It’s easy to support women whose lives and ministries look like ours, but the body of Christ is made up of unique believers and various roles of Kingdom work. As ministry wives, we have the unique opportunity to support other women, no matter how different their ministry or season of life is from ours. Amy Dodd shares today about her life as a single woman working full-time in a parachurch ministry.

Amy serves with Athletes In Action, a sports ministry of Cru, in Raleigh, NC. She’s been with AIA since 2009, and now ministers at Shaw University and NC State. Amy has a passion for seeing others understand and grow in the love of God, and her unique position in parachurch ministry allows her to share the gospel with collegiate athletes. Amy joins me to discuss the joys and challenges of parachurch ministry and serving as a single woman.

1. Walk alongside women in ministries that are different from yours.

Ask questions, offer support, speak truth, and pray.

Seek to find ways to partner. If you both have a heart for a specific group, how can you reach them together?

Find common ground: no matter how different their ministry might be, there are similarities that can tie you together.

“I think it’s important to know the heart of the leaders, to have conversations and to hear from the church and church leaders, as well as other women in ministry. I want to know their hearts for college ministry and how we can do it together.”

“[In parachurch ministry], there’s a lot of relational connection to women who are in ministry in the church. We share a lot of the same discouragements, we share a lot of the same celebrations, and speak the same language to an extent. That has been the most encouraging: somebody knows or gets me and what I’m dealing with in my discouragements or lies that I’m believing. I need someone to come alongside me and speak truth to me.”

2. Women in every season of life need encouragement and support.

Build relationships with women whose lives look different than yours. Walk with them in their struggles, and celebrate their joys.

How can you support single women in ministry?

When engaging, be vulnerable about your personal struggles and growth; don’t only share about the lives of your family members.

“One of the main struggles of being single in ministry is bearing burdens of ministry alone. It can feel very lonely sometimes, and I can struggle to believe the truth about who God is, what He’s done and is doing in my life. I can get wrapped up into a spiral of lies, and doubt, and disbelief. I think Satan attacks the single person that way, making us feel as though we are isolated and alone.”

“I’m thankful that I can relate to the athletes and share the struggles I’ve had with singleness at times, but also the joys and the goodness of being single, as well as waiting on the Lord, and putting your hope in Him and not someone else.”

Learn more about Athletes in Action and how you can support this parachurch ministry.

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Visit How to Thrive as a Pastor’s Wife to access Christine’s resources for ministry wives like you!