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What
it is...
- Women's Ministries is
a place to address the spiritual, emotional, physical and social
needs of women in the church.
- It encourages women to improve
their potential for participation in the mission of the church.
- It is a support system for hurting
women-whether they are suffering from divorce, abuse or simply
loneliness.
- It is a forum to help address topics
and issues as they affect the woman.
- It encourages young women through
a scholarship program.
- It encourages women to become involved
in all areas of ministry in their church, their community,
and in their home.
- It mentors young women so that
they may find joy in the Lord.
- Women's Ministries recognizes that
women have many Gifts of the Spirit and it attempts to help
women discover and use these gifts to the glory of God.
What
it isn't...
- Women's Ministries is not new.
In 1898 Mrs. S.M.I. Henry, with the encouragement of Ellen
G. White, headed a church department for women's ministry.
Her death soon after ended the work she began. It wasn't until
1990 that the Office of Women's Ministries was once again begun.
It became a full church department in 1995.
- It is not a forum for women who
have complaints, justified or not, against employers.
- It is not a place for women to
promote equal right for women, although we admit it is an important
issue.
- It is not a mere source of entertainment
or the opportunity to spend endless hours on projects that
merely promote selfish ideas.
- It is not a platform for the ordination
of women, although we believe that everyone should use their
talents to God's glory and should receive just recognition
for work done for His honor.
- It is not male bashing. It is anti-sexist,
not anti-male.
- Women's Ministries is not exclusive.
Women's Ministries wants inclusion, not the exclusion of anyone.
How
to be involved...
Women are an influential
force in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. When women are ministered
to, the family, church, and community receive the benefits of
their spiritual strength and their ministry.
You are invited to become involved in a number of ways:
- through
prayer and encouragement;
- by helping
to see that there is an active Women's Ministries program
in your church, conference, union, and division;
- by volunteering
your talents and leadership abilities;
- through
your financial support.
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Women's Ministries is involved in sponsoring
and developing a number of programs and activities. Some of these are:
- International
Women's Day of Prayer (First Sabbath in March)
- Women's Ministries
Day (Second Sabbath in June)
- Literacy programs
- Abuse recovery
- Prayer and Love
Saves
- Global Mission
projects
- Area-wide retreats
and rallies
- Prayer groups
and prayer chains
- Small group ministries/Bible
studies
- Church hospitality
- Mentoring young
girls and women
- Leadership Training
Six
critical Issues...
There are six critical issues that particularly impact women around the world.
These issues are:
- Illiteracy
- Abuse
- Poverty
- Health risks
- Work loads
- Lack of mentoring
and leadership training
As Christians, seeking to follow the example
of Jesus, we believe that it is important to do what we can to meet
the needs of all people, developing trust, and helping them to find
the answers to their needs. For this reason, Women's Ministries has
chosen to focus much of its attention to these challenges.
Before much can be done to address most of these needs, a person must be able
to read. Almost one billion adults cannot read; about three-fourths of these
are women. They cannot read the instructions on a medicine bottle, fill out
an employment form, or read the directions for a household cleaner. Neither
can they read a Sabbath School lesson to a child nor read the Bible. Like many
in the Dark Ages, they must get their Gospel from someone else.
These are certainly challenges for everyone in the church. Women's Ministries
invites all to join together to share the Good News of the Gospel.
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