Outline of Procedures for Opening a Center for Women's Ministries, Inc.

Personal Prayer and Fasting

When God begins to burden you with the needs of women in your community, pray, and sometimes fast, for God's leading. Ask Him to give you His vision for this ministry in your community. Also begin to pray He will show you your area of service.

Prayer and Fasting with Prayer Partners

Pray with others about the same issues that are mentioned above. Ask God to reveal His plan for your community, asking Him to bring you the people who are to be involved.

Community Information Meeting

•Schedule date and time with national staff
•Secure neutral, accessible site such as public library or community room
•Promote the meeting via newspaper, radio, TV and mailings to individuals, churches, businesses
•Maintain contact with attendees following the meeting

Training by National Staff of Interested Volunteers

•Volunteers fill out application—Confidential Interview for Volunteers
•National staff offers fourteen two-hour sessions of basic peer counselor training for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer counselor. Other personnel are given training appropriate to the tasks they are volunteering to do for the center.

Prayer Group Continues to Meet

Some groups interested in developing a local Center follow training with a Bible study that they attend as a group to strengthen the bonding as the development work is being completed.

Shop for a Building that Meets the Needs of Your Geographic Area

Outline of possible space needs for a facility:

• Intimate counseling rooms
• Large group room for group facilitating/Bible studies
• Reception area
• Library area
• Prayer chapel
• Kitchenette
• Bathroom
• Storage area
• Administration office
• Volunteer office
• Parking for 10 or more cars
• Bus line accessibility but private
• Handicap accessibility

Volunteer Positions

• Director/Assistant Director (optional)
• Steering/Advising Committee
• Prayer support
• Bookkeeper
• Support services: computer work, newsletter, publicity, grant writing, housekeeping, hospitality, etc.
• Telephone/receptionists
• Counselors
• Support group facilitators
• Bible study leaders

Business

• Open savings and/or checking account; two signatures on account
• When lease is signed, secure insurance through national office
• Establish exempt status on utilities: gas, phone and water
• Arrange for phone number and business line service; determine if the CWM is entitled to free yellow page listing, under either counseling services or social services agencies

Advertising

• Prepare local brochure
• Prepare news releases for local newspapers and radio stations

Churches/Para-Church Ministries

• Establish a working relationship with people who share the same vision
• Work with them, refer to them, and pray with them and for them
• Make available brochures and tenets of ministry
• Ask for opportunities to speak to their groups, sharing the ministry

Civic and Social Groups

• Ask for opportunities to speak to their groups, sharing the ministry
• Look upon them as potential financial supporters

Businesses, Merchants and Industries

• Share the vision of the local ministry
• Make brochures available for staff lounges and lunchrooms and public-access counters

Courts and Court-appointed Offices

• Share the vision
• Make brochures available for their offices

Social Services Offices

• Make brochures available for their offices
• Examples: public health clinic and other health service providers, welfare office, G.E.D. office, shelters, food banks, clothes closets

God's Timing and Sovereignty

Do not expect that opening a CWM will proceed on your timetable. He is in control and He has a plan for your community/county. Pray, study, listen for His direction and, as Elisabeth Elliot says, "Do the next thing." The national office will stay in regular contact with the steering committee regarding progress and prayer needs. At no time should a committee or leadership of a CWM close down operations without first seeking assistance from national. It is our conviction that God keeps His promises; He will do what He said He would do, though perhaps not in the way we expect.