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Chapter 7 · 45 min

The Women of the Ministry: The Forgotten Infrastructure

Big idea

The women of the ministry funded, hosted and sustained the daily work. The infrastructure that carries a mission is rarely the part that gets named.

Session objectives

  • Identify the unnamed people your mission depends on
  • Examine who receives recognition and who does not
  • Strengthen the support layer before it breaks

Opening question

Who would we notice missing only after everything fell apart?

Discussion questions

  1. 1.Which roles here are essential but invisible?
  2. 2.Who has carried a load for years without being asked how they are?
  3. 3.Does our recognition follow visibility or contribution?
  4. 4.What support role is currently held by exactly one person?

Group exercise

Infrastructure inventory
  1. 1List every recurring task that keeps the organization running
  2. 2Write the name of the person who does it
  3. 3Circle every task with only one name
  4. 4Choose two to train a second person into

Commitment before next session

Thank one unnamed contributor this week, specifically and in front of others.

JOI categories addressed

Community & Relationships

Facilitator note: open with the question, keep discussion to half the session, and end with every participant naming their commitment aloud.