Close

Women's Ministry

Women's Ministry Menu

Training Opportunities

NOTE: The Fall 2019 session of Soul Care in the 21st Century has been postponed due to the impending sale of our campus. 

SEND endeavors to provide accessible, relevant and transferable training options for women in cross-cultural ministry that will allow them to grow and develop in their passions and gifts. We currently offer one week of training on our Farmington, Mich., campus, each fall. We also have trainers ready and willing to take various training components to off-site locations. If you are interested in off-site training, please see the page below listing Women's Development Module options or contact Jenny Baker at [email protected]

Soul Care in the 21st Century 

September 29 – October 5, 2019  (postponed due to campus sale)  


Designed by Dr. Lynn Karidis, 
SEND International  

How is your busyness quotient these days? Do you long for some time alone so you can rest and reconnect with Jesus? How can you find the refreshment and renewal you need to thrive in ministry? Jesus offers an invitation to you: Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. It’s the same invitation Jesus gave to his disciples after a season of intense ministry. Soul Care in the 21st Century is a spiritual formation retreat designed to help you rest, learn, and reconnect with Jesus. Come and discover some new and ancient ways to care for your soul. Find a rhythm for continued spiritual growth that fits your personality and lifestyle. Each day is structured to include rest, food, learning, spiritual practice, reflection, and fellowship. No preparation needed. Contact Lynn Karidis with any questions at [email protected]

Click here to download details and the registration form for Soul Care in the 21st Century.

Women's Development Track:

We also partner with Wendy Wilson and the Women’s Development Track (a resource of MissioNexus) Please visit www.womensdevelopmenttrack.com for more information.

Women's Development Modules

Each September, SEND Women’s Development Week partners with Women’s Development Track and Entrust to bring personal and ministry development for women in a small group, women-to-women context. We seek to address needs our SEND women may have in their various roles, transitions, and seasons of life. We desire to bring opportunities that are accessible, relevant, and effective. The modules listed below are all offered in an interactive format, guided by skilled facilitators.

Check the above websites for a full calendar offerings of modules held in other locations of the US and overseas if the September week does not fit your schedule.

#1: The Significant Woman: Discovering, Mobilizing, and Sustaining My Design and Personal Mission in God's Body and Work in the World. 

Do you wonder about how God has designed and molded you uniquely to contribute to His work in the world and the lives of others? We want our lives to matter for God’s Kingdom and at different points in our lives we ask:  

“Who am I now?”
“Is there something different for me next?”
“How can I re-focus my priorities?”

This module helps us affirm and discover our personal design, mission, and passion for life and service in the Lord at any stage of life. The Significant Woman is a biblically based life-coaching discipleship resource that is designed to help a woman Pursue her uniqueness, Embrace her design in relationship with God, Activate her mission, Refocus her life, Live intentionally, and Sustain for the long-run (PEARLS.) This module will allow you to experience the process for yourself as well as see how it can be used in the lives of women in your ministry, church, neighborhood or work place. (No advance preparation.)

#2: Group Discipleship: Guiding Dynamic Learning: Gaining confidence and skill to guide growth as a co-learner through dynamic discussion and relationships. 

Do you back away from leading Bible Studies or discipleship groups because you lack confidence or don’t know what to do? This module coaches us in the art of facilitating growth through relationship and discussion. Making the shift from “teaching as telling” to “guide on the side” allows the kind of relational experiences that nurture lifetime disciples – and it’s something that many of us can learn to do more effectively than lecture! Guided peer-learning frees us to connect the truth of God’s Word with the realities of our lives, using any good content of your choice well. Group learning involves becoming a co-learner and a guide, actively listening, preparing good questions that guide toward discovery, staying on track by building continuity, building trust and respect among members, and designing discipleship experiences that transform and multiply. Besides being a key shift in teaching style to engage the next generation, these are life skills that apply to small group Bible Studies, home groups, ministry teams, web-based meetings, and to the variety of conversations we have daily with people around us! (Some advance preparation.)

#3: Developing a Discerning Heart: Embracing the honesty and courage of a deeper personal walk with God and others. 

Do you sense there is MORE about “freedom in Christ” than you are enjoying in your relationship with God and others? This module concentrates on personal transformation as the process toward a rich walk with God as well as becoming a more effective people helper (Matt. 7:5). It presents a basic framework for helping us look at our lives and problems biblically, so that we can better discern what truths, and distortions of truth, we have learned and therefore live out. The discussion focuses on the dignity and depravity of our design in God’s Image, redemption in Christ, the resources we have in Him, and the role of thirst, thinking, choosing, and emotions in how we experience God and others. Out of this renewed understanding, the participant will gain new hope for her own walk with God as well as learn to help others see themselves biblically and move toward spiritual and emotional wholeness. (Some advanced preparation.)

