GC Women's Ministries Newsletter                                      March 2000

Editorial. . .Vasti Viana Women's Ministries Director South American Division
Trees of God

On a certain farm there was a spacious rock and upon this rock a large tree. Many people went to see that phenomenon of nature a tree that grew on a rock. A railroad was planned to pass through this area. Upon seeing that marvel of nature and realizing how it was appreciated, the railroad engineers decided to make a detour and have the railroad pass beside the tree. When the railroad was finally opened, each time the train passed this place, it stopped so that passengers and tourists could see and photograph the tree on the rock. Soon a train station was constructed and then a city emerged. Progress quickly came to the region because of that phenomenon of nature.

My dear Women's Ministries leaders, God wants to make you and me a phenomenon of human nature. As we place our lives totally in His hands, without holding anything back, marvelous things begin to happen to us and to our leadership, even though the circumstances which surround us may be as hard as rock. Because even in the rock, God can open a crack for the root of a tree to pass through so that it can reach the humid soil and obtain the precious nutrients it needs. In this manner we grow and become fruitful leaders in favorable or hostile environments, at difficult times or in moments of joyful accomplishments.

John the Baptist was the person chosen by God to prepare the way for the first coming of the Savior, and he fulfilled Gods expectations. At the beginning of the third millenium, God chose and called you and me to prepare the way for the glorious return of our Savior in a joint mission with our brothers and sisters.

Being a messenger of the Lord is our great responsibility and privilege. It is our permanent commitment as Christians, whether we are a Women's Ministry Director or not. But God also chose and called us to lead our sisters; for this reason our privilege is still greater and broader.

This task is a great challenge and at times we become frightened. How wonderful it is to know that we are not alone! We are a group which prays and helps each other mutually, and we have the official support of the Church. Above all, God is with each one of us. He enables us and teaches us, making us productive trees united in Christ and in this ministry.

The first director of the Women's Ministries Department, Mrs. Sarepta Henry, wrote in 1898 in the series "Words of Truth," number 19, under the title, A Woman Ministry, page 46 and 47, the following: "A woman-ministry must touch every thing which concerns the church. No line of effort can be carried on without woman. This work is to the whole church what the foliage is to the tree: not simply for beauty and grace; O no, although that is not to be despised; but for life. A tree without foliage is either asleep or fruitless, as in the winter, or it is dead. The leaves are the lungs through which it breathes.  The leaf on the farthermost twig receives from the root through its branches that which gives it color, life, and beauty; and, in turn, it reaches up and takes hold of sunlight, dew, and the essential elements of the atmosphere, and sends them back through every twig and branch down into the roots, thus keeping up the circulation of life from root to branch."

I like this comparison to trees! I can see the roots - leaders of this department in the GC - sending the substances that give color, life and beauty to this ministry - incentives, visits, materials, advice, ideas - through the trunk - divisions - and branches -  unions and conferences - to the leaves - our sisters in the churches.

In turn, our sisters in the churches, upon receiving all this support, are motivated to grow and reflect the light of Jesus - the sun -  anointed by the Holy Spirit - the dew - becoming happier Christians and bringing more souls - the fruits - to Jesus. Therefore the essential elements to the life of this department - the results of which are the baptism of new members and the return of those who have turned away, and the nurturing and empowerment of all women in the church - are sent back - by reports and news - through the branches and the trunk to the root, maintaining the circulation of life, the enthusiastic and joyful work, from the root to the branch.

I thank the Lord for the counsel and incentive written by Mrs. Henry more than one hundred years ago. I like to use her impressive quotations when I speak and when I write.

In Psalm 92: 12, 13 and 15 first part, we read: "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God, ...proclaiming, 'The Lord is upright.'"

It is my desire that you and I shall always be these trees of God.

cont. News from the World of . . .

Throughout the division, reports Hepzibah Kore, the director, Women's Ministries has trained 20 directors and 500 lay women. There have been 34 projects such as tailoring, handicrafts and weaving funded through ADRA and Women's Ministries. When God Provides has been translated into Tamil and 2000 printed to raise money for such projects. They have also printed 2400 copies of this year's devotional book, 400 more than last year. The profits will go to scholarships for women.

Southern Asia Division: The members of the division will all soon know that Women's Ministries is alive and active in SUD. The April issue of the division paper, Southern Asia Tidings, had 6 pages about the first division wide advisory, including the cover and a full page picture of those attending. The June issue had three stories and the July issue had 5 stories about WM activities!

Two days of seminars for women were conducted in the Mizo Conference. On Sabbath afternoon, 180 women and 50 men attended. The next day there was no bus service but still 67 women and 8 men came.

Forty women from all around the South India Union met in Mysore for a union WM advisory.  They had presentations covering topics from money management, women's role in the Church, to evangelism and christian marriage. On Friday evening each group dramatized a Bible story: Ruth, Mary Magdalene, Hannah, the Samaritan woman, Rebecca, and Elisha the prophet. An advisory was also held in the Khasi Jaintia Conference; they learned about leadership, mentoring, nurture and networking support.

In the Garo section, the women carry out a variety of money making projects for evangelism and to assist the poor and victims of natural disasters. The fund is collected once a year. This year it amounted to Rs9,115 (about US$200). A small amount of food, enough for one meal, is also kept aside by each family and collected every Sunday. The collected food is sold at very low prices to those who cannot afford food from the market.

The Dingaan-Phom ("spreading the light") women's society in the Tamenglong field also does money raising and projects. Each woman is asked to contribute Rs5 and the churches and companies to contribute Rs100-500. The money is then loaned out with a monthly interest of 5%.  The loans are for cloth weaving and other businesses. The leaders report that the fund keeps increasing, as do the tithes. Many of the women walk two to three days through the mountains, some with babies on their backs, to attend the area meetings.

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