Jerra Dooley wanted to provide a place to help women grow spiritually and maximize their effectiveness in serving God.
But Dooley, communications and network coordinator of Valleydale Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association, quickly realized it would be too time-consuming to maintain a physical center on the church campus. So she turned to the Internet.
While receiving a women’s ministry certificate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a class project led her to create www.gracefull.org, which focuses on the spiritual, physical, emotional, social and practical areas of a Christian woman’s life.
“The Web site is for any women who … would like to have one Web site that points them directly to … other sites that contain trustworthy information,” Dooley said.
“I can help thousands more women through the virtual center than I am able to help one-on-one or in small groups,” she added.
As more women turn to the Internet for help with life’s issues, ministry leaders are expanding their Web sites to reach and connect them locally and globally.
Lucretia Mobbs, women’s ministry and E-ministries consultant for Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), believes the Internet is a cost-effective way to increase ministry exposure and further the gospel of Christ.
“Time has become the new premium asset of our culture,” she said.
‘On their own terms’
“Women are extremely busy and are looking for ways to stay connected with other women. The Internet is available when they are. Whether it’s 9 a.m. or midnight, they can connect on their terms and on their own timetable,” Mobbs explained.
To help women utilize the Internet’s effectiveness, Alabama WMU is creating a Web site that will offer interactive elements and relevant resources to link women.
“One of our dreams is to be able to guide them in reaching their potential in Jesus Christ and to find ways to connect in ministry and missions with a Kingdom purpose through the Internet,” Mobbs said.
“We also have plans to have some of our training online with the new Web site.”
Faith Whatley, director of women’s ministry at LifeWay Christian Resources, said her department has also noticed women increasing their time on the Net with 70 percent going online daily.
“They have so little discretionary time, but they still want to be spiritually nourished and enriched. … You have to reach them where they are,” Whatley said.
Since many women are forced to miss Bible study classes, which sometimes leads them to drop out, LifeWay offers curricula in the form of downloadable videos at www.Lifeway.com/women to help women participate more consistently.
“Women love that these are available that way because it’s instant and convenient to them,” Whatley noted.
By the end of the summer, LifeWay also plans to include podcasting and blogging in its services, according to Whatley.
Alabama WMU and LifeWay are also reaching out to women’s leaders through the Internet.
‘Efficient’ ministry
“I find that women are always interested in learning how to be more efficient in their ministries and how to use the tools they already have like the computer on their desk,” Mobbs said. “We are developing an e-newsletter for leaders in women’s work in the church.
“The purpose is to equip, enable and engage women in the ministries of God to help them fulfill His call on their lives and to encourage them to be part of other Great Commission ministries locally and globally,” she said.
For ministry assistance and spiritual growth, she encourages women to visit Alabama WMU’s site at www.alawoman.com and www.Mymissionfulfilled.com, which will launch in August.
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