November

This November there are lots of things going on. Least of all I am turning a whole year older. Hmmm.
During this time we are thinking about wrapping the year up (why does this seem to get earlier and earlier each year?) and thinking about our goals and visions for next year.
Let me share one or two things - two goals we are considering for next for women's ministry across the congregations are: bible reading and evangelism.
As a team throughout the year we want to encourage women to get back into the word. Biblical truths never change, yet with womanhood life stages do. What we want to do is to give suggestions that will spark a new passion for reading and meditating on God's word. For example: reading a chapter of the bible on your own then meeting a friend for a walk where you discuss what you have read and pray when you get back home, stuff like that. If you have any suggestions, feel free to add!
In terms of evangelism, thinking about simply loving your non-Christian friends. Obviously we need to be intentional but I think that that will come out of a love for your friend, you want to see them eternally and when there is a genuine love for them, I think that this will happen naturally. Sometimes we forget it is God who changes hearts.
So two quick notes on our goals and visions. How are your individual ones for 2010 going?

‘Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.’ J.I. Packer, 1973

Post on MTS blog

Back in July on the MTS cricket blog site - Mikey placed a link to Fiona's thoughts on women in ministry. Fiona had written about how hard being in ministry is and that one should really consider it (more than a man anyway)
Anyway I don't disagree with how hard it is, but Mikey did ask for our thoughts, here's what I had to say:
I have been thinking a lot about the issue of Women’s ministry and how hard it is and Fiona and Emma’s comments back in July. (see MTS link 25th July )

Obviously I may be a little biased (I am employed by Kingborough Reformed Churches working in Women’s ministry) and I agree that women need to think really carefully about going into ministry (just as it is for men) but at the recent Challenge Conference I was really encouraged in my role as well thinking more broadly about women in ministry.

In our forum on women’s ministry we saw how important it is for women to be teaching women sound doctrine. Paul instructs Titus to ensure that women with spiritual experience were to be equipped to ‘teach what is good’ (Titus 2:3-5) That ‘good’ being sound doctrine.

Women are different to men. At times it can be as simple as that. We relate differently to each other.
When thinking pastorally about women there are just some issues that the male minister just should not be dealing with.
What better teachers to teach younger women in marriage than older women in marriage?

This does not make women’s ministry more important than any other ministry in the church, it is not a separate ‘cause’, in fact it is the opposite – in true womanly style it is a helpmate! At Kingston our aim as a team is to:
‘To work within our local churches to further assist it’s training by supporting women in their spiritual growth & encouraging them in prayer and bible study to prepare them for works of service’.

Having said that I completely hear Emma and Fiona’s points about how hard and emotionally draining being part of the ministry can be – here are three things that I have come up with that make women’s ministry almost impossible:

When women put an idea out there, they are putting themselves out there, so when the idea is rejected, women can take it as a personal rejection.

When women are not asked to do something (for very good reasons least they be that we are not worthy for the task) we also take that as a rejection. It’s not true but that’s how we feel.

Women understand women, I think this at times stops some action – “what will so and so think if we do it this way”


These (and I’m sure there are more) are the exact reasons why women’s ministry and teaching sound doctrine is vital. We need to hear God’s word in as many ways as we can, in the most helpful ways so that these issues can fade away in existence to the deeper issues – who we are in Christ and His promises that form our basis for daily living and the building of His Kingdom.
fade away in existence to the deeper issues – who we are in Christ and His
Next year at Challenge Conference, I hope to have more than the ‘one’ women’s ministry forum – there is so much need – how to set-up a women’s ministry would be good to look at, being the minister’s wife is an important issue, as well as thinking about Emma’s point, being the worker and your husband not in ministry. (That is our situation – but can be dealt with another time!)

This is what I think – whose with me?

