General Conference Women's Ministries Newsletter : February 1999 |
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"Help! I have just been elected as Women's Ministries leader in my church! What do I do? Please send me material!" I have heard variations of this countless times and in various languages. I have an e-mail in front of me right now from England that says almost the same thing. One of the things I like about Women's Ministries the most is that it is (or should be!) a needs based ministry. I cannot sit here and tell you what you need to do in your local church, wherever that church may be. But I can help you identify the needs. Then your Women's Ministries leaders at the various levels and areas can help you with resources and ideas to meet these needs. So whether you have just been elected at the local church (the most important point in Women's Ministries!) or a conference, union, or even division, the best thing you can do is to look around and ask yourself some questions. Who are the women in my church? What are they doing now for the Lord? How could we help them do better? What are the problems faced by these women? How can we assist them? And those not doing anything what is the reason? Do they lack motivation? Training? Self-worth? What can be done for them? And ask the women what would be useful to them. What can be done to help with their spiritual growth, sense of belonging, and fulfillment? Some of the most successful programs are small group ministries: women's Bible studies and prayer groups. Prayer ministry can even be carried on by phone if getting together is difficult. There can be support groups too for those who are grieving, those who have experienced divorce, those struggling with teens, or unbelieving husbands. The list goes on and on. Only you and the women in your church can know what the needs are. Of course there are special programs too the scholarship program (to assist qualified women with their college education); the Women's Ministries devotional books (such as this year's This Quiet Place); the International Women's Day of Prayer (where women around the world are praying together, usually the first Sabbath in March); the Women's Ministries Emphasis Day (the second Sabbath in June); and retreats. There are lots of opportunities to join with other women. But most importantly, successful Women's Ministries is meeting local needs. You may be amazed at the talents you and others have hidden that can be used to meet these needs. May God bless you as you take up the challenge and make a difference in your church, your community. End News from the world of. . . cont. SUD: Southern Asia Division women in Narsapur conducted a branch Sabbath School behind the Flaiz Adventist School campus, and nine were won to the Lord. Other participants of the branch Sabbath School are attending Sabbath services regularly now and preparing for baptism. Also in Narsapur, 22 children are being cared for in the Dews Sweet Home, an orphanage run by Lily F. Kaligithi. She, along with the church's older women, are welcomed into the neighboring villages on Sabbath afternoons to share the good news of salvation. They occasionally visit in the homes. Even Lily's 84 year old mother-in-law is part of the WM team. |
News from the world of... Two of our Women's Ministries directors were involved in car accidents over the holiday season. We are happy neither was seriously injured! Vasti Viana, SAD director, received a broken arm while returning from a preaching appointment. Her husband and mother-in-law were not injured. Lynnetta and Dan Hamstra totaled their car when their car struck ice while returning from a speaking engagement at the NAD GO '98 at Andrews University. SAD: In the Sergipe Alagoas Mission of Northeast Brazil Union (South American Division), women are sewing clothes for needy Adventist children and conducting prayer meetings, followed by home visitation, song, Bible-reading and prayer. They give basic food items to the needy, also. In one area of this mission, nutrition classes, vaccinations, hygiene, and instruction on care of the teeth have been given. Dr. Katia, a non-Adventist dentist, has joined with the Adventist women. There is also singing and information given on Bible history. In the Costa North Mission, the Fortaleza Church WM is teaching English and Spanish. At the Quixada Church, classes are held on spiritual and body health. Medical doctors assist with the presentations and offer free consultations to the women after the meetings. The Bahia Conference WM held a congress in a rented theater with over 2,000 in attendance. In one testimony, a sick five-year old girl was declared to no longer have cancer, after examination by her doctors. The WM had organized a prayer chain for her. SAUC: One of the Adventist Women's Ministries directors, Denise Newton, along with guests, broadcasts a weekly "Women of Spirit" program to at-home mothers in the South Africa Union Conference. A literacy training course was held in December and 23 tutors were certified. Dr. Delyse Styn, along with Ivy Petersen, SAUC Women's Ministries director, conducted the training. SAUC continues to sponsor weekend WM retreats that attract large numbers of women. In 1998 almost 2100 participated in these retreats during the months of June to December alone! continue on left column |
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