From “Wired to Lead: Being the Leader the Church Didn’t Think You Could Be” by Suzanne Nadell
One of the biggest obstacles I had with my spiritual growth as a professional woman were my hours. I wanted to take part in every Beth Moore and Lysa TerKeurst Bible study my church offered, but they typically took place in the daytime, preventing working women like me from attending. Classes offered in the evening took place so early that I couldn’t make it in time for those either. Dear church, we can care for other women by making our programs for women more accessible.
We can also care for working women by making ourselves available. When I’m leaving the office at 7:30 p.m. on a weeknight, if I need to talk out my problems over dinner, I can name ten women in my professional circles who would drop everything and do it. They would give me lots of good advice and care, albeit none of it prayed over, much of it not based in scripture.
In contrast, at 7:30 p.m. on any given weeknight my church circle friends are not as available. Those are the women from whom I need to hear about the problems I’m facing. Those are the women from whom working Christian women in general need to hear. Dear church women, make yourselves available. Create caring circles for and with others! Dear churches, community pastors, and women’s ministry leaders, examine your existing programs and services and ask yourselves whether you have something to meet the needs of everyone in your congregation. If you are unsure whether you are already meeting the needs of your congregation, ask women if they feel included. If they answer no, ask them what it would take for them to feel included and consider making adjustments.