Overheard conversation

This will not mean much to everyone, but to those who know us well, how cute is this?!@

Alexis: " Joey, I wish it was just you, me and Jordan in this world"
Joey: "Yeah that would be so cool if we were the only things in this world. You, me, Jordan and some shops. That would be cool."Alexis (wistfully sighing) "Yeah...."

Women's Winter Dinner...

A report of the dinner that will hopefully appear in the Trowel & Sword:

Every year in the middle of winter, the women from the Christian Reformed Church’s of Kingborough gather together to share great food, good company, and encouragement from one another.

This year we enjoyed a three course meal at Hotel Soho in Hobart and heard from women who all use where God has put them in life to share his love with the people around him. We heard from mums with young kids who use the drop off and pick up time from school with great intent to meet other women. We also heard from women who work full time and how they minister to the people at their work, as well as the ups and downs of friendship evangelism.

It was a really great night of encouragement to keep going where God has put you in life and to use our everyday things in life for his glory.

Titus 2

Last thursday we had our first 'State dreaming' lunch for women's ministry. There were about eight of us, we shared lunch and fellowship, ideas and prayed for women's ministry in the South.

It was great. We will post the details for the next one if you are interested in coming along. We'd love to have you there.

There are some great things happening and some great things in the pipe line. There is a church who is currently running a T2 program - it sounds great. It is one older woman sharing her thoughts on different topics to the younger women in her congregation - real topics about real things that affect younger women, raising children, to be or not to be in the workforce, money, sex.
What a great program and we will continue to pray for it.
Recently I ran a table discussion on one-to-one discipleship and had one older woman who felt like she wanted to help the younger woman but didn't want to impose and two younger woman with young children on the table who would love an older woman to come along side of them and share their wisdom! I guess from that shows us that there is a real need out there and we all need to be ready to take up the calling! God gives us rich blessings in our community!

I promise to share some more of what we talked about another time

Belinda has been a Martha!

I have been having a crappy time. My personal walk with God has been somewhat lax, my stress levels have risen way too high, I have been disappointed at people, been saddened at people's lack of zeal, the list could go on and on.

This is not a post to feel anything for me but for me to stop my 'spiral' and point you to Christ.
I think that's where it's gone all wrong for me, this morning in His great mercy it was the story of Mary and Martha that in my reading plan - coincidence? I think not!

In some further readings to do with the story I came across this - 'the story is not meant to teach the value of a contemplative life compared with a life of action but to show that service to Jesus must not fill people's lives to such an extent that they have no time to learn from him'

I think I stopped myself from learning from him and replaced it with: look what I do for you!
Hmmmmm

Equip '09

Equip trip is over for another year & the question “was it worth it?” has been asked quite a few times. Is it really worth going all the way over to Sydney for a women’s conference??

Well, I have to say this year it definitely was. Not only was it a great conference, with really good speakers, it was just great to be apart of something so huge. There was so many Christian women learning & being encouraged from Gods word. & I am very happy to have been able to be one of them.

It also just showed the importance of doing women’s conferences, & how much worth does come from them, so that was a huge encouragement for me, being apart of the TWBC organisation.

So, yes it was worth it! & plus I got some great shopping done :)

The practice of godliness

In keeping with the theme (somewhat, you may say) I find this on the Equip Bookclub blogspot:


WISE WORDS from Jerry Bridges:
I have been in a full-time Christian ministry for well over twenty-five years and have served both overseas and in the United States. During this time I have met many talented and capable Christians, but I think I have met fewer godly Christians. The emphasis of our age is on serving God, accomplishing things for God. Enoch was a preacher of righteousness in a day of gross ungodliness, but God saw fit that the brief account of his life emphasized that he walked with God [Genesis 5:18-24]. What are we training ourselves for? Are we training ourselves only in Christian activity, as good as that may be, or are we training ourselves first of all in godliness?


(Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, NavPress (Colorado, Colorado Springs), 1996, pp 33-34.)

