Graduates of all four levels of Women's Ministries Leadership training spill out from the stage after receiving their certificates

Empower.

Learning to be effective leaders brings satisfaction to 1,140 women of West Africa

These women enthusiastically march in a graduation ceremony to receive their Andrews University certificates for completing the four levels of Women's Ministries Leadership training.

West-Central Africa Division (WAD)

[Ghana] With 1,140 women from across the West African region anticipating their formal graduation from the Women’s Ministries Leadership training by receiving Andrews University certificates, Glynis Bradfield, director of distance student services and associate professor of curriculum in the School of Distance Education at Andrews University, graciously accepted the invitation to give the commencement address and award certificates to graduates along with the women’s ministries leaders of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, Heather-Dawn Small, director, and Raquel Arrais, associate director.

Many testimonies were shared during the event to motivate and show how God is great. Mrs. Omodan Victoria from Nigeria was very happy. "The highlight of the event is the graduation ceremony as more than a thousand women received a certificate,” she said. “And I am impressed by the hospitality of the people in Ghana," she added.

The event was held at the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University’s stadium where more than four thousand women had already gathered to attend the quinquennial division-wide Women’s Ministries congress in Kumasi, Ghana. By observing the excitement of about one-quarter of the attendees who had completed leadership training, many women determined to begin the certification coursework. Others promised to finish what they had started.

Leadership Certification Training Program

Women’s Ministries develops the curriculum for leadership training and works with Andrews University in maintaining accreditation to provide graduates with valid certificates of continuing education credits in tertiary education. Andrews University of Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA is the flagship educational institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

For women who have not been able to obtain much education or practical experience, the Leadership Certification Program is eye-opening, mind-expanding, and spiritually inspiring experiences. More than sixty seminar topics include core requirements and many choices for electives. These women are thrilled to learn about topics such as the following:

—They desire to be guided in how to study the Bible, to be introduced to the principles of public speaking and also the principles of effective leadership, to be mentored in problem solving and decision making.

—They request to be taught how prepare a talk or sermon, set goals, communicate in church board meetings, manage conflict, write proposals, develop a needs-based assessment for their church or community, impact teenagers, review cultural sensitivity, focus on professional appearance and deportment, disciple new believers, work with small group dynamics, make a budget.

—They yearn to discover spiritual gifts, reclaim former members, develop friendships with Islamic women, begin literacy training, and hold a full-scale evangelistic series.

General Conference Women’s Ministries Leadership Certification training is a life-changing experience for women who complete the courses.

Download
WM Leadership Certification, Level 1
WM Leadership Certification brochure

ePublished in Mosaic newsletter 2019 Q3, Summer issue