GC Women's Ministries Newsletter                                                                 February 2001

Editorial. . . Priscilla Handia Ben Women's Ministries Director Eastern-Africa Division
Restoration and Joy Precedes Evangelism

Let us look at the most important aspect in a Christian woman's life that is crucial to evangelism. This must ring loudly in the life before true evangelism can be done. Unless this aspect is present in one's life, going out for evangelism might be an empty business. Evangelism is not just oratory; it is a sharing of the restoration and joy that bubbles within because of the presence of Christ. It is a conviction that is shared passionately because Christ dwells within. This restoration and joy in Christ makes us go out and proclaim the good news that Jesus saves. Unless our lives are restored and we have the joy of salvation bubbling within us, evangelism will be a burden and not a joy.

When Christ had restored the life of the Samaritan woman by the well, she felt her life complete and she was bubbling with joy. We read from John 4 that her life was tattered; it was stinking; and in fact, she was not at peace with her life or with the other women in Samaria. She could not associate with them, and she had to choose an awkward time to draw water when the other women were sitting under the shade. She was an outcast because of the life style she was leading. She could not change her lifestyle. But when she met Christ He changed and restored her life back to God. Immediately her life style was changed and she became an evangelist. She could go back to her adversaries and proclaim in simple terms "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" A tattered life that was now restored was also able to restore the lives of the adversaries to the man called Christ. We need to learn from this experience. Every woman needs an encounter with Christ on a daily basis to be a daily evangelist. We should never lose touch with Christ, for if we lose touch just for a moment we are not able to invite somebody to Christ.

Evangelism is simply an invitation by a changed and restored life for lives to be changed and restored. Hence, restoration and joy precedes evangelism. You can imagine the joy of restoration that was bubbling in this Samaritan woman's life. She even left the bucket of water by the well to go and proclaim the man who told her everything she ever did. She simply invited the whole town, "Come see a man."

We can never evangelize without that joy of restoration. The psalmist David has put it so well: "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me, then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will turn back to you" (Psalm 51:12-13).

If women were to bubble with this joy of restoration we would be able to reach every one. Ellen White says "All whose hearts are in sympathy with the heart of infinite love will seek to reclaim and not to condemn." Evangelism, page 174. She continues to say, "Tell them how you found Jesus and how blessed you have been since you gained an experience in his service. Tell them what blessing comes to you as you sit at the feet of Jesus and learn precious lessons from his word. Tell them of the gladness and joy that there is in the Christian life." Evangelism, page 486.

The Spirit of Prophecy tells us that the joy and gladness of our restored life is a vehicle to proclamation. Without it we do not have the zeal and courage of the Samaritan woman. She no longer saw adversaries, but instead souls for the kingdom. She wanted them to meet the man who changed her life so that he could change their lives. I want to encourage every woman—we need a daily encounter so that we can be rejuvenated daily to introduce others to Christ. Let it be because it comes from within, it is a lifestyle that we feed from Christ every day, that our lives are restored and the joy is renewed. Then we can invite people to the man Christ. Even age cannot quench the joy and zeal to tell others about Christ, for David proclaims that, "Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." (Psalm 71:18).

With that joy and gladness bubbling within, whom can the women reach?

• Our families—there are many unchurched living right in our own families who need to be reached, people who are lost—right in our own homes.
• Our neighbors—many can be reached with simple acts of kindness and friendship.
• The men in our lives—husbands, sons, neighbors, work associates.
• The youth—the ones in the church, those in the neighborhoods, the youth at risk, those who need love, guidance, training and mentoring.
• The old—those that are in need of kind, loving words and help; those who are lonely; those who have gradually seen their whole network of friends and relatives die; those who are longing for friends and family again.
• And especially women—the young women who need mentors in adjusting to new families and husbands; those who need a listening, and accepting ear and words of encouragement, those who have just moved into the community; women who are struggling to raise their children; those who are struggling with sin; those who are searching for God. Women in our neighborhoods, in the beauty shops, in the stores, at work. Many of these women are lost and many of them are longing for something better.

  (from General Conference Women's Ministries Evangelism Manual).

Restoration and joy precedes evangelism. Let our lives be restored every day. Let the joy be renewed. Then we will be able to tell transgressors the ways of God. Then we can truly be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Let this be the goal of every woman, and then evangelism will not be a burden but a joy. Then and only then can we be able to join the apostle Paul and say I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.

News from the world of . . .

South American Division: A brief report of some of the happenings in the South American Division:

Northeast Brazil Union: Of the 154 pastoral districts, there is Women's Ministries in 142. Ministries include adult literacy, prison evangelism, missionary pairs, prayer groups, Bible studies, and evangelistic teas. Bolivia Union: WM is really being accepted and supported with spiritual retreats, training, prayer vigils and other ministries with high participation. Peru Union: Women held an evangelistic campaign in Moyobamba; 85 individuals were baptized. WM is also active in the "Project of Conservation"—discipling the 28,839 new brothers and sisters recently baptized. The union has given them 60,000 copies of Welcome to the Family of God for this work and is giving them 70,000 to use in 2001. Chile Union: The work is relatively new in Chile but they are beginning prison ministries; training 500 women as voluntary Bible instructors; prayer groups; and seminars on health, self-esteem, leadership, discipling new members, ministering to seniors, and women's health issues.

Southern-Asia Pacific Division: We have received the first report of a trip made by Joy Tun, our Women's Ministries director in Myanmar Union (formerly Burma), to conduct Women's, Children's, and Family Ministries training. Tun went from Rangoon to Mandelay by train and then to Kalemyo by plane. She had intended to go by boat as it is cheaper but because of time she could not. When she reached Kalemyo she found that the boat she should have taken had sunk and 90 people drowned! Tun reports that it was very cold there, "like Toronto," (Tun was able to attend the GC Session this past summer—ed.) but the meetings were well attended.

On another portion of her trip she and her traveling companions took a small boat for 3 hours across open ocean—no compass, no life belt, no life boat. She was extremely nauseated but after prayer she was able to concentrate on staying upright and forgot her nausea. Again they visited a number of locations and report good contacts and experiences.

Patty Hyland, Women's Ministries director in the Guam-Micronesia Mission reports that she recently visited the islands of Pohnpei and Kosrae and found some active programs. In Kosrae, there is a WM choir that visits shut-ins. Hyland reports that they "sang like an angelic host." Several choir members are recent converts or have not yet been baptized so this is excellent involvement. The women of Kosrae are interested in ministering to young mothers with baby showers and child care and training methods.

In Pohnpei the women are involved in mentoring and are planning their first spiritual retreat. Some women are interested in becoming active Bible workers and some are already giving Bible studies.