Women’s Ministry: A Vessel For Flourishing

Hey ladies! Welcome back to this new semester! We are so excited to be back with all of you!

We wanted to take a moment to welcome you back as well as inform you of some new things. We want to introduce to you the newest member of the blog team!

“Hey y’all! For those that don’t know me, my name is Grace Ann! I’m one of the new members of the Women’s Ministry Blog Team and I am so excited to be encouraging y’all through this vessel! Hopefully, whether you’re a freshman or senior, you’ve already felt so welcomed to the Trojan family!”

Be on the lookout for her blogs this semester!

Don’t forget to take a look around the new website. We’ve got tons of resources for you to explore and ways for you to get connected this semester. 

Secondly, we have a new theme! Every school year, we decide on a theme that would best represent what we hope to reflect on and encourage others with. This year, our theme is “Flourish”. 

Here are some words from Mrs. Becky (our amazing women’s minister) about this year’s theme:

“Our vision is to encourage women to be rooted in Christ. Our theme verse speaks directly to this vision for women at AU.

‘The person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

    which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.’ Psalm 1:3

We want to emphasize our ability to flourish as women of God. Just as the verse says above, the “leaf does not wither” when our roots are dug deep in the soil and we are planted near the water. When we are rooted in Christ, planted close to the Spirit and in the word,  we will stand forever.

As you take in the words that weave stories of hope from the women on our campus, it is my prayer that they will be transformed by the work God is doing in their lives.”

One way we love to encourage women to dig deep is through our mentoring program. This semester, we are continuing to match people up with mentors. This is a great opportunity for you to get connected with some of the AMAZING women who volunteer to be mentors in our community. 

Our mentoring program is one of our longest running and most impactful things that we do here on campus. For 11 years, we have been connecting students to mentors to help foster spiritual growth on an individual basis. 

This one-on-one style of discipleship is something that we feel is missing in our modern church experience. Oftentimes as college students we lack accountability and community, two things that are essential to spiritual growth. We aim to get you connected with someone who is a little bit ahead of you in life, that way you can learn from their experience and advice. 

We have seen so many women on our campus benefit greatly from this discipleship. Often, it provides the framework for you to deepen your relationship with God in a way that is unique. It helps you bring a sense of intentionality to your intimacy with the Lord, not to mention it is a safety net to fall back on when things are crazy and you don’t know what to do. 

Here’s what Sloane, one of our amazing writers, experienced: 

“Hi I’m Sloane. I'm a junior Creative Writing major and a member of the AU Women’s Ministry Blog Team. I got the chance to mentor someone through the AU Women’s Ministry Mentoring program last year. The mentorship experience is definitely something I would recommend to any young women seeking a spiritual partner to walk through college life with. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ, whether you need an accountability partner, you feel spiritually depleted, or you have no idea where you stand in your faith, this program is for you!

 I chose to be a mentor because I felt God pushing me toward a leadership role in which I could pour into others and give back to my AU community. In the past I have always told myself I would never lead, because I wasn’t suited or didn’t have the capability. As I got older, I participated more in Bible study groups in high school and community groups in college. Through that I got to see how sharing what God had taught me through my experiences and spiritual struggles allowed me to be a testimony to others, and an outlet for God’s wisdom. When given the opportunity to become a mentor, I realized that this was something I would never do, but definitely something that God would do through me, as I’d be relying solely on him. I realized this would be my opportunity to take a leap of faith, and I am so glad I did!

This program is great for leaders who may be new to leadership (like I was) and would prefer a more intimate one-on-one leadership role. For both the mentor and mentee it is a more connective way to engage with someone on a spiritual level. My mentee and I would get lunch together, get to know one another, and most importantly, dig into the Word! 

As a mentor, I got just as much out of the experience as a mentee would. I got to see how sharing the wisdom God taught me over the years could be used to reach others. It also gave me a chance to see how people who grew up differently than myself can still share in the same spiritual battles I deal or have dealt with. Many of us get so used to others filling up our vessels. But, once you get the chance to be the vessel that pours into others you get an overwhelming joy and peace that comes from fulfilling your purpose in Christ. 

‘And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.’ - Hebrews 10:24-25

 It was a humbling experience for us both. My mentee would ask questions or share concerns, while I shared wisdom from my own experiences and scripture that had been laid on my heart. God moved in some incredible ways through that experience by teaching me about leadership, community, and the amazing ways He can use people for His glory and purposes!”

We hope you will get connected with us this semester. 

The Women’s Ministry is here for you! We have a passion for empowering women through scripture to flourish in their Spiritual walk. We strive to provide hope, connection, and resources for women to thrive in your Spiritual journey here at AU! We know this semester is already challenging, but despite our circumstances, we know God’s plan for the building up of his Kingdom shall NOT be thwarted. 

Let’s flourish together ladies!

P.S. Check our IG page for the latest updates on all things Women’s ministry and (hint-hint) some possible giveaways!