Touch a Heart, Tell the World: Sharing the Blessings

Interview with Heather-Dawn Small, General Conference Women’s Ministries Director

What is your biggest challenge as Women's Ministries Director?

I believe the biggest challenge I face is helping our sisters deal with their daily challenges such as poverty, health problems, abuse, and other such issues that women around the world face on a daily basis. We have many Women's Ministries projects in countries around the world to help women in the community and in the church deal with these challenges, but sourcing the funds is an ongoing challenge.

There are so many issues facing women today. How is Women's Ministries helping?

One of the first things Women's Ministries is doing is raising awareness of the issues that women face around the world. We have identified six challenge issues that women face - poverty, lack of education and leadership training, health, abuse, work loads, and illiteracy, and created a set of six brochures and teaching PowerPoints to help our sisters at the local church level learn more about these issues. As a result of our new theme this quinquennium - "A Ministry for Every Woman - Touch a Heart, Tell the World" we are placing intentional emphasis on evangelism in action through showing God's love as we seek to meet the needs of those faced with these challenges.

How do you reach women from different cultures in your territory? What is your strategy?

Women's Ministries believes that before we speak one word about Jesus we must show Him to others. How? By reaching out to those we meet in love, extending our friendship, caring for their needs and showing them that Jesus lives in our lives. All of this motivated by our love for God and our love for those we meet.

Heather-Dawn's favorite thing in ministry is sharing the joy that God has given her with her sisters.

What has been the greatest blessing for you as you work with Women's Ministries?

Meeting my sisters from around the world and experiencing the love we share. I have been inspired, blessed, and supported by my sisters around the world. The sisterhood we share in Jesus surpasses boundaries of culture, class, and nationality.

What do you think is the greatest need for women today?

The greatest need of women today is love. Too many of our sisters struggle with loneliness, depression, and other mental diseases and problems. They are in need of healing, healing that comes through the love of their sisters. I believe that God has given women big hearts to love, soft hands to touch, arms that can embrace a world in need. I thank God for my sisters and their commitment to touch the world for Him.