“Why We Don’t Need Women’s Ministry” or Do We?

A friend sent me an article entitled, “Why We Don’t Need ‘Women’s’ Ministry.” Of course the title intrigued me since I direct the Answers for Women ministry at AiG! As I read the article, I realized the point the author was trying to make was not that we don’t need women’s ministry but that we don’t need the type of women’s ministry that is common in our churches and larger Christian community today. Read these excerpts from her article:

We're choking on cutesy things and crafty bits, safe lady topics, . . . . We are hungry for authenticity and vulnerability, not churchified life hacks from lady magazines. Some of us are drowning, suffocating, dying of thirst for want of the cold water of real community. We're trying really hard--after all, we keep showing up to your lady events, and we leave feeling just a bit empty. It's just more of the same every time.

I would love to wrestle with some questions that don't have a one-paragraph answer in your study guide. I would like to do a Bible study that does not have pink or flowers on the cover.

So here is my suggestion: Please stop treating women's ministry like a Safe Club for the Little Ladies to Play Church.

We are smart. We are brave. We want to change the world.

We want to give and serve and make a difference. We want to be challenged. We want to read books and talk politics, theology, and current events. We want to wrestle through our theology.1

Amen! Many times I have had women come up to me—after I have given my women’s presentations—and say, “I almost didn’t come today.” They then explain how they are sick and tired of going to women’s conferences that only present a superficial treatment of God’s Word if the Bible is discussed at all!

Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive Our Hearts women’s ministry said this:

It distresses me to see how many church services and Christian gatherings today give a small place to the Word of God, if at all. I remember attending a women’s conference some years ago, a lot of women there, a lot of interesting speakers, a lot of spell-binding stories and things that made you cry, things that made you laugh. But what struck me at the end of the day was that you could have gone through that whole conference and never needed your Bible. This was a Christian conference. The power is in the Word of God; otherwise, it’s just my story. It’s just my thoughts. The power is in the Word of God. The Word should be the centerpiece of our public life, of our community of faith.2

Another Amen! I’ve had similar experiences at Christian women’s conferences. What they serve is kind of like cotton candy—it looks pretty and tastes sweet but is ultimately nothing more than puffed-up sugar that is short-lived in its effect and not ultimately filling or satisfying. The reason is that many times the speaking is not grounded in the Word of God; it’s just a bunch of personal “stories” and motivational speaking.

Don’t be disheartened! AiG is hosting an Answers for Women conference at the Creation Museum in just a few short months! I think the byline for the conference should be “not your typical Christian women’s conference.” We will be delving deeply into God’s Word! Our guest speaker will be Mary Mohler, wife of Dr. Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Also speaking will be yours truly, Stacia McKeever (curriculum writer for AiG), and Steve and Ken Ham. You will enjoy music, a drama on the story of Gomer, and time to visit the Creation Museum and planetarium (admission cost included with registration).

Our early bird registration deadline is February 29, and be sure to take advantage of our great special group rates. Check out the Answers for Women website for more information and promotional material. Please join us for a woman’s conference that will truly be life-changing.

Keep fighting the good fight of the faith!