Editorial
	by Ardis Stenbakken, Director Department of Women's Ministries, GC

A new year, many new leaders, new opportunities, and new challenges. What are we going to do with these in 2003? How will we strengthen the Church and glorify God? Especially, how will we do this when people are so busy, or not interested in what they believe to be part of the feminist movement, or there are too few women to have formal programs? Or what can be done even in churches with wonderful programs already up and running?

I would like to suggest that in 2003 we should concentrate on two basic fundamentals: Bible study and prayer. You have heard me say it before and you will hear me say it again: women spend too little time in serious Bible study, learning for themselves what God really says to and about women. And now a world-wide Church survey reports that this is a problem for the entire Church. According to the survey reported at Annual Council, only some 45 - 51% of the church members involve themselves in weekly group Bible study, including Sabbath School, or are involved in daily personal devotions, family worship, and other such activities that would increase personal spiritual growth.

I challenge you: if you do nothing else, that you get at least one Women's Ministries small group Bible study started in each church. And that you promote at least one prayer project: it might be a small prayer group, a prayer chain, prayer partners, or prayer conferences, or teaching prayer journaling. But promote prayer. And when you do have programs, retreats, congresses, that you teach women how to have personal devotions. Promote the devotional books, yes. But go beyond that to personal Bible study. Help women with time management if necessary so that they have time to spend in scripture. Help them adjust their priorities so that the Bread and Water of Life become more important than cooking and cleaning.

The year 2003 can be a great one if we have our priorities right, spend time with God and His Word, and give Him the glory. May God bless each and every Women's Ministries leader from division directors to local churches as we make a difference for Him.

---

Prayer Corner