2015 GC Session Women's Meetings

Join us next year for Women's Meetings, July 6-9, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas. The theme is "Arise and Shine, Jesus is Coming!" For Session information, click here

2015 Women's Devotional

Altogether Lovely, published by the Review and Herald, is available at your local Adventist Book Center. To order online, click here

GC Scholarship Fund Awards One Millionth Dollar

[Silver Spring, Maryland] GC Women’s Ministries reached a milestone in July when the one millionth dollar from the scholarship fund was awarded to a Nepali student majoring in education at Spicer Adventist University in India. The student received the one millionth dollar in her $500 scholarship toward tuition expenses. Scholarships have assisted 2,164 women in 124 countries in 19 years and are largely funded by royalties from women’s devotional book sales. To donate online to WM Scholarships, click here

Global Health Ministries Conference

[Geneva] Women's Ministries presented its latest resource, Thinking Well, Living Well, during the WM Mental Health Track at the Global Health Congress in Geneva, July 8-12. This series of ten seminars about mental health will help Christians openly and compassionately talk about this subject. Many members in the church suffer silently, live in pain and shame, and sometimes leave the church because they feel God has forsaken them. The time has come for the church to become educated and recognize when members need help. 

Thinking Well, Living Well seminar packets are available for $10 each through General Conference Women's Ministries. For more information, call +1 (301) 680-6636 or email, [email protected].

Seminar titles: Understanding Mental Health; The Mind and Body Connection: Connection and Community; The Mind and Body Connection: Lifestyle and Entertainment; Hope Beyond Depression; Healing Past Hurts; Forgiveness and Your Health - Part 1; Forgiveness and Your Health - Part 2;  Healthy Relationships Behind Closed Doors; Living the Abundant Life: God's Healing Way; The New You.

Ellen G. White Speaks about the Mind

"Disease is sometimes produced, and is often greatly aggravated, by the imagination. Many are lifelong invalids who might be well if they only thought so. Many imagine that every slight exposure will cause illness, and the evil effect is produced because it is expected. Many die from disease the cause of which is wholly imaginary" (Ministry of Healing, p. 241).

 

Heather-Dawn Small Travels to Democratic Republic of Congo

East-Central Africa Division (ECD) April 2014

[Kolwezi] Members brought friends from other denominations and religious faiths to the April Women's Congress in East Congo Union Mission (ECUM). The theme “Woman, Wake Up and Be Enlightened” impacted many with renewed hope and trust in God. Women distributed 560 Great Hope books at the end of the congress.

During four days of seminars more than 600 attendees learned how to use their time wisely in order to schedule devotional time and Bible reading for themselves and with their families. They were trained to be leaders in their communities and also to improve health conditions. Speakers included Heather-Dawn Small, GC WM Director, Debbie Maloba, ECD WM Director, and Ilunga Kamwanya Mevis, ECUM WM Director. See more here

Contributed by Debbie Maloba, ECD Women’s Ministries Director

Small (center) greets the two oldest attendees

Raquel Arrais Travels to Mongolia

Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) June 2014

[Ulan Bator] Nearly 400 men and women attended the Women's Convention held the last weekend of June in good travel weather. Just prior to the convention forty-three women attended the WM Leadership Certification Level 4 training led by Purvdulam, WM director of Mongolia Mission.

The graduation ceremony for sixteen women who completed all four levels (forty courses) of the Women's Ministries Leadership Certification over a period of years was the convention's highlight. We congratulate these women (eight are pastors' wives) and their perseverance. Leadership certification equips them to minister to the women in their churches as well as in the community. See more here

Contributed by Dr. Sally Lam-Phoon, NSD Women's Ministries Director

Arrais (second from right) celebrates with a mother and her two daughters–all are wives of pastors–who completed all levels of Leadership Certification Training

Women's Ministries News in Brief

Mission to the Cities

[Biysk, Russia] The first Women's Ministries Conference in Central Siberia met and developed five programs for five target cities with emphasis on women's emotional, spiritual, and physical health. Demographic research for each community's felt needs guided the planning. (Euro-Asia Division) See more here

[Cotonou, Bénin] Big City evangelism in Cotonou began by inviting friends and neighbors to join small groups in January. A two-week reaping series in June resulted in 117 baptisms when more than 90 women preached in 88 evangelistic centers. (Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division) See more here

[Chiba, Japan] When a church member began providing lunches for a local nursing home, she did not realize how many unbelievers would join her ministry or that she would begin teaching vegetarian classes as an evangelism outreach in her city. (Northern-Asia Pacific Division) See more here

Former SOS scholar graduates with Master's degree

SOS Scholar Update

[China] Li Na received a GC SOS scholarship while studying for her Bachelor's degree. She continued her education and graduated in March with a Master's degree. She and her husband Pastor Jed Kuang oversee the Love and Hope School in China. (Northern Asia-Pacific Division) See more here

enditnow Events

[Sabah, Malaysia] Many men are signing petitions in enditnow campaigns (pictured above) in Sabah where the mission leaders and pastors are also involved. (Southern Asia-Pacific Division) See more here

