Loving and reaching women...

women
Originally uploaded by ericblauer.

Our people (i.e. women) must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs. So that they will not be unfruitful.
-Titus 3:14

So as we enter the 2nd year of life as a church, we are are taking time to really focus on what the "pressing needs" of our people and community are. Women are crazy busy these days and trying to program their lives can be tough, working out the balance of have too's and want too's is tricky. I really believe that the closeness we long for as people and a church is going to be found in doing stuff together that enriches the lives of others and in the process deepens our own relationships together. 

Maybe sitting together in a room and talking isn't always the path towards healing or real transformative growth. How much talk is ultimately really involved in change? How much sharing could be around, before and after and even during sharing a ministry project or event? Maybe we could approach gathering people around a project vs a weekly meeting that would have a begin and end not an endless unspoken requirement to attend for ever...isn't that one of the issues that keep people away from small groups and even church sometimes? A feeling of having to marry the group. Possibly our demographic these days would respond better to working together, sharing or serving on a ministry project that has a time line. 

I think women want to feel like their lives matter...beyond and in addition to their immediate families. Maybe we could include our daughters in projects or ministry events that bring us together even more and show our daughters how to not only talk but work. Work & Witness activities are needed to bring a healthy balance to any demographic in the church. Internal focus can turn into a quagmire of introspection...we need to air out our internal work with a constant flush of outward focused service to bring perspective, and allow the Lord to move through us as we who are hurting reach out to help others who are hurting. Anything that only gets poured into becomes stagnant soon. The deep and enriching life is in the flow...in and out.

Here are a few ideas that hit me as I a man, ride around the neighborhood and think and pray and talk to people about what is needed here and in our church. 

Visitation:
Maybe you could spend an evening doing some visitation. One on one encouragement. You could visit some ladies homes, get in their world a little and maybe the real "pressing needs" might become more clear. It could give some direction and understanding on how to better address the lives of the people we are in relationship with.
 
Fellowship:
Maybe you could do a coffee shop evening...a different spot each monday night. A little caravan around town to all the different spots and maybe through something like that more conversation and connection could develop with out a lot of work. You have a lot to give and maybe the Lord would challenge you to move a few steps closer to women.  Women are facing so many issues: being healthy mothers and wives, and balancing work & home & church. Personal recovery issues, the way they relate to themselves and each other. The list is long. 

The Lonely:
Then there is the women who are aging or elderly. How many women sit in retirement homes watching tv or staring at the phone wishing some family member would come and visit. Home many older retired women sit in this neighborhood longing for someone like yourself that would come over, chat, maybe help with some light duties that she just is overwhelmed with. Maybe she needs you or some women like yourselves that would search them out, serve them, love them and draw them into a community of relationships that might even bring them into our church family.  Many grandmas in this neighborhood are actually raising their kids...what opportunities for ministry rest there? I know the East Central Community Center has an elderly arm to its programs, maybe some women would love to explore a bit and see if there is something connected to that facility that they could serve at. Maybe help out somehow? 

Fashion:
Then there is the fashion angle of women's lives. Hair, make up, clothes, shoes, exercise. There are a host of ministry and relationship building ideas that could spark a small group. How about a walking group or putting on a day of HAIR CARE  for free...carmen is a hair cutting, Johnny is...next door is Larry the barber, maybe the women could organize a free hair cut day for mothers and their families...how many times do mommies need a cheap hair cut but travel, babysitting, cost etc is an issue...especially down here. 

Single Women:
No matter what age, but different ages sometimes like different activities. Is there no one who can put together some project, events or outings that interest single ladies? Maybe you singles could come up with some ideas to connect with some of the younger girls that look up to you and think you are rockstars. Showing them how to live as young women is sometimes more crucial than how to live as married women these days. You may be a sage and not even know it! Single ladies are struggling with following Jesus in a culture that tells them and sometimes forces them to be someone else. This is a group of people who really will respond to anyone who casts a vision and will lead them towards life that matters. They are not married and really shouldnt be treated like they are not full women yet. Life can be full even without a man all the time. This demographic can be powerful if it is harnessed and inspired to rise up and be fruitful. There is more to life than myspace, my face and his place.

Gardening:
One of the most challenging issues in our area is diet and food cost. The poorer you are the more crap you end up eating. Cheap food is usually not good food. Maybe a small gardeners market in the parking lot on Sat or Sun and through local gardeners or our church we gather some good quality food for women and their families. How many moms wish their kids could or would eat better. Maybe our ladies could help somehow. 

Baby-sitting:
How many moms would love a night of quiet or a chance to shop without knee-biters? Or how about a chance for a date with their honey? Maybe our ladies could rally together and put on a free baby-sitting night for the community.

Home Make overs:
There could be some simple home repairs that the ladies who decorate and organize could help put together for struggling moms. A afternoon of yard clean up, trimming, hedging, mowing or planting of easy flowers could really brighten someone's day who is swamped in pressing duties that cause the other stuff to get left undone. 

The Refugee ladies:
They really want to learn more about sewing. In fact they want to earn some money by selling their sewing crafts. They want to be more productive and they are amazing with a needle and thread. Maybe someone could help them start towards that goal. They also get bored. I know that Dah Mer who is pregnant is struggling with this. I know they would love some women to put a kid friendly day trip together. Go to a park, feed the ducks, or go down town and show them the falls, the goat, the carousel, none of the kids have ever ridden one, I am sure. How about Couredalene park, the kids structure? How about taking them shopping...transportation is always an issue for them. Just visiting...helping understand the whole personal hygiene dept at the store...it really is confusing if you think about it. How about making sure their homes are happy. Maybe there is something they need help with. Almost none of this type of stuff has taken place by women for women. Baby shower for Dah Mer, our newest Karen mother?

The list really is endless...but nothing will happen unless someone decides to do something.

I challenge you to engage your gears and begin. 
Dont try to figure out everything before you do anything...then you wont do nothing.
You will talk yourself out of loving and serving. 
Start small but start. 

Just try to make a small difference.