By Cyndee Ownbey
Are you looking to generate a buzz about your women’s ministry plans for the fall?
A fall kickoff is a great way to share what the Lord has planned for your women in the upcoming ministry year.
Inviting your women together for a women’s ministry fall kickoff can generate much-needed momentum for your ministry.
Fall kickoffs don’t need to be expensive or elaborate. After seeing each other sporadically throughout the summer (if your ministry didn’t pause), your women will be thrilled to see each other again in person. Think of it as a family reunion and not as a formal banquet—casual, warm, and fun!
Here are seven ideas for what to include at your fall kickoff:
- Food—You could host a potluck meal, have it catered, or offer a dessert bar.
- Icebreaker—Encourage your women to mingle and connect with one another over shared experiences
- Introduce your women’s ministry Team—Be sure to share specific roles. It can be super helpful for your women to see the faces of the people in charge of Bible studies, event planning, etc.
- Share volunteer needs—Do you need women to bring food, decorate, assist with childcare, or greet? Provide an opportunity for women to sign up for volunteering with sheets or cards. Leadership roles should be vetted and prayed over.
- Cast a vision for your ministry year—Share the Scripture verse or theme for the year. If possible, share a short story of how God pointed you or the team to that verse.
- Share a list of upcoming events and activities—Create save-the-date cards for women to take home. Generate excitement about what is to come. Consider giving women a quick preview of upcoming Bible studies.
- Personal testimony and short teaching—Is there a woman on your team or in your church that was impacted by the women’s ministry in a mighty way last year? If so, invite her to share her story for 5-10 minutes. After introducing your theme for the year, have someone do a short teaching on the verse or theme, giving a hint of what’s to come when your women dig deeper over the next year.
A fall kickoff may be just what your ministry needs! Chances are, some things have changed in your women’s ministry program—you may have new team members, and your team may have decided to do some things differently this next year. A kickoff provides the opportunity to begin again and reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
May God bless your ministry relaunch this fall!
