Ministry Leader/Group Leader Questions
The following are the most commonly asked questions posed by group leaders.
How do I start this ministry at my church or organization?
We recommend a ministry launch event — a Saturday morning workshop, luncheon, evening meeting, for example-to inspire your women and instruct them how to create groups. Begin promoting the arrival of Prayer Sisters™ at least four to six weeks prior to the event. A Prayer Sisters™ speaker is available to help with this event if you so choose.
How is this ministry maintained?
Give your groups something to look forward to, such as seasonal gatherings of all existing Prayer Sisters™ groups. When groups get together, they celebrate answered prayers and share stories as well as inspire even more women to participate. Groups are also invited to share their stories with us at PrayerSisters.org. Watch for them to appear in the stories section of our website!
How many leaders do I need to help me start it?
This completely depends upon the size of your church or organization. We have found that a leadership team makes ministry much more successful and fulfilling. Smaller churches could have co-leaders while larger organizations might require a team of three to five to help share responsibilities. However, it is also possible to lead a Prayer Sisters™ ministry with just one person willing to take charge of the events.
What does a Ministry Launch Event look like?
Each church and organization will tailor their own events to fit the personality of their women, yet some aspects we highly recommend include:
- Prayer
- Inspiration (often a speaker to inspire women about the concept of Prayer Sisters™)
- Introductions. Women often attend events such as this to connect with other women. At Prayer Sisters™, we are passionate about giving women every opportunity to make new friends and to deepen existing friendships.
- Basic instructions on how to start a group
- Plans for follow-up events. Give the women some sense of supervision to help them get started.
How many women will it take to develop this ministry?
You can begin Prayer Sisters™ with as few as three women. We recommend groups consist of three to seven women. One group praying will hopefully inspire other women to create their own groups. This doesn't have to be a big ministry to positively affect the lives of many — the Prayer Sisters™ themselves, their families, as well as the entire church and community that they pray for!
What materials are available to me as a Ministry Leader?
See our Event Kit for current event promotion materials. A handbook is also in the making.
How will our church or organization fit into the larger Prayer Sisters™ Community?
We would like each group to register with us at PrayerSisters.org. This will allow us to keep groups informed of upcoming news and events as well as help give us a picture of who our Prayer Sisters™ are so we can continue providing support!
Is Prayer Sisters™ affiliated with a denomination or religion?
Prayer Sisters™ is a Christian non-profit organization not related to any denomination. See "What We Believe" for our Statement of Faith.
How much will this ministry cost my church or organization?
At this point, the only cost of maintenance is printing materials. Costs can be kept down by downloading our logo from our website and printing announcements and other information on standard copy paper. Larger churches or organizations with a larger budget may prefer to download the color brochure and print on glossy stock paper.
The ministry itself incurs very little expense. The element of Prayer Sisters™ that holds the most room for expense is the ministry launch event, especially if a speaker is hired.
How much will a ministry launch event cost?
You can make Prayer Sisters™ as elaborate or as simple as you like. Some churches choose to have big events with a Prayer Sisters™ speaker, food, decorations, bracelets, etc. Others may choose to have a simple meeting with little fanfare and little cost. You will have to make that determination based on the personalities and culture of your women. Some organizations choose to gather smaller groups of women in homes to introduce the concept of Prayer Sisters™, keeping the cost to a bare minimum.
Is there leadership training available for my ministry leaders?
Yes, a Prayer Sisters™ speaker can arrive one day earlier than the planned event to pre-train your leaders.
What are other Women's Ministry Directors saying about Prayer Sisters™?
"To think that I can have someone come into my church and help me launch a ministry that helps women connect and pray more — I'm all over that!"
- Ruth Bowser, Women's Ministry Director, Southeast Christian Church, Parker, Colorado.