This is a great ministry you can use to minister to single soldiers in your church who are deployed overseas.

This is as simple as it sounds. The family, couple or person who adopts a soldier commits to pray for and stay in contact with the soldier while they are away. You can ask people to commit to one year or the entire tour-of-duty.

Be sure to get correct mailing addresses and even email addresses for your soldiers. Regular contact from home is one of the most treasured things you can give someone who is away.

Our family has adopted a soldier and we send her weekly emails and monthly care packages. Here are some things I have learned in the past eight months.

Prayer is what she values the most. She has said several time that she loves knowing we are praying for her safety and God's best for her life.

Little things mean a lot. One month we tucked 31 small envelopes in her package. They were for her to open once a day over the next month and the members of our family took turns writing her a sentence or two of encouragement and included a Bible verse. She loved these little cards and saved them to read again and again.

If you send goodies, send lots. The first package we sent had a dozen cookies. A few weeks later we received a thank you card from our soldier that was signed by ten of her "closest friends" thanking us for the cookies. We now send at least six dozen, vacuum sealed, to keep them fresh.

Send pictures. Soldiers love pictures from home and love to share them. We have sent pictures via email and hard copies in letters. Pictures of the first iris blooming in our front yard, a storm blowing in, the kids dressed up in silly clothes, etc.

Other things to send in care packages: favorite foods they cannot get where they are, paperback books, personal care items (We love the small sizes of lotions, bath gels, etc.), and Bible studies. Remember, most of what you send will need to be used while they are there, or possibly left for others to enjoy.

Let people know what you are doing and they will most likely want to share in the giving! I was buying some items at a local department store and when the manager found out where I was sending the items, she gave me a bag full of cosmetic, skin care and perfume samples to send "to the girls."

If you know someone who owns or manages a business, don't be afraid to let them know what you are doing and ask them if they would like to send something. Be sure to include the business name and address on a card that says "these ___ are from..." The store manager said that she cried when she received a thank you note from the soldiers who enjoyed her gift.

Be prepared for blessings! You will be blessed to share in the life of a young person serving our country. If they have a supportive family, they will be doubly blessed; if they come from a broken home, they will become part of your family!

In Him... Robyne Beaubien

This week's question.
I have negative or destructive thoughts about myself. Is it possible to change this?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

Last week's question.
Is it normal to be jealous of my friends who have more than me?

View Jennifer's Video Answer

This week we bring you an article by Marshele Carter Waddell, who knows first hand about the challenges facing military families in our churches.

Within two months of his return from his first tour in Iraq, my husband began to show signs of post- traumatic stress disorder. At first I was confused. I didn't know how to interpret his behavior or comments. During the next two years, I experienced all the emotions involved in the grief process.

I was angry at him for his lack of self-control, for hurting my feelings, for emotionally scarring the children, for embarrassing me in front of others, for denying the existence of a problem and for his refusal to get help. Also, I was angry at the unseen entity, the invisible force that was holding my best friend, my lover, and my children's father hostage.

I wrestled with guilt. I reasoned that if I were a better wife, I would be handling this crisis with more grace, forgiveness, and tenderness. Frankly, I was sick and tired of it, and wanted to walk out. Part of me wanted to quit, to leave, to stop helping him, to stop loving him, to stop praying for him.

Four years have now passed. We have both benefited from individual counseling, the on-going prayer support of committed family and friends, and the healing that only time can bring.

Take it from a military spouse who has been there. We desperately need the love and patience of our family members and friends as we work to save our marriages and families which are caught in the crossfire of PTSD.

Here are several ways that others can reach out to a military member, or spouse, who may feel confused or hopeless in these trials:

• Reassurance - All relationships are at risk after trauma. Your friend needs to reconnect with family members, friends and her community. Reassure your friend of your love for her and of your commitment to walk through this valley by her side. Remind her of God's unfailing love for her and His precious promises to her.
• Rest - Offer to care for your friend's children one afternoon a week. Partner with a few others to do housework or yard work. Invite her for quiet conversation and a cup of tea at your kitchen table.
• Replenishment of Physical Needs - Surprise her with a gift certificate for a manicure or a pedicure. Deliver a nourishing dinner to her door.
• Renewed Outlook - Stay positive in all you say and do around your friend. Be a good listener and keep a hope-filled attitude.
• Patience - Your friend has been psychologically injured. Like broken bones, wounded hearts must heal from the inside out. This takes time and endurance.
• Prayer - Ask God for wisdom and creativity to help your friend know that she is not alone, that she is not crazy, and that healing is attainable.

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Beauty by The Book Bible Study by Laurie Cole

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:

What is the most effective means of communicating about women's ministry activities to the women in your church?

Answer the question HERE.

Here are the results from recent polls.

Since one of the goals of strong leaders is to develop more leaders, we've been considering how this happens among women in ministry. So we decided to inquire a little about how you interact with the women who help you make ministry happen. Our most recent poll question asked, "How often do you meet with your leadership team?" Take a look at these responses...

 

Interesting Finding: You also gave us some insight into the commitment level of your team. More than half of you described the women who lead alongside you as "passionate." Another quarter expressed that you serve with a "dutiful" group of leaders. And 20% indicated that they have encountered a "mediocre" or "apathetic" response from the women with whom they lead.

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others." With God Himself as the ultimate inspiration, we pray that you'll keep sharing your dreams, vision and calling with the women God has given you to serve.

Indicate the reasons why you might choose a particular venue as possible Bible study locations.

• 90% chose church for convenience
• 72% chose church for enjoyment
• 63% chose restaurant for enjoyment
• 68% chose bookstore for outreach
• 91% chose home for intimacy
• 81% chose outdoors for enjoyment

Interesting Finding:
Other possible venues included public schools, nursing homes, libraries, bed and breakfasts, public meeting rooms, workplaces, and hotel conference rooms.

"What are you working on planning right now?"

• Summer 2008 Activities 56%
• Fall 2008 Bible Studies 55%
• Fall 2008 Event 53%
• Outreach Opportunities 39%
• Mentoring Ministry 24%
• Spring 2009 Event 21%
• Spring 2009 Bible Studies 17%
• Mission Trip 5%

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.

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Description: To Tell the Truth--the concept seems quite simple, but is it so simple to decide if someone is telling you the truth?

We all like to think we can see right through a person if they are telling us a fib, but can we really tell the difference between truth and fabrication?

This activity can be done in small or large groups.

Ask everyone to share three things about themselves with the group--one that is true, two that are not so true!

Life experiences work well, such as traveling around the world or meeting the President of the United States.

Present each experience in a convincing manner, giving specific details for all three. The other group members must then decide which one is the truth!

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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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