Unlimited!

Real Women in Real Relationship with God and Each Other

Tampa, Florida

Affinity Women’s Ministries at Northside Assembly of God in Tampa, Florida, are women in relationship—kindred spirits who come together with a common purpose and vision—to see women restored, whole, healed and walking in their destiny.

Pastor Deanna Shrodes, coordinator, says, “Women are attracted to Northside Affinity Women's Ministries because it is made of real women who are in real relationship with Jesus Christ and with one another!”

The mission of Northside Women’s Ministries is to reach the women of North Tampa and the surrounding area and see them become fully devoted followers of Christ.

The vision of Northside Women’s Ministries is twofold. First, they work to see the women from all walks of life and backgrounds restored to their original God-given purpose and serving in God’s kingdom. Second, they offer discipleship through practical teaching, equipping, training and mentoring women in godly principles according to Titus 2:4, so they might be the godly woman, wife, mother and minister God has called them to be.

As soon as a woman accepts Christ through Women’s Ministries, she is encouraged to go through the discipleship process of the church and to attend the Sunday morning Real Life women’s class taught by Pastor Deanna. Women are instructed in that class about spiritual gifts and the importance of finding a place of service in the church.

“Our Women’s Ministries is literally a ministry for women ages 18-100. We don’t have any 100-year-olds yet, but we’re working on it! We have the involvement of all age groups of women,” Pastor Deanna states.

“One of the things we believe is that we must make our Women’s Ministries attractive to younger women and show them how they have an important role now. They are not ‘our future’—but an important part of our present.” Pastor Deanna created “The Titus Project” for young women ages 18-25. The women are personally mentored through a meeting once a month, then one on one as time allows.

“We intentionally structure the overall ministry to reach all ages. When we have outreaches, we have college-age women as well as women in the senior-saint age group leading from the platform. We can’t just say we are multi-generational, but the women must see that we really mean it!” Pastor Deanna explains.

In addition to being multigenerational, Women’s Ministries at Northside is also completely multicultural. Approximately 21 nations are represented as a part of the church. Women from all nations, backgrounds and life situations are welcomed and included.

The Eagles leadership team is made of women who serve with Pastor Deanna in leading the ministry. The team meets on a regular basis to coordinate special event planning and lead various aspects of the ministry. The Eagles leadership team includes Sue Flint, Cathy Garland, Sharon Houston, Sharon Johnson, Sheri Powell, Aida Rivera, Juy Sullivan and Debbie Winchester. Also assisting in the leadership of Women’s Ministries are Pastor Lindsay Barta, young adult pastor and Misty Mackley, children’s pastor’s wife.

Northside’s Women’s Ministries offers a number of Affinity groups within the ministry and other women of the church serve in leading these groups. These groups include: Aprile’s Hope, support group for victims of domestic abuse; Precious Stones, support group and Bible study for single moms; Hand to Hand Combat, intercessory prayer group; Scrapbooking, preserving memories forever; Silent No More, an abortion recovery support group; The Titus Project, mentoring group for young ladies ages 18-25; and the Affinity Book Club, a reading group.

“Although we have a women’s event most every month, we have two main evangelistic outreaches each year: our Princess Luncheon in June and our Christmas Extravaganza in December, which is a Victorian tea,” Pastor Deanna explains. Both events are held at the church.

The Eagles leadership team personally strives to get each and every woman involved. For the two large yearly evangelistic outreaches, they enlist the help of every woman in the church, who are all needed to accomplish such a large event. Each woman is asked personally (they are all contacted by phone or approached in person) to be a part of the outreach and serve in some way. Newcomers are asked to help with smaller tasks at first to introduce them to the ministry. As they begin to realize other opportunities, they usually request to have greater involvement.

Women’s Ministries at Northside sponsors large outreaches and accomplishes a great deal, including being completely self-funded. “We are not subsidized in any way. Many people from other churches have assumed our church must be giving loads of money to do all we do, but we don’t receive a cent from anywhere except what our women bring in,” Pastor Deanna says. “We have had outreaches where we give away many thousands of dollars worth of gifts to the women in attendance. All of this has come from donations from our church’s women and local businesses in the community. A team of women work all year long to go out into the community and get sponsors for the outreaches.”

For more information on the Princess Luncheon, Christmas Extravaganza, Affinity ministry groups, or another aspect of Women’s Ministries at Northside Assembly in Tampa, contact Deanna Shrodes at (813) 961-0910 or e-mail: PastorDeanna@aol.com.