General Conference Women's Ministries Newsletter :  June 1999

Editorial. . .by Priscilla Handia WM Director Eastern Africa Division

I was conducting Women's Ministries seminars in Zambia Union during the last week of January, 1999. On Sabbath, I was invited to address the women who were having a revival meeting at the Chipowangwe Seventh-day Adventist Church. I gave a   presentation on the history of Women's Ministries in the SDA Church and the biblical basis for Women's Ministries. The church members and the women who were at the meeting did not allow me to preach during divine service because they are not comfortable having a woman preach from the pulpit. I did not force my way to the pulpit.  As I sat in the pew waiting for pastor Munyumbwe to preach I began to think about the many churches in EAD [and elsewhere - ed.] that do not allow women to preach in the pulpit on Sabbath.

What makes the pulpit to be more holy than the rest of the church building? Have we turned our churches into the tabernacle in the wilderness that had the outer court, the holy place, and the most holy place? During church dedication, we dedicate the entire church. We do not just dedicate the pulpit. This means even the pews where the women sit are on holy, dedicated ground. The women generally are the ones who clean the church, including the pulpit. On Sabbath morning they are the ones who place the flowers on the alter. What is it that makes many church members prohibit women from preaching on Sabbath?

In the Old and New Testaments we find examples of women who were involved in the ministry of our church. Jesus showed love, respect and concern for women when He was on earth.

The women in EAD are dynamic in their Christian service. Many women are trained lay preachers and we have more than 10 trained female pastors. Which pulpit are these women supposed to use when they are preaching? Many women in EAD have conducted evangelistic campaigns and won many souls for the Lord.

"Women of firm principle and decided character are needed, women who believe that we are indeed living in the last days, and that we have the last solemn message of warning to be given to the world. They should feel that they are engaged in an important work in spreading the rays of light which Heaven has shed upon them. When the love of God and His truth is an abiding principle, they will let nothing deter them from duty, or discourage them in their work.... Daughters of God, E.G. White, p.17.

May the women who are called by God in ministry never give up the good work they are engaged in despite the obstacles they are facing in Adventist Women's Ministries.

End

Southern Asia Pacific Division: Women's Ministries has started a literacy project in Cambodia. Word has been received that they have held the first literacy class with five ladies from the Phnom Penh Church.  The teacher was trained by Ruth Colvin, the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America. * Linda Bauer, the project director, says, "Things are on the move." This is just the introductory phase of what is hoped will be a country wide effort. The women of Georgia-Cumberland (NAD) have been instrumental in providing some of the funding for the project.

*Although she is not an Adventist, Ruth Colvin has traveled to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Cambodia and Zambia helping Women's Ministries begin literacy program.  Colvin says, "I'm the best PR person you've got, for I tell everyone the practical and helpful things you're doing around the world to help others."   She is a true servant of the Lord!

In the Central Luzon Conference the women have organized an ongoing mentoring program in WM. Every district encourages the women in the churches to sponsor a young woman in one of two categories: 13 to 18 or 19 to 30 years old. Last year many of the young women were involved with their mentors in satellite meetings and reaping crusades.

The Central Luzon Conference WM has also now set up a cooperative registered with the government to provide credit and loans to women for small enterprise development. It also provides consumer goods and teaches livelihood skills.

Trans-European Division: Valerie Fidelia, the WM director in the Middle East Union, reports on a series of meetings in Egypt. During mornings there were meetings for women and in the evening for families. Topics included health and hygiene, child rearing, and personal spiritual growth. Fidelia reports "This is an interesting village with some unique traditions, including segregation of the congregation. Women and men stay strictly on their side of the wall which runs down the center of the church. The women are further screened by a curtain above the wall." Women's Ministries plans literacy classes, women's prayer groups and a sewing/Dorcas ministry in this church.

Inter-American Division: Forty-five enthusiastic men and women began a sewing class sponsored by Women's Ministries in the Central Church in Guyana. The demands of the class caused some to drop out but 23, including two school boys, completed the course. The program was under the leadership of Christine Mitchell.

In the East Dominican Mission women held evangelistic programs through October and November in spite of hurricane Georges. Over 900 were baptized. The youngest evangelist was a 17-year-old student who led out in a small group for the second time.   She was motivated by the concern she has for others to know about the love of Jesus.