by Shannon Steuerwald

Why do we do what we do? Some of us may answer this question with a simple, “Cuz someone’s gotta do it, and I don’t see any other hands going up.” We may even approach our various roles with the same approach we take toward a smelly diaper. We know that what goes in a toddler must, at some point, come out; but the timing can be tricky to predict. We usually do not change the diaper until the certain smell signals a need for change. Many times we ladies respond so much to calls for help and to demands that it seems our day consists of moving from one crisis to the next.

• I can’t find a clean fork so it must be time to do the dishes.
• My kids are checking the dryer for cleans socks so it must be time to do the laundry.
• I smell a dirty diaper so it must be time to change a diaper.
• We are having company tonight so it’s time to recruit kids to help clean the house.
• The nursery worker didn’t show up so I step in even though I worked nursery during the Sunday school hour.
• No one wants to run the Awana program so it only makes sense for me to run it so my kids can be a part of a children’s program.

The list can go on and on, and our day becomes one big day of responses. Is asking why a woman does what she does really a valid question to ask? I say yes! “When you minister, you play out a philosophy of ministry” (Foundations of Ministry edited by Michael J. Anthony, 1992). Mr. Anthony goes on to say that “meaningful ministry must be based on a reason for doing it.” Can I find meaning in doing the dishes or in working in the nursery? Yes, if my reason for doing it aligns with solid biblical principles.

I believe that doing ministry, whether in my home or in my church, becomes more effective and more meaningful when I can articulate why I do what I do. What we do in our churches should be directly linked to our pastor’s philosophy of ministry. If a church has a stated mission, my role as a member of that church is to help the church and pastor fulfill that mission. That same mentality applies in our homes: what we do in our homes is directly linked to my husband’s philosophy of ministry. My husband, as the leader of our home, makes decisions that give me the necessary boundaries and modes of operation for ministering in the home. Both leaders—my pastor and my husband—should be articulating philosophy based on Scripture.

With that said, I encourage each woman to sit down and write her own personal mission statement. In this mission statement, articulate your roles and responsibilities to God, family, and church. I would include phrases from Bible verses that solidify your biblical mandates. After formulating a personal mission statement, share it with your husband with a request for him to evaluate it and make suggestions or clarifications. For some, if your husband has already formulated a mission statement for the family, your mission would be more of a statement of support for the mission already articulated.

No doubt our days will still be days of responding. In some ways, I would not want it any differently because as helpers, we were designed to do just that—to help. Many times we can look ahead and see where we will be needed most; other times we are helping by responding to calendar changes, last-minute errands, health emergencies, weather, and energy levels. We cannot predict every moment of our day, but we can know why we are doing what we are doing. We can do meaningful ministry—dirty diaper and all!

Benefits of a Mission Statement

1. It defines the scope of your ministry.
2. It gives opportunities for constant reevaluation of one’s day, week, or month.
3. It gives boundaries to critique activities or opportunities based on well-thought-out principles.
4. It aids in keeping one balanced and focused on what is most important.
5. It communicates the eternal aspect of a daily routine.
6. It gives aid in determining a “yes” answer or a “no” answer.