[Bonaire] A car parade and drum band march to a city park for speeches signaled an enditnow event on the island of Bonaire. (Inter-American Division) See more here

WM Leadership Certification Training

Lithuanian women completed training with Sanches (front center)

[Kaunas, Lithuania] Fifteen women of Lithuania participated in Level 1 WM Leadership Certification Training with Clair Sanches, WM Director of Trans-European Division. See more here

[Davao City, Philippines] Leadership Certification Training Level 1 attracted 166 women in Davao Mission. (Southern-Asia Pacific Division) See more here

WM Congresses

[Vilankulos, Mozambique] The first ever union-wide Women's Ministries congress met in Mozambique in August. The union president and all of the mission presidents also attended. (East-Central Africa Division) See more here

[Gaborone, Botswana] Young Adventist Women's Ministries coordinated their own track at the Botswana WM Conference. (Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division) See more here

Complete news stories with more photos here

Why is Communication So Important?

Misunderstandings and conflict have existed since time began. As Women's Ministries leaders it is critical that our communication is clear and effective if we are indeed hoping to provide a ministry. We need to recognize that while sin continues on earth, conflict is inevitable. However, consecrating ourselves to God and giving our problems to Him along with skillful management of our communication efforts can bring about a positive outcome.

A motto that many specialists in communication use: It's not what you say - it's how you say it!

Remember that much of what we communicate is:

  1. Unconscious
  2. Unintentional
  3. Incongruent

Communication is congruent when:

What we SAY and what we DO match.

The Five Steps in Resolving Conflicts

1. Pray about the Problem Together.

Do this humbly, not as a way to bring judgment down on the other person! Commit to trying to find a solution, and then define the conflict as a mutual problem. In the majority of conflict situations, neither side is totally wrong nor totally right. In most cases both sides have things to work out. Try to view the situation as a mutual problem not as a win / lose struggle.

2. Clarify the Issues: Focus on the Needs and Goals.

Reframe the situation with the questions: What do we need to do to get out of this situation? What are our goals? What are the concerns? Don't be dragged back into recriminations or old gossip that is destructive.

3. Understand Each Other's Perspective.

Treat the other person and their viewpoint with respect. Take the time to give each other opportunity to state a viewpoint (active listening without interruption). Once the other person's viewpoint is understood, it is much easier to want to come to an agreement. Use specific communication: use "I" words instead of "you" words. (Rather than saying, "You make me so mad when you do that!," trying stating, "I feel disappointed and angry when something is said to me without considering my view of the situation.")

4. Break Down the Conflict into Small Parts.

If the conflict is serious it may not be possible to sort all of the problems out at one time. Identify options and develop the ones that give everyone more of what they want. Try to deal with one issue at first, then move on to the next.

5. Give and Take.

Take a long-term view. Support what is legitimate and fair. Resist greed and injustice. "Give" in areas that are high value to others and easy for you to give. Remember that you cannot expect to have everything go your way.

To remember: Focus on what is right not who is right.

Source: WM Leadership Cerification Level 1, click here

Speech Thoughts from Ellen G White

When Christ is thus revealed in our speech, it will have power in winning souls to Him" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 338).

"As followers of Christ we should make our words such as to be a help and an encouragement to one another in the Christian life. Far more than we do, we need to speak of the precious chapters in our experience. We should speak of the mercy and loving-kindness of God, of the matchless depths of the Saviour's love. Our words should be words of praise and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are full of the love of God, this will be revealed in the conversation. . . .Great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, unselfish purposes, yearnings for piety and holiness, will bear fruit in words that reveal the character of the heart treasure. When Christ is thus revealed in our speech, it will have power in winning souls to Him" (That I May Know Him, p. 138).

Tips for Leaders

Improving Women's Ministries:

  • Effective Training
  • Inspiring Resources
  • Active Hospitality
  • Building Relationships with New Women
  • Strong Prayer Mnistry

Healthful Living

  • Don't skip meals; morning should be the largest meal, evening should be lightest.
  • Control portion sizes; eat the smallest portion that can satisfy hunger and then stop eating.
  • Avoid sodas and sugar-enhanced beverages; these drinks have excessive calories.

Date To Remember

October 10 is World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2014 focuses on Living with Schizophrenia. This day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. The treatment gap for mental, neurological and substance use disorders is formidable especially in poor resource countries. See more here

Calendar

September

  • 8  International Literacy Day
  • 21 International Day for Peace
  • 24 National Women's Health and Fitness Day

October

  • 10 World Mental Health Day
  • 16 World Food Day
  • 20-26 Pastoral Care Week
  • Health Literacy Month

Prayer Corner

  • Homes of Hope and Healing
  • Mission to the Cities
  • Evangelism where women are leading and are involved
  • Abducted girls in Nigeria
  • Women living in refugee camps and conflict areas
  • enditnow
  • 777
  • Revived by His Word
  • Revival and Reformation
  • Missionary book distribution

January 7-17, 2015

Prayer 777

Revived by His Word

Revival and Reformation