One of the fastest growing needs in churches is in the area of Crisis Ministries. A Women's Ministry has a unique place in meeting these special needs of women.

Last week we asked you what type of crisis outreach and ministries your church provides and here are some of the answers we received.

From Angela... I head up an outreach ministry within our Bible study group to a rehab center for ladies overcoming their drug and alcohol addictions. We go once a month and do a Bible study/craft time with them. Also, we go biweekly and teach knitting to the ladies. It has been a wonderful ministry to be a part of and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in the coming year.

From Janice... Last September we started a Bible Study and Life Skills Classes for women in the county jail. Through this we learned of needs the women when they are released. We have helped with mentoring, rehab, transportation and etc. The needs we see are: a Half-Way type house, Life Skills Class, Skills Class, and a Recovery Program. We are starting a Recovery Program through a counselor from our church; and we will offer Life Skills and Skills Classes starting in September. Future goals include a Half-Way House. We are in a small rural county in Tennessee and last week we were asked to help come up with a plan for our County to meet the needs of women that have been jail to reduce the return rate.

From LeeAnne... We have started a ministry to mothers of prodigals here at our church this year. It is called HeartCry. We are reaching out to moms with broken hearts who are dealing with feelings of shame, guilt, failure, grief and loss, anger, fear and worry. We want to help in dealing with family stress and developing coping strategies. But most of all we want them to know they are not alone. Our goal is to help them maintain hope and restore normalcy to their daily routine. We also discuss reconciliation and forgiveness. This year our group met twice a month in the evenings and discussed the book, The Hope of a Homecoming by O'Rourke and Sauer.

From Cindy... Our church offers AA meetings, Divorce Care, Grief Share Support Groups, Widows Only Grief Share Support Group, Infertility Support Group, Adoption Support Group, Cancer Support Groups, and Post-Abortion Support Group.

All of these groups fall under the umbrella of our pastoral care ministries except for the Widows Only Grief Group and the Post-Abortion Support Group which are offered through Women's Ministry.

From Maria... PreVail Women's Support Group for Pregnancy Loss & Infertility PreVail is peer-led by women who have faced these difficulties themselves. Our goal is to not let anyone bear these burdens alone, but together share, cry, comfort, pray, and find healing in God.

This ministry was started after a good friend and I both had miscarriages, and there were no support groups in the area for this type of thing. Two of our friends in church both suffer from infertility, and neither of them could find support in our community for that, either. After researching Bible studies, I found that both issues are often addressed together, so we started one group to cover both topics. We meet once a month, and the group is open to anyone in our community. We do a joint Bible study, then we break up into small groups for discussion.

This is a sampling of the answers we received. It was great to hear that so many of you have a heart for women in need. Blessings to you!

In Him.... Robyne Beaubien

This week's question.
Most of the time I think of what I don't have, rather than what I do have. How can I learn to be grateful rather than sour?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

Last week's question.
I get distracted so frequently. What's going on?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

This idea was originally published in Issue 122 in June 2002.

Special Event Idea: What Kind of Tater Are You?

Description: A simple activity for a women's night/day out. Potatoes are the theme! You can plan your program or devotional around all kinds of tater personalities:

*Agie Tater - always stirring up trouble
*Hezzie Tater - never gets around to doing anything
*Dick Tater - likes to give orders but don't want to soil their own hands
*Comment Tater - not willing to help but are quick to criticize
*Speck Tater - content to sit on the sidelines & not participate in any ministry
*Sweet Tater - always willing to help, brings sunshine to lives of others, displays fruit of the Spirit

The invitations can have pictures of different kinds of potatoes on them such as potato chips, French fries, baked potatoes, hash browns, sweet potatoes, etc. Ladies can each bring copies of their favorite potato recipes to share.

An ice breaker idea is to play 'Hot Potato.' Ideal refreshments are all things potato including... potato chips & dip, potato skins, sweet potato cheesecake squares, and sweet potato bread. Potato scrubbers and potato peelers work well as door prizes to give away. At the end of the evening, give everyone a small container of Pringles and plenty of recipes to take home.

More relevant than the latest issue of Vogue, Beauty by The Book, a new 7-week, DVD-based Bible study by Laurie Cole, teaches you the dos and don'ts of true beauty - biblical beauty. Preview workbook and video samples now!

Do you desire a more effective, intimate relationship with God? Discover the joy and blessing of fearing the Lord through the nine-week interactive study Before His Throne. Author and speaker Kathy Howard challenges you to fear God and nothing else!

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Fresh Grounded Faith Women's Conference

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.

Here is this week's question:

Bible studies have been traditionally offered in our church facilities. Now, for many reasons, leaders are exploring other venues for hosting studies. Please indicate the reasons you might choose the following venues as possible Bible study locations.

Answer the question HERE.

Here are the results from recent polls.

We're a curious bunch around here, so we just love it when you respond to our poll questions and let us know what you're up to. Our most recent poll asked, "What are you working on planning right now?" Your responses tell us that you're busy out there. Here's what we learned.

Interesting Finding: Many of you told us about other plans you're making. These included developing a team, preparing discipleship classes, initiating a prayer ministry, making selections for book clubs, planning upcoming retreats and conferences, compiling budgets, preparing a full 2009 schedule, networking with other leaders, starting a ministry for working women, training your leadership team, beginning plans for a 2010 event. Looks like you're in just about every stage and phase of ministry. We hope that these insights will help you as you plan for the future of women's ministry in your church.

"Please rate how helpful the following networking opportunities would be to you." Here are the top five answers. All of these had not only the highest vote percentage but were also all ranked to be extremely useful:

"Which of the following will you do this summer?"

• Develop a planning calendar for the rest of the year - 40%
• Set goals with my leaders - 39%
• Meet with church leadership to communicate goals, objectives and needs - 35%
• Go to the beach and forget everything for a little while!!! - 34%
• Attend a conference for my own personal enrichment - 34%
• Produce promotional ideas for fall studies, events, etc. - 31%
• Take a break from ministry to refresh myself - 30%
• Review Bible studies for spring 2009 - 25%
• Book a speaker for a spring 2009 event - 19%
• Determine a theme for fall 2008 - 18%
• Determine a theme for spring 2009 - 17%
• Book a speaker for a fall 2008 event - 17%
• Go on a mission trip - 10%

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.

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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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