Is your church's women's program vibrant? In need of a makeover? Just getting started? Davis's flexible resource offers a proven plan to enhance, revitalize, and inspire any size ministry! Filled with ideas for discipleship, missions, fellowship, and special events, it includes sample forms, surveys, notes for small churches, evaluation tools, leadership tips, and more. 208 pages, softcover from B&H.

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Author: Diana Davis
Located in: Indianapolis IN
Submitted: April 21, 2008

    Tell us a little about yourself.   I'm a Christian woman who's seen our great God do amazing things! As the wife and mother of three adult children, I've seen the difference God can make in a family. As the wife of the Indiana Baptist Convention's executive director, I have great opportunities to see God at work in churches across our state. As I've traveled across the world (last month to Cuba), I've seen God at work through His churches and His people everywhere. I love encouraging Christians to love Him and serve Him more. I write for numerous Christian publications, and my first book, Fresh Ideas--1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church (B&H '07) is in its third printing. After graduating from Dallas Baptist University, I married Steve Davis. We served as pastor and wife in a new church plant and in a small, medium and large church. I have a great passion for seeing God's people love and serve Him with great joy.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  After leading women's ministry in our churches for many years, I've seen the widespread, positive impact it can have. We began women's ministry programs in two churches, and saw exciting results! This book tells the story of beginning and growing these vibrant, upward-and-outward-focused women's ministries. Our women's ministry impacted our church growth. It built Christian friendships. It encouraged women to grow as Christians. It ignited a missions fire. And the entire community noticed as our ladies spread across the town to minister to others in Jesus' name. Being a part of a purposeful women's ministry is exciting.My motivation behind this project is to encourage women's ministry leaders to "bump it up a notch" and challenge women to a higher level of serving Him. Sure, it's easier to just have an occasional girls' night out or social event. But a great women's ministry involves not only great Christian friendship and fellowship, it also helps a woman grow spiritually and personally, provides hands-on opportunities for ministry in His name, and broadens her heart for evangelism and missions in her community and world. Our women's ministry helped grow our church. It resulted in new Christians. It helped our church to reach into our community with His love. Not only did women enjoy great Bible study and personal growth, they gained a new heart for missions, and they used their skills and talents to minister to others in Jesus' name. So my motivation behind this project is simple: to challenge churches to add the "M" (ministry) to their Women's Ministry. A great women's program is worth the effort.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?   I'm praying that you will be inspired to begin or improve a women's ministry in your church. And that it will provide opportunities for women to serve others in Christ's name, to grow as Christians and as friends, and to impact their families, community and world for Him. Using our church's women's ministry as an example, the book challenges churches to create a WM that fits their own unique church. You'll find lots of organizational tidbits and idea-starters and testimonies. I've shared short stories and charts and lists. And you'll be inspired to create a purposeful, active, organized women's program with an eternal purpose.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  As I've worked and watched and written about women's ministry, I'm reminded of the untapped possibilities that are awaiting many churches. I was flabbergasted as I talked with women who have been involved in our church's programs over the years. Over and over I heard the same words -- "women's ministry made a great difference in my life."

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?   I'm most inspired by real-life women who are busy about God's work in their local church. (That's where ministry happens!) And I enjoy reading Randy Singer, Rick Warren, Thom Rainer, Elmer Towns, Mary Kassian, Beth Moore, Karen Howard, Vicki Courtney...so many great books!

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:   So here’s my challenge to you, dear friend: Read every word of the book, select the portions that fit your church, and do it! Don’t just study about women’s ministry or dabble in it or dream about it. Forget the "sit and soak" mentality of yesteryear. Create a life-changing, family-changing, church-changing, world-changing women's ministry. Entice professional women and mommies and grannies and singles to attend. Make every minute worthwhile and purposeful. And don’t leave “ministry” out of women’s ministry. Seek God’s direction and begin or improve your church’s women’s ministry this year.

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