GC Women's Ministries Newsletter                                          May 2000

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Nothing Dampens Their Spirits in South America 

WM International Day of Prayer 

Newsletter Mailing List Upgrade 

"Yes, There is Joy in the journey"  

Ask Yourself Four Questions

News from the World of Women's Ministries is
published monthly by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Department of Women's Ministries for the purpose of communicating news and information about
Women's Ministries.

Director & Editor: Ardis Stenbakken
Asst. Editor & Layout:  Iris Stovall

You may contact the editor by writing:

General Conference Department of Women's Ministries
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600
United States of America

Ph:  301-680-6672
Fax:  301-680-6600
Email: womensministries
@gc.adventist.org

The women of South America are on fire for the Lord. In February, Lynnetta Hamstra, Associate Director at GC, and Vasti Viana, WM Director for SAD, visited Ecuador and Peru and met with the many women who are involved in Women's Ministries.

At the North Ecuador Mission, the women held their first "concilio del ministerio de la mujer" which was organized by the newly appointed women's ministries director, Raquel Mansilla de Guerrero. Evening meetings were held at the La Carolina Church downtown and on Sabbath over 400 women attended the meetings that were held at one of the larger churches in the area. The meetings were very successful.

Women from the Chimboroza district (in the highlands) Ecuador, presenting special music.

Between Viana and Hamstra, they gave seminars on leadership, faith, focusing on Jesus, self-esteem, assertive communication, ministering to women, and mentoring. Viana did an excellent seminar and drama on self-esteem.  The women and men who attended were very touched and went away with greater awareness of each individual's ability and talents.

Vasti Viana (right) with a Bible worker, Blanca,  and a  young WM church coordinator, Ingrid.

The president of the mission, Pastor Alberto Pena and his wife took Hamstra and Viana to visit the well-known "Equatorial Monument" -- the monument to the middle of the world. At the South Ecuador Mission, Hamstra and Viana met with WM leaders and pastors wives for two full days of meetings. There they met one of the younger local church Women's Ministries leaders who was only sixteen years old. "It is a joy to see young people taking bigger responsibilities seriously," Hamstra says.

Viana and Hamstra flew on to the Peru Union Mission in Lima. Here they conducted meetings and seminars for the WM leaders. The theme of the meetings was "Experimentando la Certeza de su Venida." Many leaders attended and gained new knowledge and incentives from the various seminars given by Viana, Hamstra and other speakers. "It was very well organized and we need to give credit to Soledad Sanchez, WM Director for Peru Union Mission, and her team of dedicated women" says Hamstra.

The women of South America are doing an excellent job. They are involved in their community, with their local congregations, and with their neighbors. The women are very interested in evangelism and in improving the lives of the other women through seminars and by conducting workshops. This is shown in the 1999 WM Statistics where SAD had the highest number of baptisms.

The women of SAD are also very creative and made beautiful brochures and programs. In Ecuador they gave out lovely ceramic flowers and pocket size mirrors which were used in the self-esteem seminar. In Peru the ladies were equipped with pens, post-cards, and a lovely Women's Ministries calendar. They also received a certificate for their participation. Nothing could dampen their spirits as the women met in a large auditorium of a local bank for the Sabbath service. The programs ran long with reports, seminars and other presentations but it was an uplifting and joyful day for many. Praise God for		Soledad Sanchez, WM Director of Peru Unioin Mission, Vasti Viana, SAD WM Director, Lynnetta Hamstra, and Dr. Verna Alva, Lynnetta's translator for the divine service.
the women in South America and for their dedication to the Lord's work.

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WM International Day of Prayer:  Women Worldwide Send Reports of Activities.

Judging from the reports received at the General Conference office, the March 2000 International Women's Day of Prayer was a great success.

Enthusiastic reports have come from 48 different churches in Africa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, India, Philippines, West Indies, and the United States. These have come by postal system, by fax and by e-mail. Some have included pictures, some have attached copies of the church bulletin or program and others have included copies of special prayers, liturgies or even sermons. Five of the reports came in the Spanish language. And every one has been appreciated.

In Dalton, Georgia, as part of the day, the women initiated a "Caring Heart" award, honoring two women from the church and one from the community. "These women were recognized for their outstanding service and outreach to the church and community, " reports Linda Smith. "We are using this to not only affirm our sisters in acknowledging their service, but to also get acquainted with our community." This of course helps the community get acquainted with the church also.

