March 27, 2019

Using simplicity in how we go about ministry isn't about getting rid of everything. It is about keeping only the things that matter, only the things that are essential, only the things that honor the Lord. It boils down to the value of the thing we are trying to do at the moment, whether it is an event, or anything related to ministry. Here we are concentrating only on women's ministry, but I think these ideas work across the board in ministry.

I feel we must take a look at the Bible and really focus on what Jesus showed us was important. That verse about how we will be known comes to mind because that encompasses everything we do. It encompasses our reputation. It encompasses how we think. It encompasses the actions we take in life.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 (KJV)

That verse is about one thing and one thing only. That is our love and whether we have shown our love to others or not. To me that screams importance! As I mentioned, when we use simplicity in our women's ministry it is about leaving those essential things intact, so we want to leave the important things in when we do anything. And as you can see, love for people is right there at the top of what is important. Let's leave the love part in and put lower priorities on the other things that come into play when it comes to planning for our women's ministry events.

So, how do simplistic activities and events add value to women's ministry? I feel like in general they take needless pressure off of our plates. It removes that need of having numerous parts to hold an event together and make it run. That in turn frees us up to do that caring and loving that we should be busy about doing as Christians. If we are expending all of our energy in just putting on activities and events, where are we going to get the energy to keep loving and caring for people? Where are we going to find that strength of biblical hospitality which is all about meeting people's needs? Simplifying can be so freeing, and it can free us up to love others more efficiently.

When Jesus talks in John about working for the night is coming, He isn't talking about working to make events and activities run in our local churches. He is talking about souls. Can we see people accept Christ through events? Of course, we can, but the event shouldn't be the main focus. The souls are, and if we can plan a little more simply and reach more souls, isn't that worth it?

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4 (KJV)

Those words of Jesus in Matthew 6 become so important when we think of how we are going to minister to women.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

We must put the value back onto people. They are what matters. When we consider putting value on people, the events we plan will tend to have value as well.

I think seeing the value in simplifying things in women's ministry can help in a lot of ways. I'll leave a list below of some of the things I've thought about concerning this topic.

What having simplicity in planning events can do for you as a women's leader.

1. You save time.
2. You save money.
3. You relieve stress.
4. You build the total value of the event.
5. You keep your staff and volunteers from being overworked.
6. You have a need for less staff and volunteers.
7. You have less of a need for special speakers.
8. You will need less stuff or physical things.
9. You have less of a need for shopping.
10. You have less of a need to store things.
11. You require less set-up time or none at all.
12. You require less clean up time or none at all.
13. You free yourself up more emotionally.
14. You can focus more on the Biblical aspect or truth you want to convey.
15. You can focus more on the people that will attend.
16. You can focus more on loving others.

I'm sure that there may be other things that simplicity brings but just gaining these 16 things is a good start to opening our eyes to see the value of simplicity and how it can work in our women's ministry events.

Copyright ©2019 Julia Bettencourt

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