Dear Lucy Leader … Can we form a second group at our church?

Dear Lucy Leader,

I am a young woman and my friends and I are interested in missions and would love to be a part of LWML. Currently the LWML group at our church meets during the day, and we work outside the home, so we can’t attend these meetings. Is it possible for us to form our own group?

Diana

Dear Diana,

I am so excited that you and your friends are interested in missions and would like to be a part of LWML. The answer is yes! You most certainly can form your own group. LWML has clear steps that will enable you to start a new LWML group. You can find those steps and the resources that you need on the LWML website: How to Start a New Group. Remember that the local group should always follow the polity of their local congregation when forming a new group.

It would be good for you to share your enthusiasm and your plans with the current group at your church. At some point, the two groups may be able to plan some joint activities.

May God bless you and your friends as you become involved in serving the Lord with gladness through the LWML!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019–2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Dear Lucy Leader … How can we reach out to a missionary?

Dear Lucy Leader,

The group in our church loves to support missions through prayer and giving mite offerings. We would like to interact more personally with missionaries. How can we reach out to a missionary?

Mission-Minded Martha

Dear Mission-Minded Martha,

You are answering Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations. Thank you for your support of missions through prayer and mite giving. LWML, as Lutheran Women in Mission, has been actively involved in supporting missions around the world with mite offerings for over 75 years.

A list of LCMS missionaries, their photos, and where they serve can be found at https://international.lcms.org. More resources — including additional LCMS resources — are available on the LWML website.

Missionaries would love to have you as a partner. LWML has a wonderful resource, Care for a Missionary, that will help you experience the joy of supporting and praying for specific needs of that missionary.  

May God bless you as you uphold His missionaries in prayer. May He bless your efforts to reach out to those missionaries!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019–2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Dear Lucy Leader … Who Can Be on an LWML Committee?

Dear Lucy Leader,

What qualifications are required of LWML committee members?  

Committee Member Want to Bea

Dear Committee Member Want to Bea,

The first and most important qualification is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). The next important qualification is to be passionate about LWML and its mission.

Active and energetic committees are necessary for LWML to function at its best. Committee members who are enthusiastic, productive and use their talents and energies to fulfill the purpose of the committee are essential to the LWML. Here is a link to help you understand more about being a member of an LWML committees: www.lwml.org/posts/leadership/committees-an-overview. 

Cooperation among committee members is important in ensuring that the committee accomplishes its goals. Communication is vital. Committees are expected to produce a significant amount of work, and the members should be competent and knowledgeable about the committee’s goals. More is accomplished when members work on assignments between meetings. Being part of a committee that works together to serve the Lord is a rewarding experience.

There are committees on every level and in all ministry areas of LWML. Look for the committee that best matches your passion and skill set. To find out about committees in your local group or zone, contact the president at that level. To learn about committees in your district, check your district LWML website and look for the bylaws. You can also contact your district president. To learn about the committees on the national level, go to www.lwml.org/officers-and-committees.

As a committee member, you play an important role in the success of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League’s mission. Consciously seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance — contributing the specialness that is you — actively fulfilling your committee’s purpose — enriching and enabling each other through mutual accomplishment — that’s how God’s people serve Him in love!

God’s blessings to you as you serve Him!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019–2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Dear Lucy Leader … Juggling Roles in Life

Dear Lucy Leader,  

I am honored and privileged to serve the Lord through the LWML. How do our leaders juggle all their roles as an officer, wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, worker, friend, and neighbor? I understand that God gives me strength and all that I need, but some days I just need some practical advice and the comfort of someone who has mastered it.  

Thank you for helping us all to be better leaders.

Karla

Dear Karla, 

You ask a very good question. Sometimes it may feel like you are trying to juggle too many things at one time. It seems like there is never enough time to finish what you start. LWML has the resource for you! Time Management: Manage Yourself, not Your Time will help you rate the importance of a task, and then it will show you six simple steps to manage yourself. So, set aside a little chunk of time to read this document. You won’t be disappointed!

Time is a most precious resource. Each of us has been given the same amount of time, and you have chosen to use much of your time in serving as a leader in the LWML. We thank God for you! 