#4: Mentoring Next Generation Women: Bridging the generation gap in the age of technology for the relationships we need and want! 

Do you feel a bit intimidated, frustrated, or just baffled in relationships with women around you who were raised in a different generational culture? Jesus set in motion the essential Christian tradition of disciplepship – passing on vibrant faith relationally, from one generation to the next. Young women today clamor for mentors/disciplers who will accept and guide them, but too often the older women that have so much to offer them wrestle with a lack of confidence. How can we build bridges of understanding and connection between generations so that we preserve the rich resource of women-to-women relationships as we move toward each other? We’ll consider influential distinctives of the Boomer to Millennial generations and explore encouraging pathways between them. We’ll explore generational values and perspectives on key issues such as God, spirituality, church, relationships, commitment, sexuality and morality, fears and hopes, the impact of technology and globalization. And we’ll explore the roles and desires of both mentors and mentees, discerning needs and commonalities, types of mentoring relationships, common mentoring mistakes, and how to create the nourishing relationships that busy women want to make time for! (Some advance preparation.) 


#5: Caring for your Soul in the 21st Century 

How is your busyness quotient these days? Do you long for some time alone so you can rest and reconnect with Jesus? How can you find the refreshment and renewal you need to thrive in ministry? Jesus offers an invitation to you: Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. It’s the same invitation Jesus gave to his disciples after a season of intense ministry. Soul Care in the 21st Century is a spiritual formation retreat designed to help you rest, learn, and reconnect with Jesus. Come and discover some new and ancient ways to care for your soul. Find a rhythm for continued spiritual growth that fits your personality and lifestyle. Each day is structured to include rest, food, learning, spiritual practice, reflection, and fellowship. (No preparation needed.)

#6: Studying and Teaching the Word of God: Building solid Bible study skills to equip for personal growth, leading women’s Bible studies and discipling others in and through the truth of God’s Word.  

We will focus on inductive Bible study skills to effectively and accurately unpack the truths of Scripture for our own study as well as to bless others with what we discover. Learning to study God’s Word effectively enables us as disciple-makers as we become more solidly grounded ourselves in the study and knowledge of the Scriptures. (No advance preparation.)


#7: A Global Vision for Women: Engaging Crucial issues 

Women hold up at least half the sky and make up more than half the church. Attention to both the plight and giftedness of women across the globe has been called the “moral challenge and unfinished business” of this century. What are the current callings, challenges, and opportunities of the North American church and missions in response? As the scenery around us is changing rapidly, we will grapple toward clarity and impact of issues like: 

  • rhythms of work and rest,
  • survey of women in ministry from the early church to present, 
  • understanding the discussion around theology of women and its implications, 
  • efforts to address the prevalence of violence against women around the world, 
  • bridging differences in generational culture on technology, morality, learning, and social justice, 
  • intentionality in nurturing the giftedness of women in our care, 
  • collaboration as a key to gospel transformation in the global age. 

We will help each other unpack some of the tensions we experience, embrace what is most important to us by faith, and let God speak to us about what He is doing in our day! (Some advance preparation.)


#8: Homeschooling Through the Years: Refreshment, Management & Encouragement 

Are you excited about homeschooling, but unsure how to do it? Are you burned out and need refreshment? Are you concerned whether your kids are getting what they need to serve the Lord? Over the week, we will explore a wide variety of homeschooling topics, from a specific Christian perspective. These include developing a love of learning, mentoring your kids, tools of learning and independent studies (& when to use them), time & family management. In addition to the above concepts, we will discuss the 7 approaches to Christian homeschooling and share specific ideas for subject areas such as writing, reading, history and more. Finally, we will consider one of the biggest struggles for homeschool moms: juggling your marriage, your family, your home, and your ministry with your homeschool. Most of all, we want you to go away with practical ideas to give your children the best Christian education possible. Ideas that you can implement as soon as you get home. (Some advance preparation.)

#9: The Roots of Faith—Old Testament 

Study the main stories and themes of the Old Testament in a way that will enrich you and also give you a way to teach it to others. This module unfolds the chronological story of a perfect world that became cursed by sin, and the giving of promises regarding a Jewish King who would become the Savior of the world! The course consists of 50 lessons/sessions, each of which focuses on one of 50 key Old Testament redemptive story events. The learning process is engaging, interactive, and FUN. Course participants become certified to teach the course to others. (No advance preparation.)


