Resource Toolkit
3. Community Impact
This is the third in a series of articles on key elements in relevant women’s ministries.
A question that forces us to grapple with how impactful we are in our communities is, “Would the community notice if our church or women’s ministries didn’t exist?” That question can make us uncomfortable. But, being uncomfortable is not a bad place to be. It’s the starting place to move us to action.
Have we taken time to prayerfully consider how we can make a difference in the communities where we are? Jesus has asked us to go into the world with the message of the gospel – the hope of the world. He’s put loving our neighbor right alongside loving God. We all agree with that. The question is, who is my neighbour and what does it look like to love her?
When we look at Jesus’ response to the expert in the law in the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10), we come to understand that a neighbor is one in need and being a good neighbor, means walking with the person in need to a place of health and wholeness. That requires being up close and personal with those in need. How many relationships do we have with marginalized and needy people in our communities? Rodolpho Carrasco says in “Some Habits of Highly Effective Justice Workers”[1] “The best way to get closer to doing justice for the poor is, quite simply, to get closer.”
If these are things you have never considered, here’s a few ideas on how to get started.
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Bring the women in your church together to discover how any of them are already involved in their communities. You will be surprised at what you find out. It may be that through one of their established community connections, you may find greater opportunities to build on a relationship that already exists.
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Focus on a study of what the Bible has to say about this. God’s Word convicts, teaches, motivates and guides us. A study that encourages participation in God’s agenda will result in transformation in us and in our communities. Check out www.ChristianBibleStudies.com for "A Counterculture for the Common Good" – it’s a series of 6 studies that will challenge and motivate you.
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Do some research in your city or community on where and what the needs are. Taking a trip to the local soup kitchen, food bank or women’s shelter is a good place to start. Just picking up your local newspaper will alert you to needs that you may be very able to address.
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Make a decision to take one step towards community impact this year. Even if it’s just accomplishing number one or two above.
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Don’t wait for someone else to take the lead. Do what God is asking you to do.
It’s wonderful to hear of communities that are being impacted through women’s ministries. A group in Winnipeg is meeting the needs of pregnant teens which has opened the doors for involvement in a teen parenting class at the local high school. A ministry in Vancouver is focusing on the sex trade by coming alongside prostitutes, providing rehab groups for johns and pushing for reform in our civil laws. What started out as a weekly Bible study at a women’s shelter led to involvement with sex trade workers in downtown Grande Prairie. Another group in Ontario is meeting the significant needs of one family in their community. All of these ministries began because someone opened her eyes to the needs God was showing her in her community.
Would these communities notice if these churches were not there? Absolutely YES!!
[1] Christianity Today, February 2006, Vol. 50, No. 2, Page 46