As a response to Belinda's previous post here are a few of my thoughts as a woman who is busy in the home with a husband & 3 young kids, but also works a part time job to help support the family and serves in the church as a women's worker. For me, I must help my husband, look after the kids and work, so ministry is the only thing I could possibly remove from my life.

On a regular basis I ask myself the question am I too busy because of the ministry I do? On every occasion I think through this issue, especially when it comes to the affect it might have on my kids, I am confronted by what being a Christian means for my life and for my kids.

How can I teach my kids to:

• Love others as Christ loves them without spending time with people and sacrificing for them
• Tell people about Jesus, when I dont put myself out there forming real long-term relationships with non-Christians are share my faith with them
• joyfully serve in Christian community when the only time I see other Christians is for two hours at church on Sunday
• Grow in their faith, when I put no effort into learning and being discipled in the Word and prayer on a daily basis
• Understand the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for them if it hasnt impacted my own life and I am not spurred on to sacrifice and take up my cross.

Yes, on a daily basis that means I teach my kids about God through family prayer and Bible reading and I spend quality time with them so that they feel like my most important ministry is them. This also means I need to make sure my own daily walk with God is strong. I am the first to admit that I have fallen short in these areas!

My faith, however, is the foundation of my life, and to teach and show my children real faith in Jesus I need to "live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God...(Col 1:10)" To this end I strive and for this reason I will be "busy" every day that God has graciously given me to serve Him. This is not a legalistic endeavour, but relies every minute on God's grace to forgive my shortcomings and give me strength! Along the way I will pray that God will cover my failings as a wife and mother and help me to grow and change to be more godly and to get the balance right.

As a child, like Belinda, I have only ever known busy Christian parents. Their sacrifice for the gospel has shown me true Christianity on a daily basis. Yes, sometimes they have been too busy, but I never felt neglected and my faith would not be what is it today without my parents showing me real gospel sacrifice in ther own lives. They continue to motivate me today to live for God wholeheartedly in all that I do.

I exist, and therefore my children exist, to serve and glorify God. How can I teach them this fundamental truth? By being a living example of this and so I will continue in my everyday ministries even though sometimes it will make me, perhaps, dare I say it, too busy!

Busy at home

I got my first “I’m too busy for Bible study this year” email recently. I have to be honest in saying that these kindof messages cut to my heart.
I do, however, need to be mindful, maybe they are too busy and it leads me to think about the issue of Christian women trying to balance the demands of everyday life.
My first reaction would be to ask: ‘what are you too busy with?”

There are definitely going to be circumstances when women will be busy but can those words leave our lips if we are Christian women? How can we be too busy not to be engaging with other Christian’s over God’s word?
How do we go about deciding what to do with our time?

Our priority, as Christian woman should be “to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds and souls” and for some of us women we are given the greatest privilege: part of showing our love for God is through the loving and serving of our husbands and children.
As women who are married and with children – our mandate, so to speak is to ‘seek the good’ of our family.

In my opinion what can be a better ‘good’ for our family (married or not we are all part of a family) than being a godly woman?

Here are some random thoughts and questions that you might find helpful in trying to balance everyday life.


Have I set aside time to read the bible and pray most days?

Prayer and bible reading are essentials!! It’s obvious – we can’t be profoundly influenced by what we don’t know. God has given us His word, the Bible, so that we might know what He is like and how we should live in fellowship with Him. Prayer is the means for us to respond and express out trust in Him.

Do I need to find/be employed in outside employment of the home?

For the benefit of the family some must find paid employment and in the same flavour – it may be beneficial for the woman to be working. The verse that comes straight to mind is Titus 2:5 “busy at home”. Some may interpret it to mean that it is inappropriate for the wife and mother to be employed outside the home. And for some wives and mother’s this may be the case, however what the author is advocating is that if one is to undertake the calling of wife and mother, she is too love and not neglect her husband and children.
Some women are able to fulfil this role as well as one outside the home

What the author of the text is opposing is being idle. The other verse that comes to mind is Proverbs 31. Proverbs 31 describes a wife and mother whose work for her family broadens far beyond the household tasks of the family home. (for example verses 16 and 24 “She considers a field and buys it…she plants a vineyard…She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesman”)
We see the woman in Proverbs working really hard to care and to fulfil her responsibility to her family and not only from the kitchen!