#10: The Roots of Faith—New Testament 

Study the main stories and themes of the New Testament in a way that will enrich you and also give you a way to teach it to others. This module chronologically unpacks the fulfillment of New Testament hopes and promises, based upon the life and death of Jesus Christ, culminating in a perfectly restored new heavens and earth. The course consists of 50 lessons/sessions, each of which focuses on one of 50 key New Testament redemptive story events. The learning process is engaging, interactive, and FUN. Course participants become certified to teach the course to others. (No advance preparation.)


#11: Leading 10x Bigger: A Path to Preparation 

This experience focuses on developing the capacities needed for women who are gifted and called into a larger scope or responsibility of leadership. Too often the paths to this niche of service leave us unprepared for the unique challenges and opportunities of leadership, especially as women. We will discuss the importance of the heart of the leader as well as her relationships with God, self, and others. We will also consider key functions a leader cannot ignore such as the essential roles of a leader, critical influence skills, and defining and measuring results. Developing confidence, born of humility and calling, allows gifted women to bring needed creativity and perspective to decision-making teams where men and women work together to offer the fullness of God’s Image. (Some advance preparation.)


#12: Step by Step, Your Disciple-making Journey 

Do you lack confidence in how well you’re living in line with what Jesus modeled and entrusted to us – making disciples who make disciples? This Step By Step interactive module examines the life of Christ and His model of making disciples, helps you evaluate your own disciple-making journey, puts an action plan together, and explores intentional disciple-making skills. Walk away with next steps, as well as a clear and practical understanding of how to engage the pre-Christian, establish the believer, equip the worker and expand the Kingdom. In addition, you will be equipped to lead others Step By Step through the disciple-making journey! (Some advance preparation.)

Women's Testimonials
"I am very thankful for the opportunity I had to attend the Soul Care Retreat. I feel it came at just the right time when I was feeling spiritually dry and tired from a busy time on home service. This retreat was a wonderful time of rest, learning, of being together with like-minded women, and being with Jesus. Through the times of learning, the fellowship, the times alone, God opened up to me new ways of seeking after and being with Him. It renewed in my heart a yearning to know Jesus and rest in Him, to take care of my soul, and grow in spiritual formation. Even months after, I am still processing all that I experienced and trying to put into practice what I learned. Not only was the learning invaluable, but the fellowship with the ladies was so rich and deep. If I could, I would attend this retreat again!" -Nettie Sullivan

I’d encourage women in churches or ministry or missions to come. The time away from home, work and ministry in invaluable. The modules are challenging but the growth that occurs in priceless. The worship is unparalled – a slice of heaven! And the friendships formed are precious!

About "Facilitating Group Discipleship"
I would highly encourage this module to any women who are in the Church, not just in missions or ministry leadership. If they are desiring to disciple others, this course gives the essential skill training, practice time, and evaluation needed to grow in confidence and ability. For those coming out of Bible Schools, I would HIGHLY recommend it, because discipleship is NOT being done or taught in most schools. The information is there, but this course offers the practical skills to get it from the classroom to making disciples.

This week has had value in my life by helping solidify principles of facilitation in disciple-making. Many of the concepts were familiar, but it was really helpful to have time to practice this model as well as think about and design a plan of how to apply this to my current or future discipling opportunities. The book we used as our text as well as the devotional readings, the Bible passages, and the audio pieces were enriching and deep food for thought.

This was a refreshing week to really delve deep into the practice of discipleship through group facilitation.  It was a blessing to journey with other women as we  learned to better unpack God’s Word.

I haven’t facilitated a discipleship group before.  I’ve led Bible Study small groups and I’ve taught Bible in the High School, but both are vastly different from what I’ve learned this week about asking good questions, really knowing my content well in order to NOT be glued to an outline, and an ability to go with the flow of discussion. I am overwhelmed at how group discipleship is so undervalued, underused at our churches and ministry contexts.

Developing a Discerning Heart:
This week changed my life. It was a safe place for me to open my heart to other women and grow in some great ways. God moves here, and if you want to come discover Him in a real way, this is a great place.

Significant Woman:
This course helps Christian women re-evaluate God’s unique design for them and gave me tools to further discover this. Yet this is the first time other women spoke into my uniqueness through the peer facilitation process – very powerful!

General:
I’d encourage women in churches or ministry or missions to come. The time away from home, work and ministry in invaluable. The modules are challenging but the growth that occurs in priceless. The worship is unparalled – a slice of heaven! And the friendships formed are precious!