The ladies in the Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada, church had three special activities. On Friday night they joined other women of their town in a prayer service. On Sabbath morning Danette Long, the WM leader, delivered the church sermon about prayer and then two weeks later they held a "Prayer and Praise Tea." They invited women from their community and 29 women of various faiths came. Their tea theme was the red rose -- signifying the everlasting love that God has for us.

Gloria Huerta, the leader of the Camden Spanish Church in New Jersey says, "I was the most blessed in this entire experience. The communion I personally experienced, the opportunity God gave me to witness while I prepared this program with my non-Adventist co-workers, the message God inspired me to share, it was the greatest experience of my life." After the church service and fellowship lunch, they had two seminars followed by time for special prayer for the children of the church and personal testimonies. Huerta notes that "We all promised that this was the beginning of a life of power in the name of God, of a life of faith, courage, and prayer."

In Barbados, West Indies, the women followed up their day of prayer with a prayer walk Sunday morning. After meeting persons on the street and praying with them, they returned to the church for devotions and breakfast.

At the Tabunok Church in Talisay, Cebu, Philippines, each woman was provided with materials to make her own greeting card and attached it to a rose to be given personally to a neighbor or friend; the card had a PS: "I am praying for you." This created opportunities for personal witnessing.

In Quebec, Canada, the LaSalle Church had an entire week of prayer following the theme of "Experiencing the Certainty of His Coming," and on Sabbath the 4th the speaker again followed that theme. During the week the women each were assigned a prayer partner. On Sabbath morning each called her prayer partner and the blessings continued through the day. Joan Legair reports that "Every man and woman talked about how blessed they were that day."

A prayer breakfast started the day for the North Mackay Church in the North Australian Conference. They each received a card with the "Five Finger Prayer" as well as lots of good food. During church there was a testimony time on how people felt about the woman who gave birth in a tree in Mozambique (hope in spite of adversity) and three women led in prayer.

Women in prayer -- a blessing to each woman who prayed and for each one prayed for.

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Newsletter Mailing List Upgrade: New Options Available 

The Department of Women's Ministries is upgrading its mailing list for News from the World of Women's Ministries. Advanced technology has opened the way for us to get information to you in a variety of ways and has even enabled us to be able to reach more women. We, therefore, would like to offer several options for you to receive the newsletter:

Snail Mail - A hard copy of the newsletter sent by postal service monthly just as this copy.

Adobe PDF (Adobe Portable Document File) - The same version as the hard copy, including graphics and pictures. This version is for use on the computer and is sent by e-mail. You must be able to receive attachments and also have the Adobe PDF software (or download it from our web page: http://www.adventist.org/gcwm  to view the newsletter.

Text (.txt) only - This version is the text of the newsletter, without graphics. This is converted from the original format into a simple Word Perfect style document, saved as .txt format. It is available if you cannot receive attachments by computer.

We need your input as we institute this new mailing system and are asking that you kindly e-mail (or write us) and tell us one of the following:

		I would like to receive the newsletter in Adobe PDF format.
		I would like to receive the newsletter in text format
		I would like to continue receiving a hard copy of the newletter by snail mail (GC and NAD employees indicate by interoffice mail).
		I would like to be removed from the mailing list.

Please be sure to include all of the following:

		Your name and address as it currently appears on our mailing list.
		Your e-mail address (please send this even if you opt to receive a snail mail version).
		Your phone number.

We anticipate that this new mailing system will be in place by September, so please be patient.

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"Yes, There is Joy in the Journey"

WM Emphasis Day Packets for June 10 Still Available

The Women's Emphasis Day theme is "Yes, There is Joy in the Journey." This packet includes a suggested worship service outline, sermon, and optional speech choir reading.

If you haven't yet gotten your WM Emphasis Day Resource Packet, contact your conference, union, or division WM director, or contact us right away and we can send a packet to you for $2.50 plus shipping and handling.

We like to hear reports about the types of activities (Sabbath School, church, AY, vespers, or special functions) you have at your church and how the women (and men) responded. You can write us a letter, use the report form prepared for this purpose, fax us at 301-680-6600, or e-mail us at womensministries@gc.adventist.org.

See also Women's Emphasis Day info in News from the World of Women's Ministries, December 1999.

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