THE ORIGINAL SOURCE FOR WOMEN'S LEADERS SINCE 2001

Ready for Kickoff

Training Camp Article 12

Julia Bettencourt

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

Kickoff = When a player kicks a ball from a tee to the opposing team. A kickoff is used to start the game, at the start of each half, and before each overtime

A kickoff in football is used to get the game started or get other parts of the game going again. In women’s ministry we need to have kickoffs from time to time because it will ignite new play. It will draw in new women and invigorate the ones that already participate in your women’s ministry.

1. Need to Be In Position

If we attended a football game and it was time for kickoff, we’d see a ball on the field and the player responsible for kicking it ready in his position.

In women’s ministry, we have got to be in our position ready to kick the ball when it comes to the kickoff. As leaders, we have to take our responsibility seriously. We have to put an effort into getting the ball rolling, whether it’s a new women’s ministry or one that is restarting for the year or after being dormant for a while.

Plans need to be made, goals set, and things organized and in line.

2. Need a Firm Bearing

Before a football player kicks the ball, he has to have his bearings, be balanced in the way he is standing, and be able to lift his leg up to kick the ball. He needs to stand firm in a ready position.

As leaders, we need to get our bearings before we ever get started with our women’s ministry kickoff. We need to be right with the Lord and have our personal relationship with Christ in good order. We need to let go of things like grudges, bitterness, and empty our lives of self. If we hold onto those types of things, we won’t be able to get ready to swing our leg in order to kick.

Leaders have to be praying and seeking the Lord’s strength. Without it we will loose our balance and not be able to kick the ball when it is time. Or maybe we won’t kick it hard enough or we may even kick it too hard.

3. Need to Aim our Kick

As women’s leaders, we need to be mindful to aim the ball and make our kick go in the right direction. We can’t get sidetracked with things like attitude, negativity, or bickering. We need to see eternal values in view as we get prepared to kick the ball.

Do you know that little chorus by Al Smith?

With eternity’s values in view, Lord, With eternity’s values in view; May I do each day’s work for Jesus, With eternity’s values in view.

We’ve got to see what we can accomplish down the road. We’ve got to envision our women changing their lives, improving their marriages, and altering their outlook. We have to see the potential for souls to be saved and lives growing in Christ.

4. Need to Realize the Game is Being Watched

As leaders in women’s ministry, we need to remember there are people in the stands and along the sidelines. Young ladies that will grow up to be a part of women’s ministry are watching too. We have to set an example. Our attitude, words we use, and our actions all reflect the kind of player we are. Leaders have to be responsible to do what is required of the position.

It’s not just the kickoff and what happens on the field of ministry where people are watching either. We have to live each aspect of our life to reflect Christ and His love no matter where we are or what we are doing.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:1-8 (KJV)

5. Need to KickOff

If the football player who was responsible to kick the ball for the kickoff of the game just stood there and never kicked the ball, there would probably be some harsh reaction from the crowd.

Women’s leaders just can’t stand frozen with the ball. We need some way of kicking the ball in the air. Some churches may hold a large kickoff meeting for your women’s ministry and make it a big event. Other churches may just start their monthly meetings back up again.

You may want to send out a women’s newsletter, make announcements in the church services, or you may want to put together a power point presentation about your women’s ministry getting in gear. You may want to have a few ladies share their testimonies to the congregation of what women’s ministry has meant to them.

It doesn’t matter what you do, you just have to kick off. Just get started doing something. The ball just needs to get kicked so the game can start. Your church ladies need to fellowship and grow in the Lord. Don’t keep them hanging, waiting for something to happen.

Conclusion

Every kickoff for women’s ministry will be different, but it can be a fantastic time to draw new ladies into fellowship. A kickoff can be full of opportunities for your ladies to join in on leadership teams or sign up for committees and projects. Kickoff opens up a wonderful world of service for ladies in the local church.

A kickoff gets the game going, so your ladies can move on down the field and get involved in the game.

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