Five reasons to listen to Christian women
– 25 November 2021
Have you ever wondered what Christian women are thinking? What’s important to them? How they see the world? What challenges they are facing and what opportunities and solutions they see?
At ADM, we’ve had the wonderful privilege and great joy of setting aside time to listen to Christian women.
As a Christian organisation, we dream of seeing every woman equipped and engaged in serving Christ in the Church, the community, and the world. We work with Christian women across Australia to support them as they engage our sceptical and hurting world with the gospel. Key to our ability to do this well is to start by listening, pausing, and asking women about the challenges they face, the future they envision and their creative solutions for getting there.
As we’ve done this at ADM across 2021, it has been such a rich process and we’ve learnt so much, that we want to encourage others to do the same. We’re aware that sometimes that process might feel a bit daunting, especially if you’re a male leader, and if you’re unsure of what you’ll hear. So through this series of short articles, we’ll share about the encouraging and positive conversations we’ve had, and suggest five reasons we should all listen to Christian women:
1. We worship a God who listens
We worship a God who ‘turns his ear to us’ and hears our cries (Psa 116: 1-2), and who pays careful attention to each and every detail of our lives (Psa 139:1-4). Listening to one another reflects the character and kindness of our loving God, and shows a humility and gentleness reflecting the servant heart of our Saviour Jesus, who has drawn near to humanity as God himself.
2. Christian women have much to offer
As Christian women have generously shared their insights with us, we’ve been humbled by their wisdom, their creativity and innovation, their love for Jesus, their wide ranging gifts and capabilities, and their passion for the gospel. It has been a privilege to hear their stories and we’ve learnt so much as they have shared. Women have an enormous amount to bring to the conversation.
3. It doesn’t happen often enough
NCLS Research tell us that women are 60% of the Australian church and yet listening specifically to Christian women about the challenges they face (and the solutions they see) is far from commonplace. It might be good to reflect on the last time your church gathered women together to do something similar – to listen to women’s voices and hear what is happening in their lives as they follow Jesus. This is especially important in churches and communities where women may not be regularly part of decision-making processes or have opportunities to share.
Reflecting on the prevalence of domestic abuse highlighted in the recent National Anglican Family Violence Research Report, in a conversation with a church leader recently about how we came to this point, his reply was that as a church we stopped listening to women. It’s a comment worth reflecting deeply on.
4. Affirmation of value
In listening to Christian women, we demonstrate that we value each and every woman, made equally and fully in the image of God (Gen 1:27), and fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa 139:14). We also demonstrate a commitment to understanding and valuing their experiences, insights and contributions as part of the wider body of Christ. In listening, we step aside from the relentless pursuit of busyness to be with one another, expressing value and dignity for the person who speaks.
5. Growing gospel impact
A key first step to having more women equipped and engaged in gospel service is listening to what they have to say. This involves women identifying not only the specific obstacles they face in serving Christ more fully (these could include unclear pathways, low confidence, structural issues or juggling multiple responsibilities – and we’ll share more on this in later articles) but also in finding the right solutions. We want to see many more people having the opportunity to meet Jesus, and hearing women’s feedback is an important first step. In longer conversations like these, a deeper relationship can also be established that forms a foundation for later work and partnership together to see the gospel go out.
As a ministry leader, have you ever wondered how to engage women more effectively in gospel ministry, and make women valued and active members of your ministry teams? We’d love to help you start this conversation in your own context.
What did we ask Christian women?
As we’ve met with Christian women in our ADM listening forums, we’ve been asking three key questions:
● What are the key challenges Christian women face as they serve Christ?
● What does a good future for Christian women look like?
● What are some strengths to build on, or solutions to some of the challenges raised?
We’ve heard from Christian women across Australia in local churches, in the workforce and academia, serving in their homes and communities, and across a range of backgrounds, ages and at all levels of leadership. We also heard from senior ministers about the challenges and opportunities they see for Christian women in their churches, and hosted forums which welcomed input from the wider community. It’s been an exciting, rewarding and stimulating conversation.
Over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing with you what we’ve heard, to benefit the whole church and ultimately see God’s kingdom grow. What we’ve heard is important and we know it’s not just for us. As one ministry, we can’t do this work alone and we’re inviting you to join us.
Join the conversation
We encourage you to join the conversation in two simple ways:
Read the articles we’ll be releasing over the coming weeks. Share them with friends and colleagues, or perhaps start a conversation at your church or ministry team about the ideas and issues that are raised. You may not agree with everything you read, but we hope the articles will be a springboard for great conversations and new ideas.
Gather together the women in your own communities, churches, families, groups and networks to listen to their voices. You might want to consider different ages, interests, backgrounds and congregations. You might use our questions or make up your own. We can connect you with ministers and churches who have done something similar. You may be surprised, even challenged, by what you hear. You’ll also be encouraged by the amazing ways that Christian women are continuing to use their gifts, resources and passions to serve Christ, right where God has placed them, and by the vision they have for a future where everyone thrives in gospel work.
At ADM we’d love to help make these ideas work in your own context, so please drop us a line at hello@deaconessministries.org.au if we can help in any way.
Since 1891, ADM has encouraged and equipped women to serve Christ and his Church for the glory of God and the growth of his kingdom. This year, ADM has been developing a new strategic plan to shape the next five years of our ministry, and we’ve been taking time to pause, to listen, and to consider how we might continue to grow gospel-shaped women who serve Christ in the Church, the community and the world for many years to come.
Next article: Five reasons why networks matter for Christian women