A note from Kelly King: Beginning in March, the Lifeway Women’s leadership blog will transition to become part of the larger Lifeway Women’s blog at women.lifeway.com. The current content isn’t going to go away; there’s just too much great information. But, new content will not be added to this site after March 1. Instead, there will be a new section in the Lifeway Women blog dedicated to leadership. Our prayer is that we can serve more women through this larger audience. You’ll still hear from voices like Kaye Hurta, the Lifeway trainers, as well as me.
In today’s article, I asked Tessa Morrell to write about her experience with the blog. Many of you may not know Tessa, but you know her work. She is the brain behind this blog, making sure posts are loaded on the site, editing for consistency, and making our writing better. I’m so grateful for her contribution! I think you’ll enjoy hearing from her today.
Around five and a half years ago, I began working on this Ministry to Women blog as a contract editor. It was in the beginning of many transitions in my life. My job, church, home, and community were new to me. All that change had happened quite unexpectedly, and it was in the midst of that season that I was invited to begin helping out with this blog on a freelance basis.
I began reading, editing, and posting articles to the site each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Now looking back, I can see how this blog has been a consistent source of encouragement and learning in the seasons of change in my life. It’s been a steady stream of wisdom from women leaders who have taught me what it means to love Jesus, serve Him, and lead His people. When not much else in my life felt stable and consistent, I could always count on the Lord teaching me and reminding me of truth through the articles found here.
I’ve learned so much from both Chris Adams and Kelly King as I’ve worked with them on the blog. Like many of you, their leadership has made a significant impact on my life. The Lifeway Women trainers and writers we’ve featured on the blog have also taught me more than I can explain. Many of them I don’t know personally, but they’ve each played a part in helping me grow and learn. I know I will carry these lessons with me for the rest of my life.
I would love to summarize some of the most consistent themes and important lessons I’ve learned over the last several years of working on the blog. I hope these truths encourage you as they have encouraged me.
1. Love Jesus Above All Else.
Devoting your whole life to the Lord is worth it. Always. Make time spent with God and His Word your greatest priority. What you do in ministry is important, but none of it is possible without Him and none of it is worth it without Him. Only He will satisfy your soul. Ministry must be an overflow of what the Lord is doing in your own heart. Conferences, events, and Bible studies—though incredibly valuable—will not sustain you. Only Jesus will. No matter what you do in your life and ministry, Jesus must be at the center of it.
2. Be Faithful Right Where God has Placed You.
Use the gifts He has given you to serve the women around you right now. God has a purpose for where you are. Whether that “place” you’re thinking of refers to a physical location, a community of people, or a season of life you’re walking through, He is faithful to use it to shape you to look more like Jesus. He will teach you so much if you will lean in and listen to what He has for you. Even if your situation is not ideal and you’re feeling discouraged, keep going. Keep serving. Keep loving the people He’s put in your life today. One day you will look back and see the fruit of faithfulness.
3. Ministry is Hard, but It is Worth It.
Because we live in a world broken by sin, life and relationships are messy. Really messy. There is a lot of pain found deep within the stories of the people you encounter each day, and it can be overwhelming sometimes to know how to care for the souls God has placed in your life. You can be confident that He will equip you to love and serve them well as you lean on His wisdom and grace. Love people selflessly and learn to listen and pay attention to the stories people share (and notice the things they hold back). Pray for God to guide you through each day and each interaction. He will work through you, and He will be glorified as you point people to Him.
4. Never Stop Learning and Growing.
Whether you’ve been serving in women’s ministry for three weeks or thirty years, there is more to learn and there are new seasons of growth ahead. New challenges and opportunities will always present themselves, so keep looking for ways to become better equipped for the different ministry moments you will face. Read, study, and learn from people further down the road than you. Ask the Lord to continue shaping your character, your understanding, and your actions to be more and more reflective of Jesus so that He is glorified in your life and ministry.
These are just a few of the lessons I’ve learned through this blog. I pray you’ve also been encouraged as you’ve read the various articles shared here through the years. I hope it’s fueled a desire to continue serving women in ministry day in and day out.
Thank you for reading our articles, and thank you for serving the Lord by loving and leading the women in your life. Continue loving and serving Jesus. It’s worth it. He is worth it.
Tessa is a production editor for ongoing curriculum at Lifeway. An Illinois native, she has called Nashville home for ten years now and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She is passionate about serving in her local church and studying the Word with women in Bible study. When she’s not busy reading, she enjoys visiting local coffee shops, spending hours browsing in antique stores, and crafting and creating art.
