
BREAKING GROUND

Chapter 10 – Remembering Others through Outreach & Support

 Hospital Visitation  Nursing Homes

 Infertility  Sharing Closet
 Marriage Enrichment  Special Missions Projects
 Mom-to-Mom  Special Needs Children
 Newcomers  Twelve-Step Study Group
 New Mothers  Tutoring Ministry

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 122-125)

 CHAPTER 11
A SPECIAL GARDEN: HEART-TO-HEART

SPIRITUALLY MATURE WOMEN

PROVIDING A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE
FOR YOUNGER WOMEN: A MENTORING PROGRAM

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 127-146)

 EFFECTIVE GUIDELINES
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

 Make a one-year commitment to the relationship

 Contact each other once a week & meet at least once a month
 Pray for each other regularly
 Do things together (Bible study, shopping, learning a new skill, going to lunch)

*Each set of partners is free to do what they want as long as they work on developing
the relationship*

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 128)

 HOW TO START

Administration
 Coordinator & assistant work together to create matches between Senior & Junior
 There should be an appropriate age span between the partners:
(Seniors generally 45+ - women 35-45 are either - Juniors are usually under 35)
 Do not be too rigid about age guidelines
 Remember to cover all matches in prayer
 Do not make a match unless you have a peace about it

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 130)

 HOW TO START

Steering Committee
 Coordinator & Assistant create a steering committee of Junior & Senior
women serving two-year terms
 Committee regularly prays for & contacts participants
 Demonstrates accountability & care
 Serious problems are referred to Coordinator

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 130-131)

 HOW TO START

 Kickoff event:
 Determine timing for sign-ups
 Room preparations & table settings
 Plan kickoff event
 Committee responsibilities
 Publicize kickoff event
 Food
 Schedule of events

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 132-137)

 COMMON QUESTIONS FOR
PROBLEM SOLVING AS MATCHES ARE MADE
 What if there are not enough older women?
 Ask spiritually mature younger women to serve as Seniors
 Ask Seniors to take on more than one Junior
 Only match regularly attending women
 What if there are a greater number of
older women than younger?
 Ask spiritually mature younger women to serve as Seniors
 Ask Seniors to take on more than one Junior
 Only match regularly attending women
What if only a handful of women are
interested?
Then start with a handful!
How do we encourage older women who seem
insecure about their abilities to minister?
Share the ministry & need with potential Seniors
Have Seniors publicly share their experience
Emphasize life experience & friendship aspects of mentoring
Remind them of the value of their life experiences
(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 138-139)
 COMMON QUESTIONS FOR
PROBLEM SOLVING AS MATCHES ARE MADE
 What if a spiritually immature Senior signs up?
 Pray, and be kind, loving, & sensitive to her needs
 Discuss their interest in the program to see if she is
better suited elsewhere
 Suggest more relevant areas for her to serve
 What if an extremely needy Junior signs up?
 Again, pray first and then speak with her
 Explain that the program is not equipped to meet her needs
 Suggest alternative assistance
(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 139- 140)
How do we avoid problems of gossip?
Emphasize Titus 2 teaching not to gossip
Choose Seniors w/ reputation of confidentiality
Emphasize responsibility & privilege of confidentiality
How do we make sure these relationships are
strong, close, & growing?
Encourage, pray for, & remind women to keep
relationships close & growing
Remember that these relationships
are in the Lord’s hands
Seniors & Juniors are truly responsible
for their relationship
Do not be discouraged when matches don’t work
 SUGGESTIONS

 Provide suggested questions for getting acquainted

 Provide tips for preparing to meet
 Provide info on goal setting, committing, & praying
 Provide activity suggestions
 Request feedback from Seniors & Juniors

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, pp. 140-142)

 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
OF MENTORING

 Relationship  Confidentiality
 Purpose  Mentoring Life Cycles Time Frame
 Regularity  Evaluation
 Accountability  Expectations
 Communication  Closure

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 144-145)

 PART FOUR
CULTIVATING THE GARDEN

Chapter 12 – Training & Leadership Development

 The Need Recognized  Developing Leaders

 Jesus the Leadership Model  Delegation
 Selecting Leaders  Accountability in Service
 Observation  Accountability in Teaching
 Recruiting  Loving Confrontation
 Approach  Working Retreats
 Diversity  Evaluation & Feedback
 Ladder of Leadership  Innovation
 Moving People to Change

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 150-158)

 PART FOUR
CULTIVATING THE GARDEN

Chapter 12 – Training & Leadership Development

 Supporting Leaders
 Team Concept “You and I are the garment Jesus
 Relationships wears in ministry to women.”
 Removing Roadblocks
 Encouraging & Affirming (Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 158-163)
 Nurturing
 Seasons of Life
 Fruitfulness Comes From God
 Don’t Be a “Fixer”
 PART FIVE
GATHERING A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS

Chapter 13 – Expected & Experienced Results

A Selection of Notes

“He produces a crop, yielding a hundred,

sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
-Matthew 13:23

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 165-170)

 PART SIX
AN ALMANAC OF RESOURCES

Appendix 1– A Proposal to Establish a Women’s Ministry Presented

to the Governing Body of a Local Church

Appendix 2 – Resources Available from Titus 2:4 Ministries

Appendix 3 – Instructions for Support Groups & Outreach Ministries

Appendix 4 – Sample Sign-up Forms for Women’s Ministries Service Opportunities

Appendix 5 – Sample Women’s Ministries Flyer & Brochures

Appendix 6 – Sample Heart-to-Heart Flyers & Brochures

(Kraft & Johnson, 2003, p. 171-224)

 REFERENCE

KRAFT, V. & JOHNSON, G. (2003). WOMEN MENTORING WOMEN: WAYS

TO START, MAINTAIN, AND EXPAND A BIBLICAL WOMEN’S MINISTRY.
CHICAGO, IL: MOODY PUBLISHERS.