Hello!
I am on the Women’s Ministry Team at my church. We are in the process of setting up a new ministry team and events for the following year – having not been on a leadership team very long, several of us are not sure where to start. Our toughest area seems to be childcare – if you have some time to help answer some questions or provide some direction, that would be most appreciated.

When setting up Bible Studies (even if they fall on a normal ‘church night’) – how are childcare needs met? Does the Women’s Leadership team have to schedule individuals to work and then monitor the childcare arrangements (call workers, arrange volunteers, make sure rooms are available, make sure people show up, fill out/complete time cards for the workers, etc.) or do you just notify your pre-school department or calendar manager of the need (date, expected number of children) and they take care of all of the details?

Does it work this way also for events such as Ladies Night’s out – dinners, brunches, etc?

How do you determine which events you will or will not have childcare? Is childcare provided free of charge for free events? How about ticketed events – do you build in the cost of childcare?

It seems that we get so bogged down in details of childcare that we aren’t able to focus on other preparations for the event- yet we know that many women cannot attend unless we provide the childcare option. As advice you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Does your church have an AWANA program or other children's program? Perhaps the children can become plugged in there. If not, you may speak to the Childrens Director about having a Class for Children on the same evening. One example is Beth moore's study JESUS the One and Only also has a Part one and part two for children. Most Womens events I have been to do not offer childcare. Maybe you can discuss this with your NSY/PK director, about providing childcare for ticketed events. Maybe youth leaders (who are already screened) and a few of the older youth will take care of childcare or do a separate program for children for a fee or a donation towards their Youth Camp or Mission Trip.I wish you great success as you serve the Lord through your Womens Ministry Team.

Be in prayer over this question.

Take your team and carefully consider what the church can provide. I personally do not believe that the church should take the responsibility for childcare...even if it is for womens events.

Maybe your team could look at special needs for special groups of women and provide ministry in that area...specific ministry that could involve a short time of childcare provided. But do NOT take shortcuts when it comes to childcare. I mean that! Children are so precious and the church needs to accept a genuine responsibility for QUALITY childcare if the church decides to provide this service to reach a small group of women in your church.
1. QUALITY childcare means setting a limit to how much time these children will be in this care.
2. It also means that the parent stays on the premises in case their child becomes ill.
3. It means the staff of childcare workers are screened for any type of police record or charges.
4. It means that the childcare workers are seen as ministers. Really. Children are not animals to place in a room until you are ready to take them out and play with them again. Children are very impressionable. If we don't provide workers who love the Lord, who care from the heart for children, who want to teach children trust, love and faith...then we may just wind up being a place where children come to HATE church instead of LOVE church.

Womens' Ministry will always have unique challenges. Christ set the example for teaching the value of women and the value of children...they are very precious in His eyes. Sometimes the best care can only be provided by the parent in their own way...not by the church.

Let your team look very carefully at providing quality care and not the quick fix. I know it may seem out of sync but my heart has always felt like the needs of the child should be met with QUALITY care. Most of the womens events our church did lasted for a long time. Too long for a church to adequately care for babies and toddlers in a small nursery for hours.

These are just my thoughts...your team will need to focus on what they believe Christ wants them to do in this area of ministry. I pray that God will bless your team. And will give you discernment and great wisdom as you reach out to women in Christ's Name.