Every new year brings a mixture of emotions, especially for women’s ministry leaders. Some of us enter the season energized and ready for fresh ideas. Others feel stretched thin and unsure of what the year will hold. But whether we feel confident or hesitant, one truth anchors our hearts: we can trust the same God for the new thing He is doing.

Isaiah 43:19 calls out to weary hearts and weary ministries alike: “Behold, I am doing a new thing… I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Before God revealed His “new thing” to Israel, He reminded them of His past power. How He split the Red Sea to deliver, heal and sustain. That same God still leads us today. In women’s ministry, we’re often tempted to cling to what’s familiar. We look back on past events, past success, and treasured traditions, assuming the future must look the same. But the past is a teacher, not a template. God honors what He’s done, but He also invites us to join Him where He is already working.

Sometimes we hesitate because “the new thing” feels unclear. But God isn’t asking us to manufacture results. He’s simply inviting us to trust Him, listen, and follow. Often, the new thing God calls us to looks less like reinvention and more like personal renewal, which overflows into ministry.

Here are a few ways God may be inviting women’s ministries to step into “the new” this season:

1. New Rhythms of Discipleship

Maybe it’s time to shift from event-driven ministry to relationship-driven ministry. This could look like smaller groups, discipleship pairs, or home gatherings where women learn to open Scripture together.

2. New Voices to Lead

Perhaps God is raising up younger women or women with different experiences to serve, teach, or help plan the year. Making space for emerging leaders is often the “new thing” God wants to do through us.

3. New Places to Gather
Ministry doesn’t have to stay inside the church building. Coffee shops, parks, office break rooms, and living rooms can become beautiful places of outreach and connection.

4. New Collaboration

Women’s ministry was never meant to exist in isolation. God may be calling your team to partner with other churches, community organizations, or intergenerational groups for deeper impact.

5. New Ways to Reach the Unreached

Many women won’t walk into a Bible study, but they will come to an informal conversation, a service project, or a simple dinner invitation. Sometimes the “new thing” is learning to meet women where they already are.

All of these reflect the heart of Isaiah 43:19. God is already at work. Do you perceive it? As we step into this new season, here’s the posture of a women’s ministry leader who trusts God:

• Look back to remember His power, not to repeat old patterns.

• Look around to see the new thing growing, even if it feels small.

• Look ahead with open hearts and get ready for fresh vision.

• Look up and declare His praise, because He is faithful in every season.

Your ministry doesn’t need perfection to flourish. All it takes is obedience to the One who makes rivers in deserts and pathways in wilderness places. Let’s trust the same God for the new thing and step forward in faith. He is already at work!

If you’re looking for new ways to Draw Near to God, don’t forget the Oklahoma Baptist Women’s Retreat registration opens Feb. 1, 2026. For more information, visit oklahomabaptists.org/women/retreat/.