Be realistic with what you can achieve in the time allotted. This will help you feel positive about your accomplishments. Prioritize your day. Make a list of activities in order from most important to least important. Focus first on the #1 task on your priority list as you begin your day. Include things you enjoy as well as necessary tasks. Examine your daily routine to discover if you are wasting time with an activity. For instance, are you checking social media more often than you feel you should? Wise leaders know when to say “no” and when to set their tasks aside to listen or help someone in need.

Most importantly, make time in the Word a priority. Take time to go to the Lord in prayer. He will bless your use of the time He has given you.

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019–2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Dear Lucy Leader … Inviting Non-members to Events

Dear Lucy Leader,

Can LWML women invite non-members to events, like for instance, school parents who do not belong to our church body?

Teena

Dear Teena,

Thank you for asking that question. The answer is “yes!”

As Lutheran Women in Mission, we joyfully proclaim Christ, support missions, and equip women to honor God by serving others.. Reaching out to non-LCMS women in our everyday lives is, therefore, encouraged.

We, as LWML women, make our faith meaningful by equipping each woman to make a significant difference in the lives of all people. We share encouragement by valuing each other in Christ and accepting and encouraging each woman to grow in her relationship with others.

These mission statements certainly encourage LWML women to invite guests — the people of our communities and the world — to LWML events such as Bible studies, servant activities, fellowship meals, and game nights.

LWML is perfectly positioned to be a connecting point between church members and school families. Servant events are good activities that can connect people of all generations. You can find some at www.lwml.org/youth. Another helpful resource is www.lwml.org/posts/young-women-resources/meeting-ideas-other-than-business-meetings.

May God bless you as you reach out to the people in your community!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019-2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Dear Lucy Leader … The Mentoring Relationship: Being a Mentee

Dear Lucy Leader,

I’ve found a great LWML mentor who is going to give me lots of great ideas, but what do I need to do as her mentee?  

Margaret from Manhattan

Dear Margaret from Manhattan,

First, thank God that He has given you an LWML mentor. Be sure to express your gratitude to your mentor as well. 

Together set boundaries with your mentor. Communicate expectations clearly for both of you. Keep confidential information confidential. Remember that God will be the one causing your growth. Allow God to work through both of you.

You will not want to become a carbon copy of your mentor. Be the person God has created you to be. Do not idolize her or let others idolize her. Always remember to look to Jesus.

Mentoring is not all work and no play. Schedule times for fun together. This is a good way to really get to know each other.

There may be a time when the mentoring relationship grows into an appreciation for each other’s gifts and talents and the mentee is ready to become a mentor for another Lutheran woman in mission. The skills learned from your mentor can be shared with others. Mentoring is a way in which we share our relationship with the Lord to help someone else grow in a personal relationship with Him. It may be time for you to mentor someone using the skills you learned from your mentor.

There is a wealth of information about mentoring at www.lwml.org/posts/leadership/how-to-mentor-and-encourage-others.

May God bless you and your mentor as you work together!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019-2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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Dear Lucy Leader … Making Meaningful Meetings

Dear Lucy Leader,

I have recently been elected president of our local group. I am busy and I know the women in our congregation are also busy. I want to be sure the meetings are a good use of our women’s time. How can we make the meetings meaningful to the women of our congregation?

Busy Beverly

Dear Busy Beverly,

Being considerate of the women in your congregation’s time is very commendable. It is important to assess meeting times and frequency according to the needs of your group. 

There should be clear goals for the meeting, and the goals should dictate how often the group meets. Here are some standard goals for LWML group meetings: 

• Assist LCMS women to affirm their faith in the Triune God;
• Enable LCMS women to use their gifts in ministry to others;
• Provide opportunities to bond in fellowship;
• Provide opportunities to praise and serve God;
• Enable the women to establish goals, set timelines, and accomplish the ministries they have chosen to undertake; and
• Provide each woman with a voice in making decisions for the organization.

You can find tips to help with meeting efficiency at www.lwml.org/posts/leadership-tips/meetings-with-meaning. There are more tips to put together a successful meeting at www.lwml.org/posts/leadership-tips/meetings-with-meaning.

May you and your group find joy in the ministry and mission of the LWML!

Lucy Leader

Do you have a question for Lucy Leader?
Write in to the Vice President of Organizational Resources here!

God's Blessings,
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Leadership Development Committee

2019-2021 LWML Leadership Development Committee Members
Marie McNary
Sherrie Smith
Lois Teinert, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, Advisory

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