August 22, 2011 (Excerpt from the Women's Ministry Leader's Training Camp Series)

Huddle = a brief gathering of football players away from the line of scrimmage to receive instructions (as from the quarterback) for the next down

The huddle is an important part of the game of football. It’s that get together of a team to quickly listen to instructions from the quarterback. It’s the time everyone gets on the same page. All the players are informed of what’s coming next. What’s going to be the next play?

We need our huddles in women’s ministry as well. We’ve got to get close to each other, fellowship, and gear up for what’s happening next.

1.  It Takes Dependence To Huddle

When those football players are in a huddle, are they spread out around the football field, or some of them maybe back in the locker-room? No. They are all there up close, so they’ll be aware of what’s going on.

We’ve got to have that in our women’s ministry too. The players, or our women, must participate. It’s hard to huddle by yourself. We have to depend on each other. If you don’t, you won’t know what’s going on with everyone else. You’ll miss out on all the details. You’ll miss all the fun and excitement. We need each other to play the game.

We need each other to lean on and serve the Lord together. We all are needed to serve in the body of Christ.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8

2.  It Takes Closeness to Huddle

In the huddle you are close enough to touch each other. Those big football players stand there arms around each other, leaning in, waiting for the quarterback to relay his thoughts. They are up close and personal.

When’s the last time you were up close and personal with those women in your church and women’s group? Are they close enough to touch? Are they reaching out into each other’s lives?

The Bible talks about fellowship, are we really doing that in our women’s ministries? Fellowship goes beyond eating a meal or having snacks together (no matter how enjoyable that is). Can we have fellowship around a meal? Yes, but total fellowship involves more than that.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:42

The book of Acts says that the early church “continued steadfastly” in fellowship. The thought of fellowship is that we share together, encourage each other, and work together as a group. That’s the model of the early church. They weren’t just placing things on the calendar. They were there sharing and meeting the needs of each other. They all had something in common—Christ. They shared a love for the Lord and that in turn fueled their love for each other to love and care for people. Real fellowship is a wonderful thing for our women’s groups to get a hold of and take to heart.

3.  There is Information in the Huddle

The huddle in football is used as a way for the players to briefly meet up with the other players and hear from the quarterback. Our women’s groups need to be informed not just when meetings are scheduled but what your women’s ministry is accomplishing as well.

Another aspect of information is that from your individual ladies. Have you had a time of testimonies lately? From time to time we need to allow others to share what’s on their hearts. We’ve got to get that information from each other. It is how we learn about each other, how we learn to pray for each other, and what’s needed to encourage each other.

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

I think our women’s groups as a whole lack that more than anything—that real sharing —where the ladies begin to know, love, and appreciate each other on a personal basis.

Think of how that can affect our women’s prayer lives alone. When our ladies begin to really bring the needs of others to the Lord and care for each other, there will be results.

4.  There is Listening in the Huddle

In the huddle everyone has to listen. The players have to listen to the quarterback, or the coach if needed. The quarterback needs to listen to his coach and his teammates. Everyone has to take time to listen during the huddle.

In women’s ministry we need to have some listening going on as well. We as women need to listen to our leaders and each other. Women’s ministry leaders need to listen to their pastor’s and church leadership. The leaders also need to listen to the input of the ladies within their groups. We need to allow suggestions and even a little constructive criticism now and again. It may be just what we need to improve our game. On top of that, we all need to listen to the Holy Spirit and be sensitive to His guidance.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

5.  There is Anticipation in the Huddle

Inside the huddle is where the players are told about the next play of the game by the quarterback. It’s where anticipation builds. Have you ever noticed in football, that each team decides on the next play for his team by what the preceding plays were – by what the progress of them team was? For example if one area of a team is being hit hard by the opposing team, that team will try to accommodate for that on the next play.

We have to do that within our women’s ministry. Sometimes we have to just stop, look around and see what is going on. What’s worked before? What’s worked for others? What can we do to get ahead in the game? What can we do to encourage these ladies to serve the Lord?

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13,14

Sure, there might have been some trouble on the field. Maybe the progress of your women’s ministry got side-swiped by some forces out of your control. You may even have to help lift up some teammates that are still stunned and dazed on the ground.

They might be knocked down or burnt out and you’ll need to encourage them to get back up and into the game. As a leader, you might be lying on the ground yourself with some reverberations still running through your helmet. You will have to shake it off, dust yourself off, and move on with the Lord’s help.

Also, don’t forget to look at the progress you’ve made, the blessings the Lord has provided. Be sure to praise the Lord and get your women’s group excited about those too.

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Conclusion

The huddle can be a great tool for your women’s ministry. You don’t have to of course call it a huddle and you don’t necessarily have to hold an organized meeting to do it, but just get your ladies together briefly from time to time and let everyone know what’s going on with your women’s ministry.

Remind your ladies that they are on the winning team and allow their anticipation to grow to serve the Lord and be a part of your church’s women’s ministry. Let them get excited about the next play of the game. Sometimes we may need to have some new plays of the game.

Sometimes we may even have to dig some plays out from an old playbook. We just need to do something to build, encourage, and sometimes repair the direction we are going.

Copyright ©2011 Julia Bettencourt

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