NATIONAL WOMEN’S MINISTRIES DAY RESOURCES INSIDE! SEE PAGE .

E XC E R P T F R O M V OYAG E : T R U S T I N G J E S U S I N U N C H A R T E D WAT E R S Leaving the Shore Behindby Kay BurnettWhen Paul stepped on that ship it appearedin the ship, cast anchor, and turn the helm overto be the start of a journey arranged byto Him.human authorities for political reasons.His call is always active in our lives, no matterThough people did make the decisions that placedwho we are, where we live, or how small the nexthim on that particular vessel at that particular time,step might seem. His purposes and plans go beyondGod was working above all, beneath all, and on everyall that we can imagine. Our perspective of destinyside to accomplish His plans. There was much in storeis so different from His—so much smaller. He seesfor this voyage, and the One who rules “over thethe depth and breadth and height of all eternity! Hissurging sea” (Psalm 89:9) would orchestrate all theperspective stretches from before this finite earthpaths and purposes.was created all the way to theIf you embrace the perspective ofeternal life that awaits us. Onlylife as a voyage, a first step must beHe can knit together the lives,to choose who will be the captain ofpaths, and appointments thatyour ship. In our daily lives, a varietywill fulfill His plans.of people with their personal assignHe compassionately encour Christopher Columbusments and agendas may be in posiages us to embrace a depentions of authority over us, but for thedent way of life and allow Himsurrendered follower of Christ this doesn’t define whoto write our story. He longs for us to let Him lead ouris truly at the helm of the ship. We must know andvoyage. When we surrender to Him to be the captainbelieve that He is at the helm; He is the only One whoof the ship, we have no reason to fear—no mattercan lead us in perfect wisdom and love.our enemy, no matter our storm, no matter the seasUnderstanding this principle gives us peace. Whenon which we travel. He commands the high seas. Hewe know that Jesus is guiding the ship, our heartsspeaks, and the winds and waves obey. He alone setare filled with confidence and hope—especially whenthe sun, moon, and stars above.we have no control over our circumstances. We canIf we fully acknowledge both God’s power to dotrust that He will take care of every detail of our lives.the impossible, as well as His unconditional, unfailingWhen He leads us on a new leg of our journey, welove for us, we move closer to a position of trust. Atmust be grounded by our own version of Christophersome point, it simply becomes an invitation to stepColumbus’s simple statement: “Following the light ofoff the dock and onto the deck of the ship. When lifethe sun, we left the Old World.” In our case, we folmakes it challengingKAY BURNETTlow the light of the Son, which means we do, indeed,to leave the shoreleave the “old world” behind.and let go of thePerhaps the toughest part of the voyage is thehelm, we can truststart, when we cast off and leave the shore behind.God in every way.It is one thing to recognize that “deep calls to deep”Used with permission from(Psalm 42:7), knowing that God is pulling at the invisVoyage: Trusting Jesus inible ties of our souls, tugging on us to step out of theUncharted Waters by Kaysafety of the harbor into something more than theBurnett, 2017 by GospelPublishing House. Allpursuit of our own dreams. It is another thing to get“ Following the lightof the sun, we leftthe Old World.”rights reserved.6Ministering to Women in 2018 women.ag.org

A QUICK GUIDE FOR MINISTRY TO WOMEN Training Your LeadersSession SixWHE RE DO I START?There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to ministrytowomen. The vision youhave for the womenof yourchurch will be important.The team you build willalsobe an important partof your ministry to women.DISCOVER THE VISIONFOR MINISTRY TO WOMENYour vision should alignwith the vision your pastorhas established for the church,yet be tailored to meetthe distinctiveneeds of women. As aleader of women, considerhow God willuse you to effectivelyminister to the womenof your congregation and community.Prayer and fasting willhelp you discover vision.God knows thehearts of the womenyou are called to reach.He understandsthe extent of their hurts,expectations, and desires.James 1:5encourages us, “If anyof you lacks wisdom, youshould ask God,who gives generouslyto all without findingfault, and it will begiven to you.” Take timeto pray and fast, aloneand with yourteam, expecting Godto give you wisdom forfutureministry.(Consider following theDaniel Fast with yourteam. You can findmore information at www.Daniel-fast.com.)Align with your pastor’svision. The vision youarticulate forwomen will support thevision God has given yourpastor.God’swork flows through authority—not around it.As a leader, your submissionto authority will directlyaffectyour team’s ability toachieve goals. God willnever bless a ministry to women thattries to usurp the authorityof the localA Quick Guide for Ministry to Women is an indispensable training toolfor ministry to women in the local church.47Consider holding a mini-retreat with your ministry leadership teamto walk through this guide. You can adapt this sample format for aweekend together:Welcome and dinnerSession 1: Who are the women we minister to?Session 2: Why should we minister specificallyto women?BreakSession 3: What are the needs of women?Session 4: What is the role of the church inministering to women?Saturday, 9 a.m. Breakfast9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Session 5: Am I qualified to lead women?Session 6: Where do I start?BreakSession 7: What do I do?Session 8: How do I do it?A QUICK GUIDE TOMINISTRY FOR WOMEN SESSION SIXPaper, spiral-bound, 5½ x 8½”, 112 pages,Spanish 120 pages.EnglishSpanish02MV421402MV4216 12.99 12.99Friday, 6 p.m.7 p.m.–9 p.m.11:30 a.m.–12 noon Lunch12 noon–1 p.m. Session 9: How can we empower women?Session 10: What is the desired outcome?Sit at round tables to allow for small group discussion after each session, using the Discussion Questions and Action Steps from the book.End with a time of prayer as a leadership team, that God will directyour steps forward in ministry to women.Or you could meet weekly with your team for several weeks, teachingone or two sessions per meeting. Another solution would be to askeach leader to read a different session, then come together to discussall aspects of leading women.Mary Ritter, North CarolinaDistrict Women’s Ministriesdirector, has this to say aboutA Quick Guide for Ministryto Women:“ In North Carolina, werecently completed elevenWomen Connect gatheringsfor women’s leaders andtheir teams. I gave away onefree copy of the Quick Guideto each church represented.Women’s Ministries teamswho are just beginning andother churches who arewell-seasoned in ministry towomen are using this practicaltool to assess, adjust, anddesign ministry to women intheir local contexts.”Visit womensquickguide.ag.org for free downloadables and more information.MyHealthyChurch.com 1 -855-642-20117

