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Women's Ministries Establishes Long Awaited Data Base for Women in Leadership and Ministries "We have a leadership position opening in our organization and we would be happy to place a woman in that post. Do you have a name to suggest?" This phone call is typical of many that we receive in our department. Many church departments and institutions do want to have women. But they do not know who is available or qualified. The call might be for a full time executive position, it might be for someone to serve on a committee, or it might be for someone to be a presenter at a conference or retreat. Or it might be someone to recommend to the General Conference nominating committee. The request might be for someone who can write an article or a book, someone who can sing or preach, someone who can lead an institution or is willing to serve on a board of directors. A network for women When Lynnetta Hamstra was elected Associate Director, the data base development was one of her priorities and it is now established. All we need now is the information to input. Ardis Stenbakken reports that ever since she began work at the GC Women's Ministries the data base has been needed and has been talked about so she is especially happy that it is up and running. This is also a resource for you: if you need someone to serve in some capacity, do a writing project, be a speaker at your camp meeting or retreat, you can contact us and we will send you a printout. This information will not imply an endorsement, but information only. Who should be listed? This means we want data on women from all twelve divisions and the one attached union because this is an international church and we need women from all parts of the world represented. Almost any woman who feels she has a gift to use for the Lord and is willing to use that gift should register. We need to list women who are qualified in almost any professional or ministry area who may want to accept a position in denominational employment, or who wants a promotion in the denomination. We need to list women who would be willing to serve in a voluntary position as a committee member, seminar presenter, or who might want to work on contract as a writer, designer, consultant, or in one of the dozens of other areas of ministry. How to register: Data Base Readers are invited to copy and share the data request form and ask women in their churches and sphere of influence to fill these out too. If for some reason you do not have a data form, please write the above address or call 301-680-6608 or fax 301-680-6600. "We need lots of names before the data base will be really effective," notes Ardis. "We really need to have you be pro-active in this." A Day in
the Life of a Devotional Book 8:30 PM (the same day): Ardis is at home. She retrieves the "Ardis to Read" devotional folders and settles into her easy chair to begin the first edit of the devotionals. It's going to be a long night. There I am still on the top of the pile. She begins reading me. Now and then she scratches out a word or two and writes a more descriptive word , or corrects a verb so it matches the noun. She pauses occasionally to reread some paragraphs. Sometimes, she crosses out a sentence or two, or even moves it to another place on the page so what my author says is more clear or precise. She puts me back into the folder, and gets another devotional. That devotional undergoes changes too. Ardis works tediously on about fifteen devotionals before putting them back into her attache case. The next day: The "Ardis to Read" pile sits in the attache case. Ardis has numerous meetings the weekly Women's Ministries staff meeting, Global Missions Operations Committee, and an unplanned session with a Women's Ministries director from one of the churches who is visiting the GC. All the meetings have been productive though, and she's pleased. "I've got to get busy reading these devotionals," Ardis comments later in the afternoon, but it's several days before she's finished editing. Meanwhile, every day Iris and Louise are busy with other devotional work. Louise retrieves devotionals from her e-mail regularly, formats and saves them to a file. Iris continues to log in devotionals, write the authors, check scripture texts, and give preliminary dates. Soon the next "Ardis to Read" stack will be ready! The next week: Ardis hands the devotionals she's edited to Iris. "These are ready to go to Catia," she says, "and these, sorry to say, cannot be used." Iris reviews the accepted devotionals and notes any changes of text or title that Ardis has made. I'm in the accepted pile! Yes! Yes! Yes! Iris prepares copies of the devotionals that came by hard copy without a disk. She calls Catia who types the devotionals for WM. As Catia types, she follows the Review and Herald guidelines she's been given. Sometimes it's difficult to read Ardis' notations, but she manages. After typing, formatting, and saving each devotional on her disk, she returns the devotionals and disk to the department. Two weeks later: From Catia's disk, the devotionals are dumped onto Iris' computer under the designated dates. An envelope is prepared for mailing to Maria who will be doing the second edit. A disk, along with a copy of the original devotional and an edited copy, are sent to her. She reviews/edits them and sends them back to Iris who makes a copy from Maria's disk. As time permits, Ardis reviews the devotionals for any changes Maria made. Oh no, I was changed slightly! Months later: An author's bio file is completed based on which devotionals will appear in the book. Many bios had to be edited the author sent in her life's history instead of a few brief sentences. In some cases the author only provided a few facts, so the bio had to be written. I'm scheduled to be in the book, so my author is listed, along with her four line bio that didn't need editing. Finally, after many months of logging, checking, editing, typing, and reviewing, the devotional manuscript is complete. A final crosscheck of all information (title, date the devotional will appear, scripture text, and author's name) is made. They want everything to be accurate. This phase of the project is major work! Ardis, Lynnetta, Louise and Iris are all involved. Iris makes a disk copy of the devotional file; a final copy of each devotional is duplicated. Yes! I'm still scheduled to be in the book!!! Ardis prepares a letter for the Review and Herald. At last, the package is ready before the deadline! Months later, after the Review and Herald has looked over the devotional manuscript, a letter is sent to the Department of Women's Ministries accepting the book. Iris and Louise send letters to each author advising them of what has been accepted, rejected, or heldover. This is another busy time. My author will be thrilled to get a letter of acceptance. I just know it! Wow! That was exciting. Maybe my author will submit something for next year's book, too. Scholarship monies have been generated from the sale of the devotional books and many women (and men) have been blessed by reading them. What a wonderful way to share God. I can't wait for you to read me!!!
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You are one of God's representatives, His ambassador. When you are told you are a King's daughter, one of Christ's jewels; does that affect you? How does it make you feel? Have you ever thought about how others see you? your behavior? your attitude? your dress? Would you dress and act differently as a princess? Would you spend a little more time on your appearance, so you have a "finished" look about you? Would you learn which colors bring out your complexion the best? Which styles suit you? Think a minute of Esther. When she prepared to go before the king, she spent a whole year preparing for that moment. Some think it vanity to spend any time preparing clothes ahead of time. But remember, we are representing the King. We are told in the Bible, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). The temple should be beautiful both inside and out. Peter warns us about spending our attention only on the outside we need to pay attention to both, (1 Pet. 3:3-4). No one can take care of ourselves for us; this is something only we can do. And when you think, this body is the one that will take me through to the end of the world, when Jesus comes, doesn't that make you think twice about how you treat and present it? It does me. Do You Have Leadership Traits? Find out if you're leader by seeing if you possess these qualities:
Source: Communication Briefings. Peter Drucker, cited in Fores ASAP, 60 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011. Last year we did an article of how there was need for wedding dresses in the Sudan in the Middle East Union (See News from the World of Women's Ministries, February 1998). A bridal rental shop was being established there and all bridal attire that was received here in GCWM was forwarded on to them. The following letter was received in our department from the Middle East Union director recently: Dear Friends, I am very happy to tell you that the first wedding, using the Bridal Project gowns, has taken place. The only details I have news travels slowly here is that it happened on December 1, 1998...A bridesmaid dress was also hired for the occasion, and both gowns fit well. We'd like to say a big Thank You to all those who have contributed to this project. Many have sent head-dresses and bridesmaids gowns as well as wedding dresses. For the time being, we probably have enough bridal gowns, but the project could use handbags, shoes, head-dresses, and men's suits, shoes and shirts. Valarie Fidelia GCWM also thanks each of you who gave clothing. If you still want to send wedding dresses or other items, we will continue to forward them. March 6 is The Department of Women's Ministries is hopeful that women worldwide will enjoy a spirit-filled day of prayer and praise to the Lord! And, don't forget to share your experiences with us! |
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