Women's Ministries

What It Is . . .

Women's Ministries is a place to address the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social needs of women in the church.

  • Women's Ministries 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. Soon afterwards her death ended the work she began. It wasn't until 1990 that the Office of Women's Ministries was once again began to function. It became a full church department in 1995.

  • Women's Ministries is not a forum for women who have complaints, justified or not, against employers.
  • It is not a place for women to promote equal rights 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.

Women's Ministries: What It Is...What it Isn't

Download Brochure | Printer's PDF | PowerPoint


Why Become 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

Women's Ministries Programs

Women's Ministries is involved in sponsoring and developing a number of programs and activities.

Some of these are:

  • Special Days
    • International Women's Day of Prayer (first Sabbath in March)
    • Women's Ministries Emphasis Day (second Sabbath in June)
    • enditnow® Emphasis Day (fourth Sabbath in August)
  • Leadership Certification training
  • Mental health training
  • Scholarships for Adventist women in higher education
  • Literacy programs
  • Abuse recovery
  • Breaking the Silence
  • Prayer and Love Saves
  • Small group ministries and Bible studies
  • Mentoring young girls and women
  • Area-wide retreats and rallies
  • Prayer groups and prayer chains
  • Church hospitality
  • Adventist Women's mission projects
  • Annual women's devotional book series published since 1993
  • Initiatives of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and world church
    • I Will Go
    • enditnow®
    • Mission to the Cities
    • Centers of Influence
    • Total Member Involvement

    Six Challenge Issues

    The Department of Women's Ministries chose to address six challenge issues that particularly impact women around the world.

    These critical challenges are:

    • Illiteracy
    • Abuse
    • Poverty
    • Health risks
    • Work loads
    • Lack of mentoring and leadership training

    Download brochures for each of the Six Challenge Issues


    Seminars