Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Leadership Tips with the Dear Lucy Leader advice column!

Juggling Roles in Life

Dear Lucy, 

I am honored and privileged to serve the Lord through the LWML. How do our leaders juggle all their roles as an officer, wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, worker, friend, and neighbor? I understand that God gives me strength and all that I need, but some days I just need some practical advice and the comfort of someone who has mastered it.

Thank you for helping us all to be better leaders.

Karla

Dear Karla, 

You ask a very good question. Sometimes it may feel like you are trying to juggle too many things at one time. It seems like there is never enough time to finish what you start. LWML has the resource for you! Time Management: Manage Yourself, not Your Time will help you rate the importance of a task, and then it will show you six simple steps to manage yourself. So, set aside a little chunk of time to read this document. You won’t be disappointed!

Time is a most precious resource. Each of us has been given the same amount of time, and you have chosen to use much of your time in serving as a leader in the LWML. We thank God for you! 

Be realistic with what you can achieve in the time allotted. This will help you feel positive about your accomplishments. Prioritize your day. Make a list of activities in order from most important to least important. Focus first on the #1 task on your priority list as you begin your day. Include things you enjoy as well as necessary tasks. Examine your daily routine to discover if you are wasting time with an activity. For instance, are you checking social media more often than you feel you should? Wise leaders know when to say “no” and when to set their tasks aside to listen or help someone in need.

Most importantly, make time in the Word a priority. Take time to go to the Lord in prayer. He will bless your use of the time He has given you.

Lucy Servant Leader

God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Leadership Tips with the Dear Lucy Leader advice column!

Spanish Resources

Dear Lucy Leader, 

Our church has a Spanish service to reach the people of our community who do not speak English fluently. Our LWML group is now entering a phase where we need more bilingual resources and would love to provide them. Are there any Spanish resources on the LWML website?

Thank you,

Evangelistic Evelyn

Dear Evangelistic Evelyn,

Congratulations on the expansion of your church and group to include the Spanish-speaking community in your area! Language barriers can always be tricky when trying to communicate with and learn from others as they become a part of the family of Christ. As always, go to the Lord in prayer to guide you in this endeavor. Also, there is a section of LWML resources in Spanish at lwml.org/espanol. I hope these resources aid your congregation and group to continue this outreach.

May God guide you in your endeavors!

Lucy Leader

God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory

Dear LWML Leaders,

Welcome back to Leadership Tips with the Dear Lucy Leader advice column!

Team Building

Dear Lucy Leader, 

I am the current president of our zone. Our zone is blessed to have women in leadership who come from many groups within the zone. However, there is some division between groups in our zone and this division is keeping us from functioning efficiently as a team. Are there any resources on the LWML website to address this issue?

Thanks,

Frustrated Fiona

Dear Frustrated Fiona,

As always, my first recommendation is to go to the Lord in prayer, both privately and in your gatherings with your zone. He will guide your zone in their endeavors and bring the focus back to Him. In times of strife, He will guide you all on your path. There is a team building section on the website at lwml.org/posts/leadership/team-building-activities that may be helpful. Doing some of these exercises together may help to heal some of the divisions and get you all working as a team. 

May God guide you in your endeavors!

Lucy Leader

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory

Dear LWML Leaders,

Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.

Attributes of a Leader

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).

No two groups of people have the same abilities because they are made up of unique individuals, each with their own set of God-given gifts. God has placed them together to achieve the plans that He has made for them. However, there are certain qualities that can be helpful in every effective leader:

           Listening to and learning from others in your group can bring about meaningful discussion that could turn a good idea into a plan of active service. Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent (Proverbs 11:12).

           Encourage others to use their talents and help channel them to where they are most effective within the group. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

           An agreeable attitude will go a long way in keeping a discussion moving and finding a successful compromise when necessary. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18).

           Devote time to prayer. Pray for the guidance God has promised to send, listen for His instructions, and move forward expecting Him to be there with you. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

           Enthusiasm in your service to the Lord will set an energetic example for your group. When your energy is lagging, explain to your group what you are feeling and allow them to serve and support you. Don’t rob them of an opportunity for service. doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (Ephesians 6:6b-7).

           Rejoice in your role as leader. God has placed you in this position for a reason and He will not abandon you. He has planned your life down to the smallest detail and will walk with you every step of the way. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

Pray for and develop as many of these qualities as possible within yourself. Look for other leaders in your group with strong leadership qualities different from your own; mentor them and let them lead with you. Together your group can serve the Lord with gladness.

God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory

Dear LWML Leaders,

Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.

Leaders Have Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. … And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4,7).

“I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart — Down in my heart to stay!” (Little Ones Sing Praise, Concordia Publishing House, 1989, 62). This joyous children’s song is a very good explanation of what Christian leaders understand about joy. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit gifted to us by God through faith — a part of our daily lives which we share with people around us. But the hard fact is that there are days when we feel robbed of our joy, or we feel guilty because we don’t feel joyful.

How do leaders tap into their joy again? How do they help others around them rediscover joy? They pray for God to reveal His truth about joy to themselves and others in need. They immerse themselves in the Word, finding solace in the promise of baptism uniting them with Christ’s saving grace; nothing can separate us from that gift of faith. They seek out Christian friends and family to walk with them through difficult, joy-robbing times and share with them the peace and joy that comes at the end of those trials.

The renewed knowledge of being a forgiven child of God in all circumstances — happy or sad, easy or difficult, joyful or not — will bring His peace and that peace will guard all our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. His love has put His joy down in our hearts to stay! Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, nothing in the world can take that joy away.

God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory

Dear LWML Leaders,

Confidence in Christian leadership is being grounded in the Word.

He Restores My Soul

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul (Psalm 23:1–3a).

As leaders, part of our job is to help and do things for other people. We might write a letter, send a text/email, give a hug, say a prayer, or help with a project. We are blessed to be called to serve God’s people!

Another part of our job is to make sure we take time to rest and restore ourselves so that we can serve others. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We need to stop and rest in the loving care of the words of our Lord and give our burdens to Him in prayer. When our souls have been restored, we can once again joyfully serve Jesus and His people.

God bless you with peaceful rest and joyful service!

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).

God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory

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).

Have you ever gone to your mailbox expecting to get bills and junk mail and you found that someone sent you a beautiful card just because they were thinking about you? Suddenly, your heart is happy, your day is brighter, and you feel a connection to that person.

As women in the LWML, we will meet many women as we serve in our various roles. Some we may only see once a year, but others we may see much more often. As sisters in Christ, we all have the common bond of Jesus’ love, and we likely have many more ways to connect if we take the time to get to know each other more.

You could play a “get to know you” game at an event or have question cards on your tables at fellowship. Look for connections with other ladies. Then be the one who sends the card for no reason except that you were thinking of them. This simple act of care and encouragement will have a lasting impact.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). The love of Christ holds us together. Our connection to Him and to each other is what helps us Serve the LORD with gladness! (Psalm 100:2a).

God's Blessings,

2021–2023 Group and Leader Development Committee Members
Christina Bean
Elaine Engelman
Jennifer Gierke
Brianne Stahlecker, Chairman
Marie Chow, Vice President of Organizational Resources, advisory