Conversations

Kay Gross serves as Women’s Ministries director of the Ohio District, and is working on her doctorate of ministry with a focus on ministry to women. Gross recently spoke with Darla Knoth, managing editor for Woman’s Touch magazine.

PE: When did you feel a call to ministry?

GROSS: I cannot remember a time when I was not aware of a call into ministry. For many years, my heart’s desire was to be a missionary. Many times I would plead with the Lord to give me the nations as an inheritance.

After returning from a ministry trip to France, the Lord spoke to me about the need for ministry in the United States. I felt God speaking to me that He needed pastors with a missions heart in the States too.

PE: How do you define a woman in ministry?

GROSS: Every woman who knows Jesus as Savior should be a woman in ministry. God doesn’t need everyone in the pulpit. He needs women in the home, in the marketplace, in the schools and throughout our world. We all have the opportunity to be an influence for Christ. I have not always had the same level of involvement, but I’ve always seen my life as a ministry unto God and to people. When my children were small, I remained active in the local church but my primary ministry was to raise them for the Lord. Success in that ministry lends credibility to my ministry today.

PE: What do you see as the needs of women today?

GROSS: Women need to develop meaningful relationships. They need to encounter women of integrity who can help them learn how to be faithful wives, mothers and women, and they need to be given the opportunity to make a difference in their world.

Local Women’s Ministries must capture women’s attention. We must reach out to them through their felt needs and win the opportunity to share Christ and His principles. In our local church, we have many ministry groups. I have been surprised to see the effectiveness of two groups which seem opposite in nature. We provide kickboxing classes on Monday evenings and, without advertisement, we are reaching into our community. Once a month a quilting group meets. It is not the older women of the church who make up the largest part of this group. The younger women want to learn a lost art. Kickboxing and quilting may not seem like spiritual activities, but a lot of informal mentoring occurs.

PE: What advice do you give to women who want to become involved in local church ministry?

GROSS: Even if you are very busy with work and children, find a place in the local church to minister. Many women have a low opinion of what they can contribute. One of the most helpful women in our church feels like she has no talents to give the Lord. But our church could not minister effectively without her work behind the scenes. You may teach a class or be an assistant teacher. You may provide a food dish when there is a need, or arrange flowers for the sanctuary. You may be a prayer warrior on behalf of your pastor and the congregation. The nature of the job itself is not as important as your participation and faithfulness.

If your local ministry is not providing what you are interested in, be a catalyst for change. Don’t throw out what is being done or what has been done in the past. Offer your time and efforts to your pastor and begin a ministry group that will minister to you.

E-mail your comments to pe@ag.org.