Meeting the Needs of Women around Us

by Lois Breneman, © 2008, Heart to Heart Newsletter

A "Heart to Heart" subscriber wrote and asked for ideas on how she could help meet the needs of women in both her business and through the women's ministry in her church. 

I would suggest first of all that if you are quite sure a woman is not a Christian, simply be her friend to her in some of the ways mentioned below.  Don't try to push your faith on her, but ask the Holy Spirit to infuse the fruit of His Spirit into your life and help you live out the Christian life before her with love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self control, as Galatians 5:22 and 23 instructs.

Ask the Lord to shine through your life to others around you each day.

Ask the Lord to open doors for you to encourage other women and be a witness for Him.

Smile, be courteous, and show kindness.

Never gossip or share about others in a negative way.

Be a genuine/real friend to her.

Be yourself.  Don't pretend to be someone you are not.

Don't think of yourself more highly that you ought to think.

Show an interest in her - ask her to tell you about her own interests.

Put her interests above your own.

Invite her to your home for breakfast or lunch.

Invite several women into your home at a time - possibly ask each one to bring a dish to share.

Invite her and her family to join your family for dinner.

Offer to babysit one evening, if you see she is lacking time alone with her husband.

Ask her if there is anything she would like you to pray about for her or her family.  Then do so.

Remember her on her birthday with a card and maybe a small gift.

Ask her advice pertaining to a talent she has or ask if she would teach you in that area.

Offer to help her in the area of your expertise - maybe knitting, card making or sewing.

Never jam your "religion" down any unbeliever's throat, but live the Christian life before her, waiting for the right moment to share your faith with her, little by little.  Then when the opportunity arises you could tell her how the Lord has changed your life or helped you through a particular situation.  When you do share, bathe each word in prayer and follow the Lord's prompting, rather than your own.