For a practical guide to starting and sustaining a women’s ministry, see our women’s ministry guide for small churches.

For a practical guide to building a men’s ministry from scratch, see our men’s ministry guide for small churches.

For more on honoring and equipping women in your church, see our guide to deacon wives and women in small church ministry.

By Brent Lacy

Women’s ministry in a small church often starts the same way.

One woman says, “We should do something for the women of this church.” A few others agree. Someone volunteers to lead it. And then everyone waits for it to become a program.

It does not have to be a program. It just has to be real.

60% of small church volunteers are women. (Barna Group)

1 in 2 women in small churches report wanting deeper community with other women in the church.

Start with One Thing

The most common mistake in starting a women’s ministry is trying to do too much too soon. A Bible study, a prayer group, a service project, a retreat, a mentoring program, all at once.

Pick one thing. Do it well. Let it grow.

The best starting point is usually a Bible study. It is low-cost, easy to organize, and meets the most common need: women who want to go deeper in Scripture with other women who understand their lives.

Building a Core Team

You need three to five women who are committed to making this happen. Not just interested. Committed.

Look for women who are already serving faithfully in the church, who have relational credibility with other women, and who have time to invest. Do not recruit based on availability alone. Recruit based on character and passion.

Programs That Work in Small Churches

Bible Study

A weekly or biweekly Bible study is the foundation of most healthy women’s ministries. Keep it simple. Choose a book of the Bible or a solid study guide. Meet in a home or at the church. Provide childcare if possible.

Prayer Ministry

A women’s prayer group, even just four or five women meeting monthly, can become one of the most spiritually powerful ministries in the church. Prayer does not require a budget or a program. It requires commitment.

Mentoring Relationships

Pair older women with younger women for intentional mentoring relationships. Titus 2:3-5 describes this as a core function of older women in the church. It does not require a formal program. It requires intentional matchmaking and a structure for accountability.

Service Projects

Women’s ministry that only looks inward eventually stagnates. Build in regular opportunities to serve the community. A meal for a family in crisis. A care package for a college student. A project for a local shelter. Service creates unity and keeps the ministry outward-focused.

Seasonal Events

An annual women’s retreat, even a simple one-day event at a local park or retreat center, gives women something to look forward to and creates space for deeper conversation than a weekly study allows.

What the Pastor Can Do

The pastor’s role in women’s ministry is to support, not to lead. Here is what that looks like.

• Affirm women’s ministry publicly and consistently from the pulpit.
• Provide theological input when asked, but do not control the direction.
• Remove obstacles. If the women’s ministry needs the fellowship hall on Tuesday nights, make it happen.
• Celebrate what God is doing through the women of the church.

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