Women Mentoring Women 

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17 

Program Theme  

Let’s stick together and grow together utilizing a cactus theme.  

Decorations and Room-Set-up 

• Burlap rounds with potted faux or live Cactus centerpieces 
• Green placemats with cactus design napkins 

Themed Food Ideas  

• Green, candy covered pretzel rods 
• Cactus cupcakes 
• Coffee bar with flavored syrups

Program Outline  

Welcome and Prayer- Pray that the Holy Spirit will bring women together in your corps to foster spiritual growth and build unity in the body of Christ.  

Ice Breaker  – “What’s on UR phone?” (https://womensministrytoolbox.com/icebreaker-game-whats-on-ur-phone/) This icebreaker will encourage conversation, interject some fun, and foster a joyful mood for your Women’s Ministry gathering.  

Getting to Know You Activity   

From your local garden store, purchase mini terra-cotta pots, cactus potting soil and mini cactus for each participant. As the women pot their cactus, they can get to know each other by asking a few simple “CACTUS” questions.  

• What do you CARE about?  
• What makes you ANGRY?  
• What CONCERNS are on your heart today?  
• What are you THANKFUL for?  
• What URGENT prayer requests do you have?  
• What is your favorite SCRIPTURE? 

Let’s Stick Together and Grow Together! Proverbs 27:17 NIV 

In the fall of 1997, I walked into the Home League for the first time in Kentucky. My husband’s job had transferred us to a new town, and I had transferred my RN job to the local hospital. My husband and I had been married five years, and our son was two. My family lived in Florida and I needed the Christian fellowship of other women. Having grown up in The Salvation Army, I knew I would be welcomed at this new Home League. Week after week, I attended with my little boy in tow, and was welcomed with open arms. I received godly advice and prayer from this varied group of older women. Without even realizing it, they mentored me and helped shape me, along with my Mother and Grandmother, into the woman I am today.  

As I look back over the years, God has given me many mentors and has allowed me to mentor others. It’s truly a beautiful thing to see how these relationships fostered spiritual growth in each of us. With this small group of women we studied God’s Word, had fellowship, held each other accountable, celebrated milestones, and cried with each other during times of grief and crisis. We truly “stuck together.” Women mentoring women is biblical, it builds and strengthens the Body of Christ. Scripture tells us “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God” (Titus 2:3-5). 

Women mentoring women is about relationships and connectedness. Building relationships and intentionally connecting with others edifies the Church. In his book, Social Holiness, The Company We Keep, author Jonathan Raymond, says “growing saints requires small, socially spiritual settings of support and accountability not limited to small group Bible studies, prayer meetings, recovery groups, book clubs, and cooking classes.” Raymond goes on to say that these groups hold us accountable and that accountability “involves caring enough about others to go deeper, below the mere surface of social life to true fellowship.” True fellowship is God-honoring, and at its best, fulfills and grows us spiritually.  

This reminds me of one of my favorite books in the Bible. Proverbs deals with life, principles, good judgment, perception, and relationships. Proverbs often draws distinctions between a wise person and a foolish person and gives a great deal of wisdom regarding relationships. Over 3,000 Proverbs were written by King Solomon who is the wisest man who ever lived. 1 Kings 4:29 tells us that Solomon received godly wisdom and insight which was “measureless like the sand on a seashore.” God gave Solomon vast knowledge, regarding life and relationships.  

Such wisdom is found in Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (NIV). Godly relationships improve and sharpen each other over time. Specifically, women mentoring other women in a God honoring manner is a process used by the Holy Spirit to shape us spiritually. In my study of this Proverb, I learned that a blacksmith uses one piece of iron to sharpen another piece through hammering and friction. The process involves two different types of iron. As the pieces of iron connect, they sharpen each other. The Message paraphrase says it this way: “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” The godly company we keep helps us grow spiritually. These relationships take work and maybe even hard conversations of accountability for this sharpening to occur. Speaking the truth in love, demonstrating biblical care and concern for one another, and guiding each other are all part of God’s refining and shaping process. Additionally, being open to feedback and guidance from others and giving a lot of grace helps us “stick together” and grow spiritually. It takes intentionality and nurturing.  

Discussion Questions:  

• Who are you allowing in your life to speak truth and love regarding your spiritual growth?  
• Do you have a friend or mentor who provides spiritual support and accountability?  
• Who are you mentoring?  

Closing Prayer  

Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you that your Word gives us godly wisdom for our everyday lives. We thank you for the relationships that You have given us. Help us, Lord, to go deeper in our love and concern for one another and to hold each other accountable to Your Word. Help us to speak truth and love to each other for the purpose of building and growing the Body of Christ. Help us to be open and our words seasoned with Your grace. In Jesus’ Name! Amen.  

Resources: 

• Raymond, Jonathan S., Social Holiness, The Company We Keep. 2018. The Salvation Army Crest Books and Aldersgate Press.  
• Lennox, S.J. (1999) Proverbs: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Wesleyan Publishing House.  
• Holy Bible (NIV, MSG)