“Doing things/activities for God list”

Carolyn Mahaney (Feminine Appeal pg. 105) has some excellent questions to ask of every ministry opportunity:

“What are my reasons for considering this opportunity? Are they selfish or God-honouring?”


“Will pursuing this venture glorify God and honour the gospel?”

I would also add the question about the kid factor – how is this ministry gong to impact my family?

For instance when my kids were young a playgroup ministry run from our church was awesome, they came with me! In the same token we do however need to understand that when God’s priorities are ours there is going to be a cost. The bible is clear about that, my instinct is to protect them from the ‘costs’, however if we want them to grow up with a real faith in Jesus we need to prepare them for the “costs”.
I watched my parents give up days of work in order to meet the pastoral needs of members of the church I grew up in. They also assisted the homeless of our community and I never felt ‘duped’. I also observed my father praying on the couch each morning. These activities together showed me Christ.



How are you showing Christ to your family? How are you seeking good for your family?
Is your godliness showing through your busy weekly timetable?


Any thoughts?

TWBC Article

I have been asked to do a write up for Trowel & Sword on TWBC. So here is what I have done:

The Tasmania Women’s Bible Conference is exactly that! It’s an annual day conference held in Tasmania, for women whose desire is to have their minds, hearts, and lives shaped by the Bible. The conference is held both in the North (Launceston – 4th April) and in the South (Hobart 28th March) of the state.
Both were fantastic days where women of all ages and from all different churches came together to learn from Gods word and to encourage each other!

This year we heard Louisa Pfitzner (from Sydney), who gave two challenging talks from the book of 2 Peter on the topic of Knowing God. In the first talk we heard how we can know God truly through Jesus and we have to watch out that we don’t fall into false teaching which threatens our knowledge of God.

The second talk was how God has graciously given us knowledge about him. He has given us all that we need for knowledge and salvation. Yet knowledge still requires energy and hard work. Yes, we have life and godliness through grace, but we still have to make every effort to train in godliness. Grace and works must go together.

So, as you can see both of these talks were very challenging and it’s our prayer that all the women who went along would continue thinking about these things and will know God!

There was also a choice of electives to go to which ranged from the Trinity, to the existence of God, spiritual warfare, image and affluence, marriage, depression, and guidance. These were a great chance to hear from other women about different aspects of Gods character and to learn from each other more of what Gods word teaches us.

So, the conference is over for another year, but next years are already starting to get moving!! The dates are set for Saturday 20th March in the South and on the 27th March in the North, so for all those in Tassie, keep your date free!

What do you think? Any comments/questions/suggestions?

my sister's wardrobe

Just thought i would share with you an idea we are working on setting up for the ladies at Bay firstly as a social event but also with the longer term goal of it being a community / outreach event in the hall at blackmans bay. It has been done a fair bit on the mainland and is very well developed. Our ideas are still very young & will take some organising yet but we (El and I) reckon it could be a great opportunity.

Here is a link you can look at but i will (try) and explain it anyway.
http://www.clothingexchange.com.au/Site/Home.html

So.... basically it is like an exchange. Everyone is required to bring decent items (could be anything like clothes, shoes, accessories etc) to contribute to the 'stall'. For each item that you bring you are given a button (currency in the land of "my sisters wardrobe). For each button you have you are then able to take something home. Obviously it will work better the more people and things that are contributing.

Does this make sense? I guess we see it as a lead in - or a way to make real contacts in the actual community of Blackmans Bay (since none of us actually live there).

Hi

Hi girls - i am finally on!

Not really sure what i am doing though... will work it out over time i guess.

