NOVEMBER 2002
Vol.1 No.11

HEADLINES

From Sarepta Henry to Margaret Jackson

Focus on LITERACY

Division Highlights: Southern Asia-Pacific Division

KEEPERS PAGE — Evangelism and You

Editorial

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ABOUT WM NEWSLETTER

From Sarepta Henry To Margaret Jackson

In 1898 Mrs. Sarepta Myrenda Irish Henry, with the encouragement of Ellen G. White, headed a church department for women's ministry. The story of how it began is a thrilling one!

Appalled one day in the spring of 1874 that her child had been enticed to enter a saloon, Henry set out to organize the Christian women of Rockford, Illinois, to active promotion of temperance. Gradually her sphere of action enlarged, and she became a national evangelist for the newly organized Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Due to her heavy workload and travel, she became ill but found help at the Battle Creek Sanitarium where she also accepted the teachings of the SDA church. Shortly after she was healed, she resumed her WCTU work.

In 1898, she conceived a plan for what she called woman ministry. In 1898 she resigned her position as national evangelist for the WCTU in order to devote herself to mobilizing the women of the Adventist Church to work for God. Ellen G. White, who was then residing in Australia, wrote S. M. I. Henry and encouraged her in her work and gave her advice as to the vision for this new ministry.

But the work of the WCTU did not end with Henry's departure. This organization has continued and grown from its inception to the present time.

Recently, Margaret Jackson from New Zealand, made a special visit to the GCWM department. What made her visit so special? Margaret serves as the world president of the WCTU and she is also a Seventh-day Adventist. Jackson, who has been involved with the WCTU for the past 40 years, is proud to be president of this organization. The motto of the WCTU is "For God, Home and Humanity" and has established branches worldwide. Jackson has a vision for the WCTU and WM. She stated that "Adventist women need to help and educate their sisters in the world…[and] educate our children about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse."

Jackson met with Ardis Stenbakken, GCWM director, and shared her vision and her desire to see WCTU and WM working together on special projects.

It is noteworthy that this organization, of which S. M. I. Henry was an early leader, is now led by another Seventh-day Adventist woman. We wish Jackson all God's blessings in her mission as she seeks to motivate women to become more involved in educating their families and the community to follow a healthy lifestyle.

Taken from the Leadership Certification seminar "Introduction to Women's Ministries" by Dorothy Watts. Her life story can be found in the book Whirlwind of the Lord available in many ABCs worldwide.

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Focus on LITERACY

One of the six critical issues that the GCWM department is concerned with is illiteracy. Worldwide, approximately 1 billion adults cannot read. Two-thirds of these are women. Many of these women live in the Global Mission 10/40 window—Muslim women to whom men other than a close relative cannot speak. It is believed that of the 12 1/2 million members of the SDA church, approximately 500,000 are illiterate. They have never read a Bible or studied their Sabbath School lesson or read to their children. What are you and I doing to help this situation? Let me share with you what is happening in one country and how God is using women to stand in the gap.

The need for literacy classes in the country of India is great, especially for women. In the town of Orissa ten Adult Literacy Centers were inaugurated in May with nearly 240 students in attendance. One day the classes were interrupted by some irate husbands who threatened to close down the classes. They accused the teachers of teaching about Jesus and not just teaching their wives to read. The wives chased the men away and continued to attend the classes. It is our hope that one day these faithful and sincere women may learn to love Jesus.

In the town of Jharkand, 42 volunteers were certified as Adult Literacy Teachers. This training program was conducted at the SDA hospital in Ranchi. Sixteen of the graduates were selected as Village Literacy Trainers to work in 8 villages. It takes 10 months to help an illiterate person become literate.

The cost of funding one center is US$300. At the GCWM we support literacy programs in various countries and assist where we can but your help is needed to keep these programs going and growing. Many members in our church cannot read and WM is determined to do our part with the help of other Adventist organizations such as ADRA and Ingathering. We thank Hepzibah Kore, SUD WM Director, and the Tidwells of ADRA, India, for their support, guidance, and for sponsoring these programs.

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DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS : Southern Asia-Pacific Division

Southern Asia-Pacific Division consists of 5,651 churches with a membership of 1.2 million. There are eight unions and two attached missions that span a large territory of 17 countries. Linda Koh is the Women's Ministries Director for this division and works with a team of dynamic and dedicated union, conference and mission directors.

