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Local Women’s Ministries Feature—Carpenter’s Shop Church Women’s Ministries

Ahoskie, North Carolina

Women’s Ministries at Carpenter’s Shop Church in Ahoskie, North Carolina is racially and culturally diverse. The group’s strength lies in its structure: several small groups rather than one large one. Led by licensed minister Joy Phillips, who is Pastor Wallace Phillips’ wife, Women’s Ministries here is committee-structured. The diversity of this group is exemplified in their leadership:

• Kim Metz works outside the home, is married with no children, and heads up décor and special events.
• Angela Myrick, single-parent mom with two children, does marketing and secretarial.
• Denise Terry, stay-at-home mom with one child, does set-up and preparation.
• Debra Morris, never married, is responsible for planning and execution of events.

Several ministry groups are available at Carpenter’s Shop:

• Woman to Woman encourages women to be involved on a fellowship and accountability level through one-on-one mentoring. After being assigned a mentor, the two women work out meeting times according to their schedules. Prayer, fellowship and Bible study are encouraged.
• Friends Helping Friends is a monthly support group for those who have experienced loss. Dialogue and fellowship are geared to help women cope with their loss, work through their emotions, and move toward wholeness.
• Azalea Gardens Outreach is a weekly Bible study that ministers to seniors in an adult retirement community. Crafts and cooking bring a refreshing personal touch to these meetings.
• Women’s weekly Bible study takes place every Wednesday evening and includes popular studies, such as those offered by Beth Moore.
• The Annual Spring Tea is eagerly anticipated by women who enjoy tea and fellowship with proper etiquette. Tables adorned with linens and fine china effectively create a tearoom atmosphere.

Unsaved neighbors, friends and loved ones are invited to the annual Women’s Ministries Conference, providing the opportunity for women to personally evangelize other women. Student pastor’s wife Shirleen Garcia helps bridge the gap to the younger generation with special events like Diva Day, where young women receive a makeover and then participate in a fashion show. All the hairstyling, makeup and wardrobes for this event are done by women in the church.

Aprons for Missions is another outreach. Handmade aprons, crafted by the women of the church, are sent to people of the former Soviet Union—along with tracts for the presentation of the gospel.

The holidays are a time to reach out to women who are less fortunate, like widows and senior citizens. College students are reminded they haven’t been forgotten, as Women’s Ministries sends them lovingly-prepared care packages.

Women’s Ministries at Carpenter’s Shop works because they are a network of multiple ministry efforts, each with its own purpose. Regular communication with the pastor assures that personal needs are met—a woman going through a crisis will be linked up to other women who have experienced similar challenges. The women realize everything is not for everybody, and everybody is not for everything. Women are encouraged to find a place of ministry that will utilize their God-given talents and abilities.

PATTY KENNEDY is assistant web content editor for the national Women’s Ministries Department. She also writes book and music reviews for Pages and Tunes, a free e-newsletter provided by the national Women’s Ministries Department.

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