JANUARY 2002
Vol.1 No.1

HEADLINES

New Look, New Name

Taking Up the Task

Focus on Prayer

Division Highlights: Africa-Indian Ocean Division

Keepers Page: Ministry Ideas

Editorial

VIEW ORIGINAL LAYOUT OF THE NEWSLETTER USING ACROBAT.PDF

ABOUT WM NEWSLETTER

New Look, New Name

I'm excited! I'm relieved. I'm anxious to know what you think.

For seven years I have thought of you and your needs as I worked and planned for a Women's Ministries newsletter. Before I joined the department there was a newsletter called Women's Focus edited by Rose Otis. Then in 1995, a newsletter called UpDate was started to keep you informed about the happenings connected with the Year of the Adventist Woman. It too evolved and eventually became the News from the World of Women's Ministries that you have become so familiar with.

But now the newsletter is changing again, becoming better. That is why I am excited!

And I am relieved, because I have handed over all my files, deadlines, worry, editing, and care to Heather-Dawn Small, new editor of Mosaic, our newsletter with a new name. She will be capably assisted by Iris Stovall, who has helped me see that the newsletter gets out to you. While I have been traveling she has sometimes had to do most of the work by herself, faxing or e-mailing me material to check.

We have tried very hard to make the newsletter practical and economical. We have tried to give you material that will really be useful and encouraging to you in your own ministry for women. Now we are planning on even more of that. So I am anxious to know what you think of the new format and new emphasis.

May you find the help you need to face your challenges. And let us know how we can do even more for you. That is why we are here and why we are happy to present Mosaic to you.

Ardis Stenbakken

(back to headlines)

Taking Up the Task

It is both a pleasure and a challenge taking over this newsletter from Ardis. Looking back over past issues I realize that this newsletter has become a significant part of Women's Ministries.

It has brought us news, views, needed information, helpful hints but most of all it has kept us connected. No matter where we live this newsletter has meant we are one in vision and mission.

This issue begins the new look to a newsletter that has become familiar to many. You will find a monthly emphasis on each of the 12 world divisions and 1 attached field that make up our church. You will also find a "Keeper's Page." This page is filled with helpful hints for WM that you can copy and file away for future use. Each month we will focus on a different topic. Our focus for this month is Prayer. There will be many items you are familiar with—Book Reviews, Promotions, and Editorials. Feel free to email us and give us your comments and contributions. So turn the page, enjoy the new look, and we pray that you feel as blessed as we did in preparing this, just for you.

Editor

(back to headlines)

Focus on Prayer

Pasay Church WM Prayer Marathon

Women's Ministries, under the leadership of Consolacion Tauro of Pasay Church, Manila, holds a 24-hour round-the-clock Prayer Marathon once every six months. The program includes spiritual talks and singing at the beginning and the end of the marathon. Women, in teams of two, go to the ‘upper room' to pray for one hour. They have witnessed many miracles in their evangelistic meetings as many souls were baptized into the church. Their most recent evangelistic meeting brought in 22 souls.

Southern Asia Pacific Division

Early Bird Prayer Group of Agana Heights Church, Guam

Nellie Joy Roberts joined the Adventist Church in Guam about four years ago. She saw the need for a women's prayer group and started the early bird prayer sessions at the Agana Heights Church in Guam. At first it was only Nellie Joy and another woman. Gradually word got around and attendance has grown.

Southern Asia Pacific Division

Prayer Partners Online In Atlantic Union

Prayer Partners Online is "the most effective tool" of Women's Ministries, reports Charlotte L.V. Thoms, Disabilities and Women's Ministries Director in the Atlantic Union. Men and women, young and old are all praying together all over the world.

North American Division

Numerous Prayer Blessings in India

• Vinodhini John, former WM Director of North Andhra Section, NIU, conducted all night prayer meetings in Mettiguda. 120 women attended. In Borbunda, suburb of Hyderabad, about 50 women attended meetings.
• Two hundred women from ten village churches gathered at Sankarankoil main church, STC, for a special prayer session for the children who would be taking public examinations.
• 40 women were richly blessed by all night prayer at the Madurai Central church. They had group Bible discussion, prayer bands, and Bible quizzes.
• There are 20 Women's Prayer cells in North Maharashtra Region, meeting twice a month. Nearly 200 souls were won in the year 2000.
• On Sabbath afternoons the women of Hyderabad church, North Andhra Section, visit homes and conduct prayer meetings. One invitee, suffering from a chronic ailment which doctors could not diagnose, had to discontinue his employment. A prayer member took him to her son, a surgeon, who operated on him with prayer. The man was healed. While recovering, he shared God's love with hospital patients, some who now attend the church.

Southern Asia Division

(back to headlines)

Division Highlights: Africa-Indian Ocean Division

There are 33 countries in this division including Congo, Chad, Nigeria, Ghana, Niger and Mali. WM began in 1992 and now has 10 union directors, 61 mission directors, 5,311 church directors and 5,000 directors in companies. The first director was Thelma Nortey and the present director is Priscille Metonou who is doing a tremendous job with the help of God and a team of committed directors.

Statistics - During the past quinquennium, 1995-2000, this division held 9,927 training seminars, 2,218 congresses, and 39,465 retreats.

Evangelism – Some 6000 women have been trained, and every year WM baptizes between 20,000 and 50,000 souls. During 2000 WM reported 50,262 baptisms.

Programs - Literacy programs have been held in six unions. Small enterprise development programs are held—teaching women to make soap, body cream, tie-dying, sewing, even farming. The division has two women's centers funded by ADRA Sweden in Ghana and Madagascar.

Health - AIDS is a problem in this division as well as most of Africa. In Ghana WM held seminars, and helped put up banners, posters, and bill boards to educate the public. As a result our women are invited to participate in various government symposiums.

Plans for the Future – To have active WM at all levels, women must be 90% self-sufficient by March 2003, baptize 25% of AID's yearly baptismal goal, establish four more WM Centers before June 2005 for continual training of women, and involve 90% of the young women in ministry.

Let us remember the women of this division in prayer as they continue to minister for their Savior.

(back to headlines)

KEEPERS PAGE
Ministry Ideas - Just for You!

The Department of Women's Ministries exists to uphold, encourage, and challenge Adventist women in their pilgrimage as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His world church.

From: Mission Statement, GC Women's Ministries Handbook

(back to headlines)