Administrative Structure:
As of now, all 8 unions and the 2 attached missions have WM directors. All except one are full time and on regular salary.

Evangelism:
The main thrust of WM activities is evangelism. Most recently, women's evangelistic outreach programs are targeting bringing the gospel to the elite and professional women of the community.

Retreats and Revelation Seminars have been organized in hotels and convention halls to bring in women of this group. We praise God for the good results as we see some baptisms resulting from these efforts.

WM evangelism, particularly in the Philippines, now turns its attention to two new approaches in evangelism. The first is the Van Ministry: women raised funds to purchase a jumbo van to be driven to various rural communities for health outreach, story hour for children, teaching of livelihood skills, etc. People simply wait for the arrival of the van every week!

The second and the newest approach is the Boat Ministry. Funds are being raised by the WM to purchase a boat to ferry women to the islands that can not be reached by any other means. Health and dental clinics, evangelistic meetings, and parenting seminars have been used as an entering wedge to these remote islands.

Literacy:
This is one area that is tapping the skills and resources of WM. Thus far, literacy programs have been organized consistently over the past three years in 5 unions, with two specifically organized in centers for abused women. This special project, "The Haven" has been running its second year for these abused women. As of now, there are about 10 women receiving Bible studies in this home. Indeed, the Lord is using women's gifts in a marvelous way.

A Vision for Leadership:
Our plans for the future of WM in SSD is that of training women for leadership roles in all levels of the church: division, union, conference and mission. It is also our plan to continue to do more networking among the WM leaders so that ideas and knowledge of soul-winning and outreach can be shared. Our work here is challenging in some territories, but it is nevertheless very rewarding. Please remember the women of this division in your prayers as they work to finish the Lord's work.

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KEEPERS PAGE
Just for You! – Evangelism and You

Sometimes the rush of life combined with the many challenges we face each day may cause us to forget God's purpose for our lives (Matt 28:19, 20). This month we want to revisit our purpose and passion as daughter's of the King.

Evangelism must be much more than a public meeting. There is much work to be done before there is a harvest. Each church should plan activities/ministries that will build friendships with women outside of our church fellowship. All our meetings do not have to be evangelistic meetings but all our meetings must be evangelistic. These ministries will take many forms.

Following are two methods of outreach that have met with great success and can be used by women to reach out to the women and families in their communities.

One-to-One Evangelism
Evangelism must be much more than a public meeting. Much work must be done before there is a harvest. Each church must plan activities/ministries that will build friendships with women outside of our church fellowship. All our meetings do not have to be evangelistic meetings but all our meetings must be evangelistic. These ministries wil take many forms.
This is one of the most effective methods of evangelism.

Note the following:

• It is important to keep in mind that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Our challenge is to truly become the salt of the earth by becoming involved in the lives of those who need Jesus but who also need our love and care
• The best persons to begin with are relatives, neighbors, friends at work or elsewhere
• Pray earnestly for the person by adding them to your daily prayer list
• Don't be forceful or argumentative when discussing the Bible

Five important parts to Bible study are

• Get acquainted - spend a few minutes talking with the person about their life and needs
• Introduction of the lesson and prayer
• Study and discussion of the lesson
• Commitment and prayer
• Set next appointment time before leaving

Bible studies have been included with the Women's Ministries Evangelism Manual. Other resources for Bible study are available at your local ABC. Bible Studies for Busy Women, prepared especially for small group non-doctrinal studies, are available in English and Spanish at your ABC, AdventSource, or GCWM.

Small Group Evangelism
There are many benefits to this method of outreach. It is a time to learn and pray together, to bear one another's burdens, and to encourage spiritual growth.

Your small group can be comprised of the following:

• Sharing Time - getting acquainted before the study begins
• Bible Study Time - learning about God's Word
• Prayer Time - asking for Holy Spirit guidance and prayer requests
• Social Time - meet with group members occasionally outside study time
• Service - Encourage group members to participate in a community project to help others

Here are some tips to help your small group be a success:

• Establish rules of confidentiality
• Use a study outline
• Give sincere compliments
• Encourage good listening
• Use visual aids when possible
• Avoid using the Word as a rod
• Encourage response
• Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know"
  

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