The Tasmanian Women's Bible Conference

The month is moving by very quickly - we are on the count-down now by just days. I wanted to share with you a few things:
Everyday we are getting a number of enrolments. This is an encouraging sign that the conference is coming in to it's own, so to speak. The vibe too, that we are getting is that people are excited and are looking forward to the day.

The elective speakers are working very hard on their subjects. They are praying that God will speak through them and how they present will not be a distraction to the subject. They are all meeting together tonight to share ideas, ask questions of each other and basically encourage each other in their roles. Thanks to Ali for organising this.

The musos are also coming together and thinking hard about the song choices. Thanks to Jo for this.

Jess (the admin whiz) has started printing name tags and the booklet is nearly finished! There are women in their churches who are promoting the day, there are women organising the book stall and other interesting 'bits' for morning and afternoon tea.

We thank God for all these people and we pray that He will strengthen them for their tasks leading up to the day. We are thankful too, for Louisa (our main speaker) for her efforts so far, we thank her mum for coming as well to look after her toddler and we pray that God will also protect them leading up to the day.

I am continually encouraged to see how God works even through the smallest of things. We will see you on the 28th!

It's not about you stupid

Recently in the Briefing (A Matthias media monthly magazine) there was a story about someone complaining about something in the church (forgive me for my lack of exact details I can't find the edition right now but you will get the gist!) and the response from the pastor was "It's not about you stupid" Who knows if this story is an urban myth but it's message is a timely one.

When we look at the church (and when I talk about church I am talking about anything related to the community: bible studies, one-to-one dicsipleship, fellowship) why is that our thoughts are - what can church do for me today?, rather than, what can I do for the church today? I think (and therefore am putting myself out here) if we were to think the later, lots of our issues with the church would cease. Let me give some examples that relate to Women's ministry (but not only).
If you are not happy in your bible study group, why?
Is it because the bible is not being studied? Then have a friendly quiet chat with the leader and make suggestions on how this can happen more and how you can help the situation. The same goes if the prayer time in your group is not going so well, be the one to model it! Make suggestions to the leader about things that have been helpful to you and then you may be given the chance to share that with the group.
Unfortunately, in my experience these are not the reasons why women are unhappy about their groups. It has more to do with the people in the group. Some of the stuff I have heard over time are:
"I am trying to find one where I fit in", "The other group has more fun", "I am just not ready to give of myself", "Some people in my group are just down right annoying", "There are two women in my group who are good friends and they don't include me"

Now, don't get me wrong I am a female too and friendships and fitting in are really tricky things aren't they. But is this why we meet over God's word and encourage each other? Is it really about me? The answer, of course is no. Church is about God, Jesus and loving His community, it's not about having my needs meet, about finding the exact 'fit' for a group (is this even a remote possibility?) or not being willing to give of ourselves.
- There are reasons why we are not willing to give of ourselves, but these are usually not about the group, per sue. And these are things that will need to be dealt with.

So, next time you come across a situation where you are not totally comfortable in the church community - ask yourself
How have I contributed to this situation? (we always contribute, be it small or large)
If we were in a perfect world how would I think this group should function? How can I change my behaviour to work towards this?
If there are women whom you are interested in getting to know better, go for it! Create opportunities for you both to spend time outside the group together, find out what interests you share, I don't know many women who would not be interested in making new friends.
If people are annoying you - pray! Pray that God will change your thought patterns, when they annoy you pray for their marriage, when they discuss a topic that you are not interested in - pray that you will be.
More importantly pray that you will love the women in your community with the love that Christ has shown you on the cross.
"Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it" 1 Corinthians 12:27

Rejection?

I am feeling a little rejected in my ministry today – but don’t feel sorry for me! It means that through me the Spirit of God is under fire because of the awesome things God has in store for His people.

Also – wasn’t Jesus Himself rejected in His home town?

Nb. These things help but it still sucks a little!

