Background

Background of the Elizabeth Project

The Elizabeth Project is a ministry of Silverdale Baptist Church and is a product of the commandment given in Titus 2 that says,  ”Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”  Titus 2:3-5

Why We Started the Project

Our calendars today are full of many important and necessary appointments.  Modern conveniences have allowed women to pack more and more into their daily routines.  This is truly an age of opportunity for women, and our options seem limitless.  But what has been lost in the midst of all this opportunity?  We believe the art of mentoring has been lost.  Women used to influence each other in all aspects of their lives.  The busyness of our culture though, has kept vital information learned through experience from being passed to the next generation.  Young women today are struggling to make it all work and don’t know where to go for help.

Because of this need, and our desire to obey the teachings of scripture, we have decided to start The Elizabeth Project.  The project is designed for an older woman to begin a journey with a younger woman to encourage and advise her through modeling and instructing.  We want to take the clear command from Titus 2:3-5 and made it a reality in our church family.  We believe the biblical story of Elizabeth and Mary gives us the perfect example of our goal for this project.  Mary came to Elizabeth when she was pregnant with Jesus.  Elizabeth herself was pregnant with John.  Luke 1:39-56 describes the scene when Mary visits Elizabeth.  Verse 41 tells us that Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit; verse 42 demonstrates how Elizabeth encourages Mary by telling her she is blessed and affirms God’s plan for Mary by calling her “the mother of my Lord.”  We need older women, filled with the Holy Spirit, to come alongside younger women to encourage and affirm them just like Elizabeth did.  Because of this relationship in scripture, and its example of our goal for this project, we have named it The Elizabeth Project.

Like Elizabeth, God instructs older women in Titus 2:4, to train the younger women.  Paul writes, “Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”  The Elizabeth Project is just that.  It is our desire to connect older women with younger women so they can teach them these principles.  The goal of this project is to encourage and advise younger women through modeling and instructing.  We hope this will result in the development of godly women who can then reproduce themselves in the life of a younger woman.  This project will encourage the development of a relationship–sharing life together–as the basis for modeling and instructing.

God’s Word gives us clear direction on how older women are to live and what they are to teach younger women.  Younger women need someone willing to share their life, faith, and knowledge of God with them.  This teaching is to take place “…so that no one will malign the Word of God.” (vs.5)  Without it, there is the possibility of God’s name and Word being criticized.  What a great opportunity and responsibility we have!