One Heart at a Time
Touch a Heart, Tell the World
"One Heart at a Time "
South Pacific Division Solomon Islands Literacy Program
Eleven Moro women from Oreta on the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands read the story of Jesus' trial and crucifixion from their Pidgin Bibles for the first time after four days of instruction in the pilot "Buk Save" Literacy Program. They were previously unable to read.
Another 30 read aloud from other books provided for them by the program which commenced on April 5, 2009. The "Buk Save" team was led by Janette Kingston, director of Women's Ministries for the Solomon Islands Mission (SIM), and was welcomed to the village by its chief.
Pastor Andrew Kingston, SIM president, says, "These women live in a relatively inaccessible part of the island and have made the decision to return to traditional ways, including spirit worship. But due to a program in which the skin disease Bakua was targeted by SIM Health Ministries director Dr. Silent Tovosia, the area has opened up to the Adventist Church."
Dr. Tovosia worked with the people suffering from Bakua and encouraged them to work to pay for the medicine required. The local people planted hundreds of banana palms for Kopiu Adventist High School to obtain the money.
Participants were taught the Pidgin alphabet, were given spelling tests, and took part in various drills to develop an understanding of sounds and shapes of letters.
"It was so exciting to see ladies of all ages holding the Word of God in their hands and reading. I think the audience didn't believe these women couldn't read only four days before."
On the final day of the program, the women were presented with Pidgin Bibles. Janette Kingston says, "It was so exciting to see ladies of all ages holding the Word of God in their hands and reading. I think the audience didn't believe these women couldn't read only four days before."
Guadalcanal regional director Pastor Martin Losi is planning to place a pastor in the area as soon as possible. He is confident that there could be a church of more than 200 members by the end of the year.
Source: South Pacific Division RECORD/ Andrew Kingston/Janette Kingston
Focus on the News
FOCUS ON THE NEWS
That Your Joy May Be Full
Northern Asia-Pacific Division
For one week, from May 30 to June 6, the Women's Ministries Department of the Mongolia Mission Field (MMF) organized an evangelistic series of eight topics based on the theme of "Joy." The opening night of the series in Ulaanbaatar saw an auditorium filled to near capacity by women. "Due to the limitations of space, the male church members were advised to stay away in order to accommodate every woman who had been invited to the meetings," explains Cleidi Kuhn, the organizer and Women's Ministries Director of MMF.
The guest speaker, Heather-Dawn Small, director of the Women's Ministries Department of the General Conference, presented a power-packed personal testimony of what God has done and is doing for her. Jesus, the Man of Joy, was introduced to the audience as the one who has won the victory over pain and suffering and has promised us new life at the resurrection.
Dr Tsetsegee, a Mongolian OB/GYN, and Dr. Sally Lam-Phoon, NSD WM director, played supporting roles in the evangelistic meetings, presenting talks on health and women's issues.
Source: NSD WM
Leading Ladies Speak Out
Trans-European Division
Dublin, Ireland - One hundred women from the Irish and Scottish Mission attended the Women's Ministries Retreat at the Emmaus Center in Dublin, Ireland, May 22-24. Guest speaker Heather-Dawn Small, GCWM director, and Anne-May Wollan, TED WM director, emphasized the study of God's Word as instrumental in shaping God's women to be sharers of the Word to a disunited, selfish world.
"Where do you stand in your relationship with God today?" was the question Small asked as she began her first presentation entitled "Getting Out of God's Way." Small's wit, humor, and candid speaking drew the hearts of the women to one another and God.
Wollan presented "United We Stand" and put her perspective on how Paul's message to the Ephesians affects Christians. "It is the grace and love of God that unites the 40 countries of the TED and it enables us to share the wonderful news of a soon coming Savior," she stated.
Heather Haworth, British Union Conference WM director, and Judith Martin, Scottish Mission WM director, were joined by Marci Neal, the Irish Mission sponsor for WM, in giving a presentation on how women are leading out in their missions, conferences and local churches. Haworth explained, "Yes, we are diverse in our church and there are times we must put aside our cultural view of what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist."
