Last Wednesday I spent the day with the wonderful people of 100 Huntley Street in Ontario, Canada. My Dr. Phil and I were on their live morning show. Then I taped another show, and ten "Truth To Go" segments to air in May.

The reason I mention this is because those people that make up 100 Huntley Street are some of the finest servants of Christ I've ever met.

They conduct their television ministry with ultimate professionalism. They demonstrate such unity and Godliness and all have such a sweet spirit about them.

It is refreshing to see such a beautiful combination of skill, excellence and spiritual commitment. My deepest thanks go to John, George, Johanna, Doug, Moyra, Ann, Ron, Elizabeth, Norm and all the unnamed folks who were the invisible hands that served Christ that day together with us.

When ministries grow, an unwelcome peril can arise. It's the temptation to give up some spiritual freshness in order to gain skill and professionalism. Or, sometimes ministries sacrifice excellence and professionalism on the premise that to be spiritual means you don't pay attention to those surface things like excellence.

Huntley Street maintains both, showing that professionalism and spiritual depth are not mutually exclusive. They set a high standard that I and others in ministry should model.

So, during the day I watched and wondered; "What makes them different? How do they do both so well?"

I believe the secret is in something they initiated, and that we did many times together that day... pray.

First thing in the morning, the driver pronounced a blessing over us as we entered the studio. In the green room with the hosts, we circled and each prayed. It wasn't just an obligatory "bless our day" kind of praying! These people prayed as if this were their very first and possibly their last show.

As we sat off the set, waiting for our time to join the show in progress, the Guest Coordinator knelt before us and prayed again. When we stepped onto the set, just before the interview, off camera, the host prayed with us.

Just an hour later, when I filmed the second show, the hosts prayed again on the set with me. When I filmed the "Truth To Go" segments after lunch, the director prayed for me, and our efforts once again.

I think that's what sets Huntley Street apart. They do their jobs with their heads bowed, eyes closed and on their knees! It is an effective way to conduct a television ministry!

I did the math. Six hours, six prayers!

I was blessed, convicted and inspired to conduct the ministry that God entrusted to me with my head bowed, on my knees with my eyes closed also!

Women in ministry, may we go forth and do likewise!

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Blessings and Joy,
Jennifer Rothschild
Author of Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, and Founder of WomensMinistry.NET

The best information we receive about the nuts and bolts of Women's Ministry is when we hear what you all are doing "in the trenches." Our weekly poll is your opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with all of our subscribers!

Each week we ask a question, and share a link for you to post your answers. The following week we provide a link where you can see the results of the question, along with a new question. It takes just a minute, and your input is immediately added.

This week's question is:

How do you determine which Bible studies you will offer at a given time?

Answer the question HERE.

Here are the results from recent polls.

Last week we asked, "How frequently do you provide training for your team leadership and/or Bible study leaders?" Here's what you said:

• Once every two years - 4%
• At least once a year - 30%
• More than once a year - 17%
• Whenever we can - 16%
• Never - 33%

Interesting Findings: Almost half (47%) of Bible study leaders are receiving training once a year or more, while one-third receive none. We find that training leaders ignites passion and strengthens their gift. Keep up the good work, and give a Bible study leader a pat on the back today!

Which of the following do you feel the greatest need for in your ministry right now?

 

• Greater involvement of the women to whom I minister 54%
• Other women to partner with me 38%
• Opportunities to learn how to be a stronger leader 24%
• Knowing how to balance time along with other commitments (family, career, etc.) 24%
• Support of church leadership 18%

Interesting Findings: Women who have been involved in leading women's ministry for less than 10 years identified their greatest need as "greater involvement of the women to whom they minister." Women who have been in leadership for 10 years or more say their greatest need is "other women to partner with them."

Another recent poll question focused on you, as a leader. Take a look and see how other leaders responded. Looks like we all share similar concerns.

Which of the following would you most like to improve in personally?

• Helping others share the vision for ministry 62%
• Understanding the needs of the women in my ministry 55%
• Knowing how to reach out to different generations 51%
• Finding capable leaders 43%
• Being able to motivate my team 36%
• Staying current with our culture 20%

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Self Talk, Soul Talk Blog

Check out this fun icebreaker all about decorating; and then guess whose kitchen is pictured here. Is it Jennifer's....Robyne's....
Becky's.... or Kathryn's? The answer is below!

Objectives: To explore the connection between how we perceive women, and how they decorate their home. Okay, there will probably be some laughter and fun involved too.

Materials: Pictures of rooms provided by women.

Procedure: After finding out that one of our Pastor's room was decorated in an animal print we thought about what other "secrets" women were hiding in their houses.

You can find women in your church with a room in their house that is a little different from what you would expect, take pictures and have the women guess who's it is.

wmNote: You can also ask women to bring a picture of a room in their house that best expresses who they are... and again, let everyone try to match the room with the lady. You can post the pictures on a board with numbers beside them and give each woman a paper with a list of names for them to match to the pictures.

Whose room is it? If you guessed Robyne's, you're right! She also begs your forgiveness for her messy counter, but we appreciate her willingness to let us into her home.

Java with Jennifer is an informal monthly ministry update specifically for friends who want to keep up-to-date on what is happening with Jennifer Rothschild's ministry of writing, speaking, and singing.

Obviously, because you are receiving this eNewsletter, you are signed up for the Jennifer's "weekly" WomensMinistry.NET eNewsletter. However, if you want to get up close, and personal with Jennifer, just click on the Update Profile link at the bottom of this email, and select the Java with Jennifer interest group when asked to update your profile.

Still not sure?

See the Latest Issue here.

This idea was sent in by Susan Burk.... thanks Susan!

Spring brings warmer weather and sunshine to even the dark corners of our homes! We all know what that means. It's time to spring clean!

We set up a table at our church for four weeks in the Spring and ask people to turn in nominations of someone who would benefit from a spring cleaning.

We pick four winners; and on two Saturdays we clean two of the homes. Each Saturday we have a different group of cleaning ladies. We bring our mops and buckets and we clean floors, toilets, and everything else. We do stain treatments and help organize one room for that person.

Who wouldn't love a free spring cleaning crew?

This is a great outreach to those outside the church as well as a great tool to use for reaching people within the church. What a wonderful way to show love without spending a dime but giving our time and hard work instead.

Someone Has to Win... Why Not You!

When you visit our Featured Sponsor link, you will automatically be entered to win a free book, cd, or other resource from WomensMinistry.NET.

We randomly select the winner from those that click through the featured sponsor links in last week's issue.
This week's winner is...gregsarahjones@hot...

reaching more than 20,000 influential women's ministry leaders across the world. Click here for Advertising Rates

Here's what some of our recent Ad Sponsors are saying:

" ...got a call from a woman in Mississippi this morning who called in her order since her dial-up was slow. When I asked her if she saw the product at the EWomen Conference in October, she replied that she read about them in Jennifer Rothchilds' newsletter. She's introducing them to her church's bookstore and expressed such complimentary things about Driving Reflections...I'm so happy that I ran the ad!"
- Jane Brown, President, Get It In Your Soul, Inc.

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From one tool to another, I thank you from the very depths of my heart for your wonderful article, "Tool Talk." It was amazing timing on God's part as I am sitting in a hotel room right this very minute. This weekend, I am one of two speakers at a conference in North Carolina. By the way, they found me through womensministry.net and flew me in from California. May God continue to use and bless your fabulous ministry! ~ Dori Drabek

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