One of the largest challenges women’s ministry leaders face stems from one of Scripture’s simplest mandates:
“In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.” Titus 2:3-5, CSB
With this challenge in mind, the SBC of Virginia Women’s Ministry Team included “Creating an Atmosphere of Discipleship” in its Leadership Roundtable.
At this informal roundtable discussion, over 60 women’s ministry leaders from across Virginia gathered at Staples Mill Road Baptist Church in Glen Allen to hear from Kelly King, formerly with Lifeway Women. The discussion focused on three key topics: conflict resolution, creating and maintaining small groups, and mentoring and discipleship that lasts. For the final topic, mentoring and discipleship that lasts, Laura Steele from The Heights Baptist Church in Colonial Heights led the conversation.
Steele, women’s ministry director at The Heights, along with Karen Hahn, wife of senior pastor Randall Hahn, talked about a wildly successful Titus 2 (T2) program they lead. In this program, women are connected in authentic and natural ways while keeping the atmosphere fun and energetic. T2 gatherings are held at the church on a quarterly basis and provide an opportunity for paired women to share with others how they live out the Titus 2 mandate.
As Steele shared about the T2 program, Joni Orme from Nansemond River Baptist Church in Suffolk was listening intently. Orme had been sensing the Holy Spirit prompting her to step into a larger role in women’s ministry. In fact, she and a team from Nansemond River had recently contacted Dolly Mink, Women’s Ministry Coordinator for the SBC of Virginia, to seek guidance on re-booting their ministry. One key area Orme wanted to develop was a mentoring and discipleship program for their women.
Joni Orme met with Laura Steele, and the two connected immediately. Steele invited a group from Nansemond River to visit The Heights and attend a T2 gathering in person. Inspired by what they saw, the Nansemond River team returned home and implemented many of the same strategies. Today, both ministries are thriving in their respective churches. Women’s attendance at Nansemond River has tripled, and several girls have even expressed interest in joining the T2 program—leading to an exciting new expansion that now includes girls as well.
This is a powerful example of what the SBCV slogan “Not Alone” really means.
“This kind of success is exactly what we pray for,” said Dolly Mink. “It is so rewarding to see churches come together to expand the Kingdom by living out the instructions found in God’s Word.”
The next Leadership Roundtable is currently in the planning stages and is slated to take place in the summer of 2026.