O N A V O YA G E T O W A R D L O V I N G P E O P L E Lessons for the Journeyby GraceAnn HectorI’m on an incredible voyageout on the water—following asJesus calls.Come with me on this expedition. I grew up inFlagstaff, Arizona—in the beautiful mountains where, despite what people assume, itdoes snow quite often! When I was 12, my family waspart of the launch of a then-new Northland ChristianAssembly, at that time being planted by pastors Jimand Kay Burnett.About two years into pursuing a degree, I begana pilgrimage I wouldn’t have naturally set my sightson. I was hired to be the children’s pastor of my homechurch in 2009. My previous experience in children’sministries consisted of dressing as a clown on a fewmissions trips to Mexico.Love People and Have PatienceWhen I was hired, I remember saying, “I don’t knowhow to do children’s ministry. I don’t even know whereto start. I just know I love these kids and want them tolove Jesus their whole lives.” One of my mentors, andthe previous children’s pastor, encouraged me. Shesaid, “If you love them, you will do fine.”In Northland’s children’s ministries, I inherited agroup of eight or nine five-year-old children. We dida lot of teaching on prayer and worship. I was able towatch that group of kindergarteners grow spirituallyfor the next five years; they were incredible atpraying and leading worship. Now as teenagers, theyare great prayer warriors. I learned so much aboutsowing seed that may not see fruit for many years.As a children’s pastor, I learned to love people andhave patience—because God knew I would need bothof those lessons as a wayfarer on the journey ahead.8“ Just love people. Really lovethem today. Show them Jesusand you will be fine.”Leap of FaithOn any voyage, we continue moving and learning.I took a huge step of faith in 2014, sold most of mybelongings, and drove myself across the country toPennsylvania. My friends Joey and Lauren Furjanicwere planting a church, and called to ask for my help.I never planned to be a pastor—but I followed God.The city of Philadelphia is incredibly diverse, withmuch spiritual need. The cultural differences fromthe desert West to the Northeast are extreme. I feltupside down for the first year. In this pilgrimage, Ibecame acutely aware that I was too comfortablespiritually; I needed the Lord more than ever in thisnew place.In my second year in the city, I began adjusting.I knew my faith needed to be stretched. I was desperate for God to travel this journey with me. Helpingto plant a church, working full time in a new city, andmaking all new friends certainly requires His presence!By the end of the first year, The Block Church wasMinistering to Women in 2018 women.ag.org

O N A V O YA G E T O W A R D L O V I N G P E O P L E ready to hire additional staff, and extended the invitation to me. To say I washesitant would be an understatement.Helping People Love JesusI needed to fund-raise half of myyearly salary—that in itself felt likea mountain only God could move.Through His faithfulness, I became thediscipleship pastor of this diverse, innercity, beautiful church with 500 people in twolocations. I focus on assimilation, small groups, andhelping people love Jesus the rest of their lives.As a single female in my 20s, I feel so privilegedand intimidated at the same time. I tell myself somany mornings, “Just love people. Really love themtoday. Show them Jesus and you will be fine.” I havenever known fulfillment like this season I am in now.My faith is still being stretched, my desperation forGod is only growing, and I still feel like I only knowhow to love people. I need God’s wisdom,discernment, love, and capacity every day.A lot of my friends are still searchingfor purpose, spouse, family; I am so content where God has me. I wouldn’t wantto be anywhere else, or doing anythingelse. I can’t believe this mountain girlgets to be part of a spiritual awakeningin an urban Northeast context. And I’m stilldesperate for God; I tell Him often, “I ca

Trusting Jesus in Uncharted Waters by Kay Burnett 2018 THEME BOOK Kay Burnett is the national Women’s Ministries Director for the Assemblies of God. She is a writer, speaker, and passionate about leading women. She previously served as a church planter, pastor’s wife, and district Women’s Ministries director for the Arizona