Two years ago when our Women's Ministry was forming, our small group of planners all had one thing in common: they didn't see themselves as Women's Ministry Leader material. We all hoped that a highly exciting, social, loving woman of God would come on the scene to take it all over.

Well, of that group, two of us ended up right where we didn't expect to be. Co-leaders of a vibrant and growing Women's Ministry.

I still wake up some mornings wondering what on earth happened.

I'm certain that most would not have described me as particularly social, exciting or even all that loving. At least for the first year I held fast to the idea that I was only going to be involved until someone else rose up to take over. Funny thing is that it never happened.

Now I love my involvement in this ministry. Our Pastor believes that all leaders need to be led by vision. And of that we have plenty. Perhaps more than we know what to do with right now! We have been through three wonderful retreats and 22 wonderful monthly events. We have a thriving bible study and we have taken a small group of women to a large conference.

A great blessing to us is the success of our website. We developed http://www.womenbygrace.com to help us keep connected to our local women and also to share about everything we do with women around the country who are involved in similar ministries. It resulted in wonderful mentoring opportunities for us and others.

I love the opportunities I have to write and speak, I have enjoyed meeting other leaders and organizing special events and I have been pleasantly surprised by my ability to prepare meals for large numbers of people, although my partner will always outclass me in that area!

But, what has surprised me most in the last two years is the growing love that I have for the women that we minister to. I am just so blessed to observe their spiritual growth and the way that they reach out to each other. I am inspired by their courage and determination to overcome their circumstances. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share Christ with those who don't already know Him.

I can see now why God didn't send us that highly exciting, social and loving woman of God to take over the ministry. What He really wanted was to develop those very traits in us. :)