Women's Ministries
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:1, 3-5)
The ladies of Randolph Street Church find four components to their ministry, as do the men:
1) Titus 2 Fellowships: Multi-generational Women's Gatherings
Four times per year (February, April, October and December), ladies of all ages meet in the Welcome Center for a time of refreshment and fellowship (10:00am-Noon). These gatherings are designed to promote Biblical womanhood and foster relationships.
These meetings typically take place on the first Saturday of those months, with February's meeting including a time to discuss the annual yard sale and December being our annual ladies' Christmas luncheon. April's date shifts depending on the date of the benefit yard sale and we try to plan the fall event around the Appalachian Conference on Theology and the Church.
These fellowships are currently led by a four-member team of ladies (Ginger McClanahan, Ann Ashmus, Barb Horswell & Mary Beth Bennett). They occasionally involve the staff pastors and other outside ladies' speakers and are regularly announced on the corporate ministry calendar.
2) Ministry Focused Teams
These teams of ladies focus on Great Commission and/or Great Commandment ministries. They are informal and almost completely member-driven. For instance, we often have groups of women serve local ministries such as the Brookside Family Life Center. These times of ministry involve things such as babysitting, cleaning, and teaching.
An annual benefit yard sale is also hosted in the spring for the entire Church family to raise money that goes entirely to a local mercy ministry (Union Mission, Salvation Army, etc.).
Through these loosely-knit (and often temporary) ministry teams, permanent friendships are built. To volunteer for one of these teams, or to discuss a ministry idea, see our Executive Pastor, Matt Friend.
3) Informal Bible Studies and Prayer Gatherings
Growing out of the desire to promote Titus 2 mentorship within our ladies, two groups of women meet at least once a month: a Mom's Club and a Saturday morning Bible Study led by several of our ladies.
To guard our Church calendar from extensive activity, our elders have agreed to not regularly announce these events, just as we do not announce every informal men's event. However, to inquire of dates, times, contact details and email updates for these additional women's gatherings, contact us here. One of our ladies will be in touch with you.
4) Casual Conversation
The elders of Randolph Street Church purposely guard the Church calendar so as to provoke our people to gather with other people to build gospel-based relationships. Some of the best conversations take place during the week over coffee, in homes, at a restaurant, or at the mall. This is one reason we do not have a regular Sunday evening worship gathering - we want our men and women fellowshiping with others throughout the day, sometimes well into the evening.
Don't wait to be asked ... be proactive! Ask someone out for a casual hour of fellowship.
5) Bi-Yearly Ladies' Retreat
For the last several years our ladies have enjoyed the National True Woman Conferences. Visit www.truewoman.com to see the highlights of the 2008 and 2010 Conferences. Be watching for more details and plan to attend the 2012 Conference with "van-fulls" of Randolph Street Church ladies!
