GC Women's Ministries Newsletter                                                            November 2001

Editorial . . .  by Mary Wong Women's Ministries Director, Northern Asia-Pacific Division
An Instrument in God's Hands

As a slave mother, she exercised the utmost ingenuity in saving her new born child from genocide. God provided deliverance for her child in a way beyond her wildest imagination and gave her the opportunity to train and raise one of the greatest leaders among the Israelites–a leader who led God's chosen people out of slavery and into the promised land.

As a child she was seized by the invading army and taken to a foreign country. Through the influence of this captive maid in an alien land, the general of a famous nation was led to seek healing for an incurable and dreaded disease from the prophet of God and consequently a knowledge of the true God.

A Moabitess, she was married to an Israelite and widowed at an early age. God used her to bring comfort and solace to a bereaved woman who had lost her husband and both of her sons in death, thus providing an example of loyalty and a model of an ideal in-law relationship. In accepting the role God had designed for her, she not only became the grandmother of King David but also the progenitor of the King of Kings when He came to this earth.

She was an orphan brought up by her cousin in an alien country. Through her beauty she gained entrance into the palace of the emperor, and God used her to save a nation threatened with annihilation.

She was a judge sitting under the palms. God used her to lend courage and guidance for a general He had chosen to deliver His people from the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan.

She was a common farm woman. God used her to provide hospitality and comfort for a great prophet weary from his constant travels in his ministry to the Israelites.

She was married to an obnoxious husband and must have experienced a great deal of unhappiness. However, God was able to use her wisdom to prevent King David from taking a rash course of action, thus sparing him from massacring an innocent group of people.

She was an old widow, awaiting her exit from the world. God used her to confirm the divine status of His son on the day of His dedication in the temple.

Last but not least, she was a humble girl in the village of Nazareth. Despite her humble status, God gave her the most important of all responsibilities. He committed into her care His only Son in His mission to save this world.

Mother, maid, farm woman, judge, orphan, widow, or unhappily married—all of the above women had one thing in common. They had proven to be of value in filling a specific role at a specific point in time when God needed them. The only condition was their being willing to fulfill God's purpose for their lives at a precise moment, thus making a difference in the lives of others or a nation.

As Ellen White pointed out, "In ancient times the Lord worked in a wonderful way through consecrated women who united in His work with men whom He had chosen to stand as His representatives. He used women to gain great and decisive victories. More than once in times of emergency He brought them to the front and worked through them for the salvation of many lives" (Letter B-22, 1911).

Welfare Ministry, p. 145, states that "The Lord has a work for women, as well as for men. They may take their places in His work at this crisis, and He will work through them. If they are imbued with a sense of their duty, and labor under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they will have just the self-possession required for this time. The Savior will reflect upon these self-sacrificing women the light of his countenance, and will give them a power that exceeds that of men. They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed."

And in Evangelism, p. 491, "There is a great work for women to do in the cause of present truth—a great work that is to be done in our world, and every talent is to be used in accordance with righteous principles. If a woman is appointed by the Lord to do a certain work, her work is to be estimated according to her value."

As is shown in the events of the last few weeks, we are living in the final hours of this world's history. In this critical hour, more than at any other time, every person—man or woman—is needed to help finish the work of the Lord, be it in a supportive or leadership role. Just as the women of the past had made themselves available for the work and ministry of the Lord, today, regardless of her station in life and regardless of what limitations she has, a woman can be used by God. The only prerequisite is that she is willing to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to fulfill a specific mission. When the call comes to us, may we, like Isaiah, say, "Here am I, Lord, send me" (Isaiah 6:8).

A Special Thanks

Those of us here in the General Conference office want to thank all of you around the world who have been so gracious in sharing notes, e-mails, prayers, and concern after the recent terrorist actions here in the United States. We are overwhelmed that so many of you, some who live with terror and unrest often, have been so gracious to share with us. God be with each of you—He is obviously coming soon!

News from the world of . . .

Eastern Africa Division
Back in 1998 Annie Mwansa, with the support from Sisters. Shisanga, Banda, and Musonge, organized Women's Ministries in her district despite resistance. Today there is an active WM organized into small groups in the Mufulira Mission District, Zambia. These include prison ministry: they have adoped Kamuchanga Prison and conduct Bible studies and give food and clothing; health awareness: these ladies teach basic health principles and established clinics at camp meeting; and literacy: this group gives lessons to the women in their own church. There is also an evangelism group, prayer warriors, and professionals—these women raise money to support the other small groups in the church as well as witness to their fellow professionals. Single parents, widows, married women, senior women, and a singing group, the "Matrons" who give counsel to brides-to-be and conduct community services, are other groups in this organization.

Euro-Asia Division
There has been a change of leadership in Women's Ministries in ESD. Raisa Ostrovskaja has been selected to carry this important work as well as serve as Family Ministries director. We wish to welcome Ostrovskaja and to thank Natasha Ivanova for her leadership this past year. She has led out in the publishing of a WM magazine, Martha and Maria, and the publication of a vegetarian family recipe book. The women are also collecting information for two new books: one on real life experiences and the other of women's sermons.

Southern Asia Division
Hepzibah Kore, the division WM director, led an advisory for the directors of the Northeast India Union in August. One of the directors is a pioneer for her tribe, trying to make a difference for the impoverished people. She is also in charge of a small church school and an evangelist. Kore has promised to give her Rs5,000.00 (about US$105) to start a weaving project; she will be able to buy two kilos of wool for ten women to weave shawls which are very much in demand.These women will also be taught to save money and other skills to make a better life.

Two trainers for Literacy India Trust have now trained 26 women in Tura, Garo Hills, on how to do literacy tutoring. The future teachers learned how to take a survey, make flash cards, and teaching technics. The teachers ranged in age from 16 to 30. A young mother with a two-month-old baby was one; her husband volunteered to baby sit for four days so she could receive training; several other husbands also took care of children. The women have begun their teaching in the villages and have been "accepted heartily." In this same area there were villages where the organizers were unable to find even one literate Adventist woman to train.