Women's Ministries Programs

Resource Material

Community Based Leadership for

Focus Groups

by

Janice Buchanan

Western Territory

Vision and Decision

You have a vision to reach the women in your community and win them for Christ—but you haven’t any leaders. You would like The Salvation Army to become known as the place where the practical, social and spiritual needs of women can be met in a nurturing and meaningful manner. But the thought that you don’t have any potential leaders holds you back.

You have the vision—but vision without a decision to do something about it won’t go anywhere. It is important to make a commitment that, with God helping, you’ll do

whatever it takes to accomplish the dream—even if it means starting from ground zero, the task of identifying leaders when none seem to exist.

The Lord Hath Need Principle

“Go into that village over there,” He told them, and just as you enter you will see a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie him and bring him here. And if anyone

asks you what you are doing, just say, Our Master needs him and will return him soon” (Mark 11:2 LB).

After a clear assessment of the needs of women in your community, you probably have a good idea about which women’s outreach focus group classes you would like to initiate. With these in mind, apply “The Lord Hath Need” principle: Go Into that Village Search out all suitable individuals from your community who have the particular skills you need: professionals, businesswomen and other church members. God has given you the entire community. Pick out those people who have exactly what it is you need to launch a well–structured ministry. Think big. Think in terms of at least a minimum of four to six class

leaders. The bigger the launch of this ministry, the greater potential it will have for real ongoing success.

Our Master Needs You!

Forthrightly share the vision of The Salvation Army to do more to meet the needs of women in the community. Tell potential leaders that God needs to borrow them as missionaries to the Army to help get this ministry started.

Promise to Return Them Soon

Be realistic about only asking for a short–term commitment to launch the first series of focus group classes—perhaps a six–week or three month schedule. This will give you time to identify additional potential leaders out of the new women who are reached, or to find another set of community leaders to teach the second series.

Some of the first series leaders may enjoy themselves so much that they sign on for a second time. But let them take the initiative on this. You do need to be true to the limits of your initial request.

Which Comes First, Women or Leaders?

The answer is both. Realistically you have to set in motion plans to develop both leaders and women at approximately the same time. Without leaders you won’t sustain  attendance—without women, the leaders will no doubt lose interest.

Try to enlist the leaders a few months in advance of the start of the first series. They will need some time to prepare, and this will also give you time to conduct a couple of preliminary leaders’ sessions with these fellow missionaries so they can meet each other, understand what the expectations are and pray together. At the same time the corps needs to be working on an initial plan to jump–start gathering a crowd of new women who will be potential participants in the focus groups.

Jump–Start the Crowd

Plan a one–day seminar with a professional speaker on an important topic, which addresses a current need of women in the community. Be prepared to pay a fee. (Remember honorariums must have prior approval of DHQ.) Several of these seminars could be planned in the six months leading up to the launch of the first focus group series. The women who attend will begin to feel comfortable and familiar with The Salvation Army, while getting their needs met in a non–threatening larger crowd of people. Recruitment for focus groups can be initiated in these seminars. Consider such topics as:

How To Drug Proof Your Children

Support Systems For Single Moms

Women’s Health Issues

Overcoming Depression

Advertise Widely

Advertise on public TV, radio and in newspapers. Place flyers on cars parked in grocery stores and shopping center lots advertising the event. Give flyers to public health and social service offices in the area, asking them to distribute to those most likely to benefit

from the planned seminar.

During the seminar a uniformed local or officer should invite the women to share in the planned women’s focus groups. Hand out an attractive brochure, which lists all the classes and the names of the leaders.

Organizing the Focus Groups

Schedule one night of the week for this event with all classes meeting on the same night in various rooms. Once the program is well established, consideration can be given to additional groups meeting in different places and at different times.

The Format

?The evening activities should include the following:

?Adequate class time

?Brief session of united praise and worship

?Announcements

?United refreshments

The united sessions will allow women the opportunity to meet more people and feel like they are a part of something large enough to insure a program and fellowship that they can continue to grow with, once their current class has satisfied their immediate need.

At the end of each series plan a united worship service in the chapel. Care should be given to invite the women to make a commitment to Christ.