We do. It would be a crime for us not to report back on the most amazing ministry trip I have ever taken in my life. As you read in our last post, a team of 9 of us led 4 women's worship events in homes in Texas. Each event was different. Different focus, different needs and different experiences. There were no divas in our ranks, just regular girls doing the stuff. While one girl stomped our her intercession, a few more laid some hands. While one painted about rest and peace, the others sang it out. And in some mysterious way, we all received as much as we gave out. As we pressed in for the ladies we were loving, we received new freedoms ourselves. It felt like a crash course in freedom, like there was no time to waste. To this day, each team member is reporting a renewed passion for Jesus. We remember who we are! We came back full instead of drained. At the end of each event, ladies would come up to us and sincerely thank us for coming. "I never God would talk to me like that!" was what one sweet worshiper told us. Ask us how happy we were to hear that!! The proof that the mission was successful was when on multiple occasions, girls would say to us, "We are going to do this. We can do this. After you leave, we are going to do this". That was the point! Which brings me to some thoughts on ministering to women in this day and age….

Since this trip, I have been thinking so much about ministering to women. It seems to me that in my own church culture experience, there has been a common approach to loving on ladies. When I was growing up, it usually involved a luncheon, a soloist, some extensive table decorations and a speaker. Ingenious for it's day and age. I remember those events really being something that ladies would show up for. Even pre-believers could tolerate a dose of God-talk if you gave them some quiche, fruit and coffee. In my small town, I saw ladies show up to those luncheons, held at a local community hall, that would never darken the doors of a church. It worked. I can still remember being touched and challenged by the speakers. Plus, I was always vying for a chance to be the soloist.

But this is a different day and I am having a different experience than I did then. I love a good luncheon as much as the next lady, but I feel like I have less and less time to waste on pretense. I also have a different language. What is meaningful to me is music and art of all forms and really getting to the "neety greety". I would rather skip the doilies and sit on the floor in someone's living room. In the little time that we actually have to be together, I want to get busy and see women set free. I want to hear a real story from somebody that I can relate to and have it change me in some way. I want to be able to pray for other people and be prayed for myself. If what I need that day is to lay down on the floor and be still, then I want to be able to do that. I want to see a piece of art created in front of me that encapsulates what I am feeling about God in that moment. I want to hear someone sing a song straight from their heart. I want to feel like I could invite ANY of my friends and not have them be too weirded out by church culture and Christianese. When I leave, I want to feel like I have connected to some other women and heard from God. I want to feel refreshed and different. I want a luncheon on crack and I don't want to have to dress up. But I still want coffee.
I want, I want, I want. What do you want? I am continually dreaming about new ways to gather women together in God's presence. There is something about the female persona that makes these gatherings so different from corporate gatherings. I want to break new ground and set new precedents. I want to carry on the work that Aglow and Christian Women's Clubs started when I was a child, but for a NEW generation. When Ivy grows up, I want her to be doing what is right for HER day and age. So, I am begging you to blog with me. Please throw your thoughts and dreams about this subject out here on the wide world of web (to quote Jamie Presley). Let's create a dialog that will pave the way for a new move of God in women. TALK TO ME!

Michelle

P.S. check out www.myspace.com/womenworship to get a better look at what we have been up to!