Tasmanian Women's Bible Conference

The Tasmanian Women’s Bible conference exists as a ‘day conference for women whose desire is to have their minds, hearts and lives shaped by the Bible.’

It began in 2005 and for two years it was a ‘night-away’ experience, with women all over the state attending. In 2007 the format changed to a day conference – one in Launceston and one in Hobart.

It is a day set aside for preaching and teaching of God’s word in order for the women in the area of Southern Tasmania to learn more about God and grow in their faith.

The women who attend, belong to different local churches from the South of the state, it is an inter-denominational organization.

This year it will be held on Saturday 28th March at Hope Christian Centre, Tasma Street, North Hobart.
The main speaker is Louisa Pfitzner from Sydney, it is great to have an interstate speaker, to remind us that we are not on our own in Tasmania, that there is a wider ministry in Australia that we are part of. She will speak to us from 1 Peter on the subject of 'Knowing God'

The day will begin at 9am, we will have both main talks in the morning (with a morning tea break inbetween) After lunch (again women can take advantage of cafes and such or take their own) there will two elective time slots. The theme for the day is ‘Knowing God’ and the practical electives ( all run by local women in this area) relate to this:

The sovereignty God (Jo Kelder)
The trinity (Alison Sayer)
Guidance (Ruth Jones)
A holy God – sin (Roxanne Maher)
The existence of God (Anne-Petra Green)
Spiritual warfare (Christina Flinn).

I have a great passion for this conference and hope that you might consider coming along this year. If you have any questions - post them! Or you can email us on twbcsouth@hotmail.com.

We look forward to hearing from you

Welcome to the Women's Ministry blog

Hi there and welcome. This blog was created for the team of women that oversee Women's ministry in the Kingborough Reformed Churches. It is also a great way for you to have your say on anything that is posted, to contribute ideas and thoughts. Most of us have never done this before but we look forward to sharing with you and in turn you sharing with us.

My name is Belinda Straatsma and I coordinate the ministry team. It is an awesome joy and privilege and I am thankful to our God for the opportunities that He gives me through this role. I also thank Him that it is with His strength that I can do anything at all!

So this blog will contain things specific for Women's ministry, ministry in general and occasionally a little window into my world! Enjoy.

Some thoughts on Women's Ministry...

Women's Ministry is the sort of thing that could conjure up in your mind all sort of images: women sipping lattes whilst discussing home renovations, trying to keep some order as hundreds of toddlers turn up to play group for the first time, or attempting to discuss the subject of sexual purity with a recently engaged young woman! Does the idea of women's ministry frighten you?? It does when I think of these possible scenarios!

Beyond the jokes, I think women's ministry is so much more and so much less. By so much more, I mean that we could simplify it to a few basic ministries like coffee time together, but its so much larger and broader than that. Its about meeting women's needs in all walks of life, whether Christians or non-Christian. It's about getting alongside those younger women who need encouragement and teaching, its about inviting the woman you just met at the gym over for dinner, its about connecting with women in the community by finding out the needs out there, its about sharing Jesus over coffee by being intentional in the everyday things we do with other women, and its about setting up ways in which other women can serve each other and share Jesus.

On the other hand, its so much simpler than it seems. In the end its about grace. The grace that extends from Jesus to all women, the grace that we rely on everyday to manage our own responsibilities at home/work, the grace that covers every wrong turn and stuff up I have and will make, and the grace to make a small difference in the lives of women both within the church and in the world we are trying to reach. I rest in this grace everyday cause otherwise I would break!

This quote is something I often read to encourage me and keep me going in ministry:

Hudson Taylor, missionary to China wrote:

"Who spoke of rest? There is rest above.

No rest on earth for me. On onto do

My Father's business. He, who sent me here,

Appointed me my time on earth to dwell,

And set me all my work for Him,

He will supply me with sufficient grace -

Grace to be doing, grace to be suffering,

Not to be resting. There is rest above.