I have heard this called a Ministry Statement, a Mission Statement, and a Purpose Statement. Simply put, this is a paragraph that describes the focus of your ministry.

For our purposes today we will call it a Mission Statement. Your statement should relate to the overall ministry focus of your church and even the specific needs of your women. The process of creating a statement helps you to identify what your WM plans to accomplish within the overall ministry of the church. Remember the goal of a WM is to enrich the women within your church, not to build a ministry that functions alone.

Start with a key verse and the vision statement of your church. Make a list of how you want the WM to enrich the lives of the women in your church. Consider how women might be trained through the WM to serve in other areas of the church. (I know of many church counseling ministries that have grown out of a WM.) Write down and prioritize the objectives of your WM. Then, using all these things, begin to formulate a statement. Work on a chalkboard or dry erase board and edit it as you go. Sometimes this process is fast and sometimes it takes a couple of meetings to get your statement where you know it accurately reflects your ministry.

Remember, you can always go back and make modifications, but you will probably want to include your statement on your publications, so it is important to have a statement that accurately reflects your WM.

You can do it! Once you have a statement in writing, use it as a guide to evaluate ideas for ministries and events that you will plan in your WM. There are always exceptions to every "rule," but if a proposed event does not fit in the goals of your mission statement, give it some serious prayer before you make a decision to include it.

In Him... Robyne Beaubien, Editor

Based on: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Focus: Making Christ the center of our homes.

Consider having a ladies night out that featured mini- workshops based on a different room in a home. Here are ideas for using the kitchen, dining room, bedroom and family room.

The kitchen is a "room for cooking." Have one of the ladies from your church presented simple recipes and cooking tips.

The dining room can be a "room for creativity" and focus on different ways to use what you have to make your table beautiful and decorative at mealtime.

The bedroom is a "room for comfort." Ask a counselor to share thoughts on how to comfort and encourage others trough the trials of life like cancer, depression, financial struggles or the loss of a family member.

Wrap the evening up in the family room, a "room for companionship." Share fun ways to build family and community through family game nights or neighborhood block parties. (Hint: There are lots of great ideas in a book called The Joy of Hospitality by Vonette Bright.) Have one of your leaders present a short devotion based on the passage in Deuteronomy and then serve refreshments.

Share a touch of God’s grace at your 2007 events! With Nancy Kay Grace as your next speaker, your women will be encouraged to embrace God’s grace through practical, challenging and scriptural teaching. Please visit www.nancygrace.com or email TouchOfHisGrace@yahoo.com.

Take a minute to revisit last week's sponsor...

• Sterling College Online Degree Program
• Bridget Taylor
• "What's Your Dream?" Women's Retreat

Maybe it was an amazing event or mission trip... or possibly it was a Bible study that had a huge impact on your women... whatever it was, we would love to hear about it.

Send your comments to robyne@womensministry.net

I can not thank you enough for your prayers last week while I scurried off to the Dr. Phil Show. Dozens of you sent me an email letting me know you were praying for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The show is tentatively scheduled to air February 27.

I am finishing up writing about part of the experience for the next issue of Java with Jennifer, which comes out tommorrow - Thursday, January 25. I want you to see the photos my Dr. Phil is posting too. So if you aleady get the Java with Jennifer email, look for it tommorrow. If you do not get it, or you are not sure if you are subscribed to it, just click the Update Profile link below to add it.

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Get ready for some balloon popping and lots of laughter with this fun activity for women of all ages.

Write silly things to do on little pieces of paper and insert them in balloons. Blow up the balloons and be sure you have plenty for every woman to participate.

Make two sets of numbers, one to hand out to each lady as they enter, the other to put in the basket. When it is time for the game to begin, draw a number and ask that lady to come to the front. She is asked to choose a balloon, pop the balloon and follow the instructions inside.

Some ideas for what to put on the papers:

Go to a friend and sing them a love song while holding your nose.

What was your favorite cheer in school. Do it for us.

Make the silliest face you can.

Can you wiggle you ears, twitch your nose or raise only one eyebrow? Demonstrate.

Pat your head with one hand and rub your stomach with the other... count to ten and switch hands.

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