Women’s Ministries is frequently known for the support and opportunities provided to women in the church and community. But when there is a greater need in another area, what can Women’s Ministries do? Robin Tait is Women’s Ministries leader for the Voice of Hope church in Michigan City, Indiana. She is pushing the envelope to move the Women’s Ministries team in a direction that will impact the lives of young people as well as women in the church and community.
She saw that there was a great need to reach the young people who visited their church. A couple of members bring their grandchildren to church. Because the church membership is small, these 20-25 young visitors from the community often out-number the adults! The church did not have a formal program that would engage the interest and attention of the youth. This is where Robin saw a role for Women’s Ministries. Ordinarily, this would fall to Youth Ministries, but rather than check that off as "not in my realm of responsibility" Robin sought to make a difference through Women’s Ministries. She recognized the potential souls to be saved in these young people and was not willing to leave it to chance. Mentoring new member and Youth Ministries leader, Tahnee Casanova, would be the first step to provide the support needed to guide the development of the Youth Ministries program. Women’s Ministries took an active part in this development, working with Youth Ministries to create a program to meet the needs of these young people.
Concerns were expressed about separating the youth from the adults for worship service, since the church was so small. However, Robin understood that these young people required a more flexible, tailored program to capture their interest and keep their attention. A traditional adult service would not accomplish that goal. Robin says, "We wanted to give them something that would stick with them for life. I don’t believe in coloring through the church service, but if they are going to do that activity, it needs to be part of a program that will reach them for Jesus."
Working with Youth Ministries, Robin and the Women’s Ministries team started a youth church that took place twice a month. The service was designed to reach all ages and included a variety of approaches to keep everyone’s interest. From scripture readings and nature videos to snacks, coloring, singing, and sermons, the activities were planned to be Christ-centered and interesting. The Women’s Ministries team helped schedule speakers, inviting seminarians and presenters with youth appeal to share God’s word. Every month, the youth joined the adults for church service, leading out in certain roles. In this way, the youth church not only taught them about Jesus and Biblical principles, but also how to contribute in a meaningful way to the worship service.
This plan has been very well received by the youth who are sometimes tempted not to come to church on an "off-youth" week. Here again, the Women’s Ministries team asserts their nurturing influence by phoning the youth and encouraging them to come to church, whether there’s youth church or not. "We try and tell them that the adults are supporting them and that church isn’t just about their needs," says Robin.
There’s a difference surfacing in the lives of these young people. These youth are not Seventh-day Adventists, but because of the love and faithfulness of their grandmothers, they have been introduced to Jesus through the Voice of Hope congregation and the Youth and Women’s Ministries partnership. They are bringing their Bibles to church with them—Bibles that were given by the Women’s Ministries team. "We wanted to make sure they each had their own Bible; and we gave them literature to help them connect with the message and mission of our church," says Robin.
Women’s Ministries at Voice of Hope demonstrates that care and concern for souls is a responsibility we share. Jesus invites us to partner with Him to save a world dying in sin. As we submit to Him and join hands with each other we will realize the true benefits of TEAM—Together Everyone Accomplishes More.
Debbie Young is president of Adventist-Laymen's Services and Industries and a Lake Region Conference communication staff volunteer.
