Women's Ministries Is Alive and Well in Macedonia
Women minister to senior citizens during the pandemic, effectively use digital communication, and produce new resources.
Trans-European Division (TED)
[Macedonia] The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped Women's Ministries in Macedonia from staying connected despite the crisis a lockdown being experienced here and worldwide.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
We have depended more on our Mobiles, Viber, WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, SMS messages, E-mails, YouTube, and Zoom to give encouragement, support and help during these uncertain times. All Trans-European Division articles, encouraging words, PowerPoints and love notes have all been translated and regularly sent to all Woman’s Ministries leaders and pastoral wives to further share with the women in the church and local communities.
MINISTERING TO SENIORS
Local women’s ministries responded to the coronavirus crisis across Macedonia by collecting, packing, and distributing food parcels for the senior church members and neighbors. In addition, they started purchasing and delivering medicines and everyday necessities for individuals over 65.
ONLINE MEETINGS
Online meetings, conferences, prayer meetings have been initiated with a special digital gathering in April where the Women's Ministries director was a guest speaker at the prayer meeting for the entire Macedonian congregation.
Unfortunately, the Woman’s Ministries retreat “Woman After God’s Heart,” scheduled May 1-3, 2020, in Ohrid, Macedonia, was cancelled as were the retreats planned, May 22-24, 2020, in Wiena, Austria, for the Yugoslavian diaspora women’s ministries, and the the first summer retreat "Girls for Christ" scheduled, July 20-26, 2020, in Ohrid, Macedonia.
RESOURCES
Thinking ahead the South-East European Union Conference (SEEUC) Women’s Ministries department has been proactive in preparing resources for during and post COVID-19.
Resources such as Girls for Christ manual 1 was prepared and put on the SEEUC website in the Women’s Ministries department page.
Women in the Bible 2 coloring book was made ready for publishing and printing is in the process.
Women of Virtue manual from the British Union Conference translation is near completion.
Written by Clair Sanchez, director of Women’s Ministries of Trans-European Division
Published in Mosaic newsletter, 2020 Q3, summer issue
