I wonder what people think as we hold hands and pray. Tears drop onto the small table, coffee steaming nearby, a half-eaten cinnamon roll on a plate. I don’t even like coffee, but I love what I find in this simple half-hour “coffee shop study” with friends. Life is busy. That’s almost cliché, except it’s […]
Resources for Leading Coffee Shop Bible Studies
For the last few months, I’d been asking God how to reach women more effectively and how to expand that reach, especially in small groups. As I visited with women’s ministries leaders, they shared the same desire. Though churches offer a variety of gatherings throughout the year, Bible studies offer a unique set of struggles. […]
How to Create Conversations that Transform Women
Three years ago I moved to a new state, leaving behind a church family I loved. We settled in to a large church, and weeks passed without really getting to know anyone. When I heard the announcement for a weekend women’s retreat, I was ecstatic. I looked forward to making friends and finding my place […]
Plan Transformative Retreats: Small Group Reflection Sheets
A few years ago I attended a weekend retreat. I was new to the church and living in a new state. While I loved my new church, getting to know anyone was a challenge. I longed for friendships, especially having left a church that felt like family. When I heard the women’s ministry team was […]
Harness the Power of Outside/In Ministry
Every Wednesday night, I meet with four to six women in my home. They are fierce and wonderful. They are hungry for Christ. These are women who might not show up in a typical Bible study or women’s conference, but they feel comfortable in my home. They are growing in their faith. We are growing in relationship. As […]
Embracing Home Bible Studies as Outside/In Ministry
Every Wednesday night I meet with four to six women in my home. They are fierce and wonderful. They are hungry for Christ. These are women who might not show up in a typical Bible study or women’s conference, but they feel comfortable in my home. They are growing in their faith. We are growing in relationship. As […]
Create a Safe Place for Women to Share Their Story
Years ago, I taught my first workshop on a mended heart. Nearly 500 women had signed up for the workshop. They walked into the room chatting and laughing. On the outside they seemed to have it all together. But after the workshop? Many of them held crumpled tissue while others wept openly. A line formed […]