Source: TED News/ Heather Haworth
Sharing God's Love
South Pacific Division
Adelaide and Hobart: The women of Adelaide and Hobart were privileged to receive a visit by Raquel Arrais, Associate Director of Women's Ministries.
In Adelaide, over 100 women, many of whom were young, attended the special meetings. Hobart held its very first "Women and the Word" Conference, attended by over 80 women. Both Conferences have very supportive presidents who were present for these meetings.
TPUM Union-wide Women's Ministries Congress: Over 600 women from Trans-Pacific Union Mission gathered in Apia, Western Samoa, for a WM congress. Among other activities was the "March against Abuse," which was televised. Many women were able to testify of their faith while walking around Apia, and many non-Adventist women came to the meetings because of that. Erna Johnson, SPD WM director, together with Arrais and many other speakers, shared practical and spiritual ways of living and sharing God's love with others.
Source: SPD WM
Inspiration for You
Inspiration For You
Violence Against Women: A Call for Action
Violence is a major obstacle to development. Violence against women in particular hinders progress in achieving development targets. Despite the growing recognition of violence against women as a public health and human rights concern, and of the obstacle it poses for development, this type of violence continues to have an unjustifiably low priority on the international agenda.
The Facts
It is estimated that one in every five women faces some form of violence during her lifetime, in some cases leading to serious injury or death. Today, due in large part to the efforts of women's organizations and the evidence provided by research, including that of World Health Organization, violence against women is recognized as a global concern. One of the most pervasive violations of human rights in all societies, it exists on a continuum from violence perpetrated by an intimate partner to violence as a weapon of war.
The most widely used definition of violence against women (VAW) is:
"...violence against women" means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life." United Nations' General Assembly Declaration of the Elimination of Violence Against Women (resolution 48/104 of December 1993)
WHAT CAN MY LOCAL CHURCH DO?
As a community of believers who recognize the value God places on each person, we have an opportunity to work as Christ did, to free the captives, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Let us take a little time to answer the question, "What can my local church do to help prevent gender violence and to help victims heal?
- Compile complete, up-to-date information about all resources in your community available to victims of any type of gender-based violence. Make sure the information is easily available to members and others. Get acquainted with shelters and referral sources to learn what services they offer and when they are open.
- Present sermons and workshops to the congregation and the community on issues of gender-based violence relevant to your community. Offer to present age-appropriate information in local schools.
- Recognize that gender-based violence is a tremendous evil, that it is never acceptable and cannot be condoned.
- Create a church lending library of materials on gender-based violence issues relevant to your community so members and leaders may become educated on this vital topic. Organize a group to assess the needs in the local community.
- Care for hurting people in our church. Be non-judgmental. Develop support groups. Help raise awareness. Share materials about gender-based violence with your community.
For more information on Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day and to download the free packet, click here.
2009 Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day
Editorial
2009 Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day
Violence Against Women - Download Free Packet
The 2009 Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day (APED) focuses on gender based violence. To understand gender violence and exploitation against women, and to make an impact on the outcomes for women, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has chosen the fourth Sabbath of August each year as the APED for the world.
The packet for this year has been prepared by GC Women's Ministries. Over the past seven years we have focused on domestic violence, incest, abuse of power, and abuse of the elderly. This year the focus is on Violence against Women. To download the free APED packet, click here.
Web Sites
www.adventistfamilyministries.org/
General Information about abuse and the appropriate answer from the SDA Statement on Abuse.
www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/
SDA Church Official Statements including statements on abuse and domestic violence
www.unifem.org/gender_issues/
United Nations Development Fund for women works to foster women's empowerment throughout the world
Prayer Corner
- Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day
- Oppressed women and children
- Abused women around the world
- Heather-Dawn and Raquel's travel to Nigeria
- West-Central Africa Division-wide congress in Nigeria
Calendar
- August 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous People
- August 22: Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day "Violence Against Women"