MAG Women's Ministries

Manassas Assembly of God
Bristow, Virginia

Women’s Ministries at Manassas Assembly of God (MAG), Bristow, Virginia, is a unique blend of Bible study and fellowship groups, friendships and events.

The foundation of Women’s Ministries at MAG is built solidly on the many quarterly Bible studies they offer for the women of the church and community. The Women’s Ministries education team oversees between eight and eleven studies per quarter, held in homes or in the church, covering a wide variety of topics and intensity levels.

The focus of these studies is strong on life application and the women are experiencing great success with these studies, “to the glory of God,” states Patty Keating, director. “We also host three to five fellowship groups quarterly, discussing such topics as scrap-booking, home organization, book clubs and mentoring for single mothers or groups for single women.” Given the inviting atmosphere and relational tone of these studies, MAG Women’s Ministries views them as perfect opportunities for women of the church to invite unsaved friends.

Carrying the evangelistic nature of their meetings further, MAG Women’s Ministries held a special outreach last January called “New Year, New You.” The focus of this event was to teach women how to dress not only fashionably, but also modestly. A speaker taught briefly from the Word on the subject of inner beauty. Several women brought neighbors and friends who didn’t normally attend the church.

Manassas Assembly of God is a large church, serving 2,100 people on a regular basis, and many more during the holidays. Patty Byrd Keating was appointed as Women’s Ministries coordinator over five years ago, after praying for whoever the new director should be—not knowing she was praying for herself. “The most valuable thing I’ve learned in leadership is this: if you are called by God to lead a ministry, the best thing you can do on a regular basis is to prostrate yourself before Him, and tell Him ‘I can’t do this except by the wisdom and power You give me. This ministry is Yours completely.’ ”

Women’s Ministries at MAG has built five areas of ministry into its structure. Each area has a coordinator, an assistant, and volunteer workers as needed. Patty Keating explains, “God has been incredibly faithful to bring professional women into each leadership role. For instance, we have a CPA, Tricia Neale, who serves as our treasurer; a professional conference planner, Calla Carver, in our conference coordinator’s position; and a professional writer, Mary Yerkes, who serves as our newsletter and Web site coordinator.” Terry Mayhugh serves as education coordinator and Kelly Decker serves as in-house events coordinator, to plan any events held at the church. Women feel connected to Women’s Ministries at MAG through the Women’s Connection quarterly newsletter and e-zine, www.magwomensconnection.org, produced by Yerkes and a team of staff writers.

During the winter quarter, the education team is planning to launch a pilot “Snuff Out Cancer” Ministry Group for cancer victims and their families. Two women at Manassas Assembly of God have been part of the church body for many years, but never took a leadership position. Both are breast cancer survivors and recently approached Patty about leading a “Snuff Out Cancer” Ministry Group. One of them said, “I’m so shy, and I don’t like talking in front of people, but I know that God wants me to share what He’s done in my life.” Patty had just received the Snuff Out Cancer Ministry Packet, and felt God was leading them to start this group.

A favorite event of the women of MAG is the Ladies’ Spring Tea, held annually on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. The event is frilly and traditional, and includes a silent auction to raise money for a missions cause that specifically focuses on ministry to women. In years past, the women of MAG have given to Read the Light (a missions literacy program), missionary Donna Hardee and the tea rooms of Central Eurasia.

Of the future of MAG Women’s Ministries, Patty says, “This is the time of year when we are planning for next year, and I am very excited about what God is going to do in 2007!”