by Replicate: Imagine how different the story might have read had Jesus chosen to disciple twelve women instead of twelve men. I am certain there would have been more detailed questions and discussion!

By God’s design, women think differently, have different emotional needs, interact differently and process things differently than men. Because women can understand and naturally relate to one another, it’s easier for them to engage in a discipleship relationship with other women. The goal of discipleship is to produce fully devoted followers of Christ who will then go and make disciples. What do women’s discipleship groups look like?

This blog is from our partner Replicate. Sign up here to get updates sent to your inbox about ministries like theirs so you can grow as a disciple maker.

Jesus is our model and the Holy Spirit is our Helper in discipleship. Jesus poured into the lives of His disciples and taught them how to love, pray, trust, minister, and serve. These practices would be needed for the time when He would no longer be standing beside them. Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers and to be our Helper as we follow Him (John 14:25-26; 16:13-14).
Accountability is essential. Effective discipleship takes place when a small group of 4-5 women gather for the purpose of helping one another “grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). To maintain the spiritual disciplines, we need other women encouraging us along the way. Discipline is a word we love to hate. Knowing we will have to quote the verses we have memorized and share what we had learned from God’s Word motivates us. In return, God blesses our obedience and reveals more of Himself to us (John 14:21; 15:4-8).
Teaching women God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. It has the power to divide between soul and spirit, joint and marrow, and to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Our pastor likes to say, “Get into the Word until the Word gets into you.” To become self-feeders, women must learn how to study and apply God’s Word for themselves.
Guiding women to develop spiritual disciplines, such as prayer and memorizing Scripture. Prayer and Scripture are the most powerful tools we have in our arsenal to fight against the enemy (Eph. 6:10-18). In a discipleship relationship, women learn to use these tools effectively.
Helping women discover and use their spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit imparts spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:6-7). When women discover and begin using the gifts God has given them, they are more apt to engage in their churches and communities.
Launching women to serve locally and globally. Jesus said, “You are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the uttermost parts of the world,“ (Acts 1:8). A witness is someone who tells what they know they to be true. As women study God’s word, they discover who God is and who they are in Christ. Prepared to share the Christ-life with others, the process begins all over again as we become disciples who make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2).

Originally posted on Replicate’s blog here. Used by permission.

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Source: What Does a Women’s Discipleship Group Look Like?

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by Leadership Network: “You have the opportunity to give women the clarity they need to lead fully and confidently, for the benefit of your entire church.” – Kadi Cole

What would your church look like in the future if it were to maximize the dormant gifts of the women God has brought there? In Developing Female Leaders, Kadi Cole, twenty-year veteran in leadership and people development, offers a practical strategy to help church and organizational leaders craft cultures that facilitate the development of women as volunteer and staff leaders.

Kadi’s career in ministry leadership had a shocking, but not all that uncommon beginning. In Developing Female Leaders, she shares her story along with interviews and surveys of more than one thousand women in key church and organizational roles, combined with current research, to create eight easy-to-implement “best practices” that help accelerate a woman’s organizational contribution.

The following is an excerpt from Developing Female Leaders: Navigate the Minefields and Release the Potential of Women in Your Church.

Usually when I speak at a conference or lead a training at a church, it is the female leaders who are excited to connect and talk about my personal journey, especially how I ended up leading at high levels in churches that were not publicly open to having women in positions of leadership. But more and more lately, I have been approached by male senior pastors and executive leaders asking me questions about what they can do to help develop the young female leaders on their staffs and in their congregations. I talk about pipelines and training, getting women leaders out of administrative/secretarial titles, and how to cast vision and provide clarity about the issue with their teams. As we talk, they will typically nod and take notes. Usually, they will have a couple of follow-up questions, and sometimes offer a description of the existing women on their team and an explanation of what they have done so far to help them grow as leaders. That’s when it will get weird. I actually hear things like:

• “I promoted her to my assistant so she can sit in on the executive team meetings.”

• “I assume we will only have her for a couple more years until she starts having kids.”

• “I asked my wife (who does not work at the church) to start mentoring her.”

• “She comes on a little strong, which makes our team nervous.”

• “I talked with her husband to see if she’d be willing to increase her hours.”

• “I didn’t want her to feel awkward being the only girl, so we didn’t bring her.”

• “We have a big women’s ministry, so she gets what she needs spiritually there.”

• “We were going to give her a promotion, but she became pregnant, and we didn’t want to overload her with a baby on the way.”

It always takes me by surprise. These are really amazing men— the highest-level leaders in their churches. They are intelligent, love the Lord, have great people skills, and are trying like crazy to make a way for the female talent they see on their teams.

But here’s what I have come to realize: they meant well, but they simply did not know what they did not know. I am calling it “lovingly ignorant.” How could these leaders be expected to do things differently if they did not understand why these perspectives and actions are not helpful?

Order your copy today and start developing female leaders in your church.

Kadi Cole is a strategist with a passion for developing people and teams. As an organizational consultant, leadership coach and LifePlan facilitator, Kadi helps individuals and teams uncover their God- given purpose and develop a plan toward fulfilling it. With over 30 years in ministry leadership and a life-long student of what it takes to move, motivate and manage teams, Kadi provides a down-to-earth approach to equipping leaders, building ministry teams and developing effective systems.

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Source: You’re Hurting the Female Leaders in Your Church (and You Don’t Know It)

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