The best advice I could give a new WM Leader is pray for God's direction and always pray for direction & pray for the woman you are leading and the woman you are trying to reach out to. Praise him and know that you are off to a great start because He lead you to CLM & henhouse for wonderful devotions, theme ideas, printables, and so much more to help you succeed in serving Him.
As leader I planned 3 months or more ahead of time of what theme-devotion - game, food etc.. for each monthly meeting. Once a month I typed a WM newsletter about the upcoming meetings and other news and upcoming events that had to do with WM I would type a bible verse or a quote or poem.
I used CLM printables and taped them on the bathroom mirrors to remind ladies about the upcoming meeting. I decorated our bulletin board once a month with a theme and pictures, CLM printables and details about 3-4 weeks in advance about our next meeting ( I worked on the bulletin board a week after our last meeting).
I learned that making each meeting special and enjoyable and doing something different (variety) will keep them attending. Each meeting had a theme and devotion a icebreaker or other fun game the winner gets a prize. I would have some little gift for all the woman to take home that may have been associated with the theme like a friendship kit for instance. Then we would do a craft (we usually do one every 2 or 3 months) or some other idea like showing and sharing our collectable items or learning how to make are own apple pie to make bake & take home.
Occasionally we would have a meeting at another sister's home where I would let her do a devotion if she wanted.. at one sister's home we went on her large boat and she did a devotion in the middle of the lake it was awesome!
Being organzed & Letting sister's assist you in WM helps keep things running smoothly because right from the start some sister's were giving me ideas and there was one sister that I felt was trying to take over. She would make plans for the WM without consulting me she was great with crafts so I had her lead crafts and when she did she would jump right in and take over before I was done with my plans for the evening!
Communication is the key! Making each sister feel special and important in WM makes a difference. Many of them want to assist in some way all you have to do is ask them for help. Find out what there gifts and talents are. One sister sings so the WM went to the nursing home once a month and we visited with the elderly as she sang we called it the Compassionate Music Ministry.
At meetings one sister came early to get coffee ready. Some helped in decorating or being in charge of a banquet.
Listening to their ideas is important and I used them! I had many complements at every meeting how wonderful they are... OUR God gets the praise! Halleluiah!
Submitted by Lisa from Michigan
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Evaluating Your Leadership
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