Joy Gashaija

Joy Gashaija, WM director for the East-Central Africa Division (ECD) was educated in Uganda and has a master’s degree in Education Management. She is married to engineer Venant Gashaija, and mother of four: 19 year old triplets—two boys and a girl—and a 12 year old boy. A teacher and Uganda union director of education and women’s ministries until her recent appointment, Gashaija now serves as director for Women and Children’s Ministries for ECD. Previous to her denominational employment, she was a teacher in Uganda for almost nine years. Hobbies are reading and writing, mainly related to parent and child guidance, leadership, and medicine.

According to Ardis Stenbakken, GCWM director, “Anyone who can manage triplets can manage Women’s Ministries!” We’re sure Joy will skillfully meet the challenge and we look forward to working with her.

Emilienne Rasamoely

Dr. Emilienne Rasamoely, WM director for the new Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID), was born in the capital city of Antananarivo, Madagascar. She is mother of three children—one girl and two boys; has two granddaughters; and has been widowed since 1988.

As a child, she read of missionaries— (her favorite, In the African Bush), and longed to be a medical doctor and missionary like David Livingstone, her hero. She became a public school teacher, and later the Indian Ocean Division Education Director. She holds a doctorate degree in French.

Twice she was called to work in Africa but due to family responsibilities could not. In November 2002 she was called a third time—as SID WM director. God, according to His will, had accomplished a little girl’s dream to be a missionary in the very countries where Livingstone was a pioneer. Praise God, and welcome, Emilienne!

Linda Mei Lin Koh

Linda Mei Lin Koh, director for Children’s, Family, and Women’s Ministries in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) since 1994, was elected in early February, 2003, to serve as Children’s Ministries director for the General Conference. She has been a dynamic force in the growth of WM in SSD.

Koh holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology and Counseling from Andrews University and an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. She has years of experience as an elementary school teacher and Adult Education instructor.

We will greatly miss her contributions to WM but commend her for her years of service and dedication to the cause of women.

We know that God will equip her for this new position and pray His blessings on her family during this move.

Priscilla Handia Ben

Priscilla Handia Ben served as the WM director for the Eastern Africa Division (EAD) from October 1997 to November 2002. Ben did much to promote the cause of women in this division. She was tireless and committed in her efforts to see women improve in their spiritual lives and their personal growth.

At the time of the realignment of the African divisions, Ben was chosen to serve as Publishing director for the new Southern-Africa Indian Ocean Division (SID). She will be greatly missed in Women’s Ministries but we know that she will continue to support WM in any way possible. We wish her God’s blessings and guidance in the many challenges she will face in her new position.

North American Division

Chesapeake Conference
Heart Call Herald is a newsletter written by a group of women in an Eastern Maryland church to reclaim members. They send out this newsletter to all the members who have taken a break from church, then they follow-up with visits; social events, and/or phone calls. The lady heading the ministry is a newly baptized member of 2 years. When she realized how few people were attending the church she asked the pastor for the names of those people who were not attending church. She now has a prayer ministry for them.

(Mary Maxson, WM Director NAD)

Ohio Conference
For the first time last September the Ohio Conference WM invited teen girls to come and experience a Spirit-filled weekend during the annual women’s retreat at Deer Creek State Park.

Fifty-five girls came and were showered with love. It thrilled the sponsors to watch them open up like delicate, fragrant flowers, and the sponsors reported having as much fun as the teens. They also decided that this would become an annual event.

(Taken from Columbian Union Conference Visitor, Dec. 2002)

Southern Asia Division

North Kerala Section
On Sunday, November 10, 2002, Nedumkandom School Principal, Mr. K. P. George, along with the help of Nedumkandom YMCA club, gave Women’s Ministry the opportunity to conduct a health program. Free check-ups were given to all who came. The Nedumkandom Tahsildar was the guest of honor and inaugurated the program. People from the community, parents of the school and members of our church attended the program. As a result the YMCA has requested future assistance from the WM for other such programs.

(Mary Thomas, WM Director,
North Kerala Section)

South Kerala Section
Seventy women attended the Kattakada circle-wide women’s meetings held December 15, 2002 at the Kattakada East Church. Topics presented included “Prayer and Its Results,” “Epidemic and Its Prevention,” and “Women and God’s Ministry.” All the women participated in the quiz program conducted in the afternoon and winners received prizes. Similar circle-wide meetings were also held in Karakonam and Nedumangadu.

(Mrs. Sosamma Varghese, WM Director,
South Kerala Section)

Northern India Union
Premila Masih, WM director of Madhya Bharat Section organized a training program at Hanumangarh. She instructed the women on “How to Support One’s Spouse,” “How to Be Good Wives and Mothers,” “How to Have a Prayerful Life, Unity and Peace in the Home,” and “How to Minister for God.” It was surprising to hear some of the elderly women say, “We wish someone had given us the same advice when we were young.”

(Stanley Samuel, Union President)

Southern Asia-Pacific Division

North Philippine Union
In November a new program called “Sisters of the Heart” was launched in this union. This is a program to reach out to non-Adventist professional women. At the first meeting about 30 non-SDA women who had all been invited by Adventist women attended. The reaping campaign for this group is February, 2003.

This same type of program is reaping great results in Davao Mission were 50 souls were baptized.

(Linda Koh, WM Director, SSD)

Inter-American Division

West Indies Union
A WM exhibition was held October 20, 2002, and convened under the theme “Women United in Growth.” The exhibition was held at the Gymnatorium on the campus of Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Jamaica. It was the WM first official experiment with the new concept of “evangeliving” and the launch of the Go One Million program which was a joint event of WM and Personal Ministries.

The program concluded with a parade of Bible Women followed by a mini concert and a charge given by the president of the union, Dr. Patrick Allen.

(Iris Henry, WM Director, West Indies Union)

1. A new dynamic four color brochure, bookmarks, and large postal cards that have thought provoking questions which will make women pause and think about their relationship with God and their daily walk with Him. This set is available in English and Spanish.

2. NAD Women’s Ministries Handbook written and edited by Tamyra Horst. This easy-to-use handbook is a modified version of the GCWM Handbook. It is a complete resource for WM directors and leaders and contains everything from how to start a ministry to planning an event.

3. The 7-Step Quick Start Guide for WM Directors was written by Charlotte L.V. Thoms. This quick start guide gives you seven steps for a spirit-filled and fulfilled ministry within your church, conference, or union. You will learn how to develop a mission and vision statement, write goals and learn to partner with your pastor in ministry.

Nagel reported that 90% of the churches in that division participated in the project. “We prepared 100,000 pamphlets “Opening Doors through Hope” and 100,000 copies of the magazine “Quebrando O Silencio” (Breaking the Silence) in Spanish and Portuguese. Thousands of questionnaires were also distributed to evaluate the project and collect suggestions on the project.

The response was very positive with the general feeling that the material was excellent and that the topic was well accepted by the different cultures in the various countries that make up the South America Division.

Women’s Ministries Emphasis Day
is June 14.

The title—
United by the Wonder of His
Unlikely Grace,
by Tamyra Horst.

You can download a copy of the
Resource Packet from wm.gc.adventist.org
or purchase a copy from us for US$2.50 plus s/h.

Tanzania Women's Memorial Fund

Goal $50,000

Pledged: $600
Received: $32,212

Correction:

In the January 2003 issue, Focus on the News—Women and Health Evangelism for Southern Asia-Pacific Division: Anna Biswas was involved in the health evangelism programs in this area, not Hepzibah Kore, as previously reported. Our apologies to Anna Biswas and Hepzibah Kore.