This article originally appeared in Deacon Magazine.
In ministry we often stay so busy that we'd gladly pay to upgrade our lives from 24/7 to 25/8 if we could. Instead we juggle our pressure-packed schedules while trying to satisfy the competing demands of family, church, and work.
So how do busy women carve out more time for ministry? One answer may be for ministry wives to think like chefs - working smarter, not harder. Many cooking shows promote the idea of getting two meals from one stint in the kitchen. With a little advance planning, for example, we can serve grilled chicken breasts with pasta and Alfredo sauce tonight and shred the leftover chicken for enchiladas or tortilla stacks the next night. One batch of grilled chicken yields two meals: one now, one later.
Ministry wives can adopt the same now-and-later approach by attaching strategic follow-ups to ordinary ministry activities, keeping the future in mind as we plan ministry now. Look for ways to extend the impact of every act of service, no matter how small or routine. Ask: How can I do more with this phone call or visit? How can I expand my results today while simultaneously building a foundation for future ministry?
Here are some starter ideas. As you'll see, this approach to ministry adapts easily to a variety of assignments and church expectations.
Sympathy / awareness
Now: Send a sympathy card to Susanne who is grieving the death of her mom.
Later: Mark your calendar to contact Susanne before the next Mother's Day. Family-related holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mother's or Father's Day can intensify the grief process long after the funeral is over. Susanne will appreciate your acknowledgment of her loss at a time most people have forgotten it. You can use the same process to remember recent widows or widowers at Valentine's Day.
Baptism / encouragement
Now: Help the Pastor prepare for 13-year-old Katie's baptism. Take a few minutes to pray with Katie.
Later: Write the references for two or three Bible promises on the back of a business card or note card after you return to your seat. Then hand the card to Katie after worship and encourage her to read the verses that week. If you don't have a card handy, use a blank scrap of paper, but remember to include your full name and phone number. Choose positive verses like Psalm 46:1 or 1 John 1:9. Send her a note of encouragement via e-mail or by posting on her Facebook wall.
Hospital / research
Now: Make a hospital visit to check on Fran who is hospitalized.
Later: Take the time to learn about the type of heart problems Fran is dealing with. This can help you have a more meaningful conversation with Fran and ask informed questions during her recovery. Research Fran's heart blockage on a medical website. Popular websites include: www.webmd.com; www.mayoclinic.com; www.medicinenet.com; and www.healthline.com. Use a search keyword like "blocked artery," and you'll discover a wealth of information about symptoms and treatment options. Your purpose is NOT to question her treatment or provide advice of any kind, but to be more knowledgeable. Understanding what she is going through shows that you care about what she is going through. (It can often help you pray more specifically, too.)
Prayer / message
Now: Pull Carmen aside after the women's luncheon and ask if you could pray with her about her job search.
Later: Once you're home, write "Pray for Carmen's job search" on a sticky note and place it on your bathroom mirror. Then send Carmen an e-mail or text message later in the week with news that you're praying for her each morning while you fix your hair. If you want to give Carmen an extra smile, snap a photo of the sticky note with your cell phone and send it with your message.
Service / prayers
Now: Join other deacons and wives in preparing trays of bread and juice for your church's observance of the Lord's Supper.
Later: After worship, try to remember the faces of those served near you. Who took the communion trays from the deacon's hands? Write down all the names you remember. If you're not sure of names, list people by descriptions: the mom with two young sons or the elderly gentleman in a wheelchair. At your next family dinner, pray through the list round-robin style.
Greeting / fellowship
Now: Greet the people sitting near you before worship begins. Spend a few extra minutes with first-time guests and new residents, Michael and Jana Berkley.
Later: Invite Michael and Jana to lunch after services to get to know more about them and answer questions about the church and community. Contact Michael and Jana with a personal invitation to an upcoming church event - but make sure it's an event you plan to attend. If they accept your invitation, arrive early so you can greet them at the door. You aren't guaranteed Michael and Jana will join your church, but you can ease their loneliness in a new city and connect them with other Christians close to their age.
Wedding / invitation
Now: Attend the wedding of 24-year-old Rachel, a young woman who grew up in the church.
Later: At the wedding reception, invite Rachel and Chris to join your family for future dinner date. Make it one of those "we'll call you later and set up a time" invitations. When the day arrives, be friendly but genuine. You don't have to impress Rachel and Chris with your "perfect" marriage or sage advice. Most young couples would prefer to hear your newlywed "survival" stories like how you stretched your small income with 101 recipes for tuna.
Seniors / children
Now: Deliver recordings of Sunday's sermon to Betty and Dorothy at a nearby nursing home.
Later: Ask one or two children in advance to doodle pictures about the sermon for your elderly friends. Offer blank pieces of paper if needed, and ask the children to sign their artwork. (You may want to bring some candy or gum to thank the kids for their help.) You can deliver the children's pictures - and some giggles - to Betty and Dorothy on your next visit or mail the pictures to them with a short, "We you missed Sunday!" note.
Personal concern / tech support
Now: Stop Val in the church hallway to ask about her sister's bout with cancer.
Later: Ask Val or one of her friends whether someone has developed a personalized Web site to share updates on her sister. Many families with a seriously ill family member use a free Web site provider like www.caringbridge.org, www.carepages.com, or www.mylifeline.org. If Val's sister has a Web site, take time to check it out (you'll need her full name) and sign up for e-mail updates.
Students / goodies
Now: Stop by the college department on Sunday morning and chat with someof the students.
Later: Find out the date for finals week at your local college or university. (The dates are often listed on the school's Web site under the academic calendar.) Two weeks before the exams, ask adult Sunday School classes to volunteer to take a college student to lunch on the following Sunday as an encouragement to the students (supply names and contact info for students who do not have family close by).
On the Sunday before finals begin, drop by the college class again, this time with a box or two of pastries or cookies. Write a note on the boxes with a felt pen: "Hope your exams go great! You can do all things through Christ! - Philippians 4:13."