Designed for Community
30 Aug 2021

Designed for Community

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

In a quick Google search, you can easily find multiple studies that speak of the loneliness and isolation that can come along with being in ministry leadership. Leaders are often overextended, lacking in support staff, and so focused on serving others that they can forget to actually jump into the communities they are bringing together. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I know that, for myself, the first things to go when I am stressed or busy are spending time with God and quality fellowship with others.

What by design Means to Me
16 Aug 2021

What by design Means to Me

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

In my skewed thinking, however, I put most of my energy first into ministry and expected my closest loved ones to understand and be satisfied with my “leftovers.” As tension mounted, I absurdly prayed that the Holy Spirit would reduce the amount of “need” my loved ones had for me in order to match the amount of “free time” I had available for them. Never underestimate the evil of over commitment!

Designed in Generations
9 Aug 2021

Designed in Generations

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

It is so important to have women of all generations together. Our society often tells us the opposite. The young are characterized as flighty, lazy, and entitled. The old are characterized as out of touch or too authority-focused. These stereotypes are roadblocks to what our communities could be.

Every Day, by design
2 Aug 2021

Every Day, by design

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

I was scrolling through Facebook but I wasn’t really seeing the screen. My mind was fully occupied by a problem for which there seemed to be no solution. I was busy envisioning various scenarios and playing out conversations in my head when something caught my eye. It was a quote from one of by design’s recent blog posts. 

Kinship of Understanding
26 Jul 2021

Kinship of Understanding

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

No man is an island, but it’s possible that in ministry we might feel like we’re isolated on one sometimes. The New England reality we all know is that our churches and ministries are typically not very large. The role that you are serving in most likely has some element of solitariness to it. Especially in the particular responsibilities you carry. Especially in leadership.

Designed to be Human
19 Jul 2021

Designed to be Human

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

Women in leadership in ministry and beyond tend to be at a crossroads of expectations. They are often expected to be both meek and strong, in charge but not bossy, compassionate but not too emotional, in control but not heavy-handed, etc. This can create pressure to be perfect, to put on a facade, or to be “on” all the time. This becomes exhausting.

Zoom Lemonade
12 Jul 2021

Zoom Lemonade

by | posted in: Summer Sampler Series, Woman to Woman Newsletter | 0

Online workshops always sounded like a good idea. It made sense for by design to share the training and resources that had previously only been available to women in New England, and we loved the idea of being able to expand our ministry around the world. But oh boy, it sure felt like a daunting task. With our staff already working crazy hours and our resources stretched to the limit, it just didn’t feel possible. So we put it off. For years. And then the pandemic hit.