Women's Ministries Launches Bible Lessons for Women

Women's Ministries Launches Bible Lessons for Women

 

Women in the Bible...And Me

The General Conference Women's Ministries is overjoyed to launch a second set of Bible study guides we have created for our sisters in the world church. These Bible lessons are called Women in the Bible...and Me.

         

Each lesson features a different woman in the Bible. Through these Bible lessons we are able to present different aspects of the Christian character in a way that will encourage and motivate our sisters to grow in Christ.


Author Evelyn Glass
and Editor Caroly Kujawa
share their heart for writing
Women in the Bible...And Me

Many hours have gone into the formation of these lessons and we are thankful to Evelyn Glass, the author or these lessons, to Erika Mike, our graphic designer, and to Carolyn Kujawa who assisted us with the editorial process. We believe that these lessons will help our sisters in their quiet times with God as well as be a very effective tool in small groups and outreach ministries.

The lessons are available through the Review and Herald and Adventist Book Centers (ABCs). We are thankful to the Review and Herald for their help in the printing and distribution of this material.

"It is our prayer that these lessons will help to nurture and encourage our sisters as they study their Bible," says Heather-Dawn Small, world church WM director.

The first set of studies was Bible Studies for Busy Women by Ardis Stenbakken and Carole Ferch-Johnson. These lessons are still available through the ABC. 

 

"Through the stories of these women of the Bible, God has a message for a woman like you."   - Evelyn Glass

"Every morning is a fresh opportunity to find God's extraordinary joy in the most ordinary places."   - Janet Weaver

 

The Wome in the Bible...And Me

Six Step Study

  1. Discover
  2. Going Deeper
  3. Words for Today
  4. Questions for Discussion
  5. Words of Wisdom
  6. Sharing

 

Focus on the News

Focus on the News


Trans-European Division

Women's Ministries Growing in South Sudan

More than 13,000 Adventists worship in Sudan. The church was established in this country of some 40 million in 1974.

  •  What are the challenges for WM in Sudan? Education and leadership training.
  •  What kind of projects work well for Seventh-day Adventist women in Sudan?

The "Seed and Yarn" project gave women seeds to plant to provide food for their own household and some for sale. This project has been really helpful for the women; it gave them an income, but it also gave them the opportunity to witness.  Between 2002 and 2005 there were 78 women baptized from this project.

They have also had a sewing machine project that worked well; this was in one of the refugee camps during the war.  They


Dawn Small, GC Women's Ministries
director talks to Doreen Arkangelo
during the Middle East Union Advisory 
in Beirut, Lebanon 

have also over the last two years been running a very successful literacy training program that ADRA helped to fund.  Since the funds for this project run out at the end of 2009, they are anxious to find new funds for this project.

  • What are the issues women face in Sudan, and how is WM helping them?

Work load is a major issue because most have no electricity and must carry water and firewood. Health is another challenge. There are not enough doctors and poorly equipped hospitals. Many die in childbirth, and the mortality rate among children is one of the highest in the world. Illiteracy is also high among women. Because of the war, there have been no schools, and a large
percentage of the population has never attended school.

 
Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division

The Joy of a Soul Winner

There was joy in the village of Tati in Botswana, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, when 18 precious souls were baptized after a two-week-campaign organized by the Shepherdess of the North Botswana Conference.

The campaign took place from October 5 to 18. Caroline Chola (Women's Ministries) and Dr. Ella Kamwendo (Education), both directors at the division office, worked as a team, with Kamwendo doing the Health Nuggets and Chola the sermons.

The newly baptized are taught and challenged to witness to others immediately after baptism.

-Caroline Chola, SID WM Director


Northern Asia-Pacific Division

Breaking Down the Walls of Patriarchy

For the first time in the history of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, a significant step was taken to acquaint women leaders in the conferences of the Korean Union with the proceedings of the Division's Annual Council held in Ilsan, Korea. The idea was suggested at the Division office in the Department of Women's Ministries as it has grappled with moving forward the recommendation that unions encourage their conferences to consider electing women to serve as Women's Ministries Directors (currently male pastors still serve as women's ministries directors in the five conferences of KUC).

The women are determined to persevere, and in the meantime develop their spiritual gifts fully and prepare themselves for the day when the door will open when they can fully participate in the mission of the church.

-Sally Phoon, NSD WM Director 

Inspiration for You

INSPIRATION FOR YOU

 

4 Biblical Principles for Today's Christian Woman

  1. God understands our feelings, our hopes, our fears, and all our needs. Hebrews 4:15 "His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter of our experience too dark for Him to read. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest." Steps to Christ, p. 100.
  2. God wants to meet all our needs: physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. Phil. 4:19 "He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing." Desire of Ages, p. 330.
  3. God's Word is dependable. He will do what He says He will do. His promises are sure. Numbers 23:19 "The assurance is broad and unlimited, and He is faithful who has promised. When we do not receive the very things we ask for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers....When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most...Rely upon His sure promise, 'Ask and it shall be given you.'" Steps to Christ, p. 96.
  4. Contact with God transforms our lives, our outlook, our future, our circumstances, and our emotions. Is. 61:3...to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Source: Alice Rich - WM Leadership Certification Level 1

"The tender eyes of God perpetually see us.  He never stopped noticing."
--Angela Thomas



Benefits of Bible Study

It will give us a stronger, healthier mind; better judgment, a balanced mind, clearer comprehension and understanding, strengthened retentive ability and memory

We will be better able to live a pure life. "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word." Eph. 5:25-26 (NIV)

We will be more aware of God's guidance in our lives. "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble." Proverbs 4:11-12 (NIV)

It will bring us into the will of God. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." John 15:7 (NIV)

 

Global Statistics on Poverty

Editorial

 

GLOBAL Statistics on POVERTY

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

  • The poorest 40 percent of the world's population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.
  • Around 27 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

According to UNICEF, nearly 30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they "die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death."

  • If current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 million children, largely because of slow progress in Southern Asia and sub-Sahar an Africa.
  • More than 80 percent of the world's population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.

"It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He Is also in every stopping place."
-Elizabeth Elliot 


Prayer Corner

• Raquel Arrais Travel to SAD
• Heather-Dawn Small Travel to NAD
• Dorothy Watts
• Women living in poverty
• Spring Meetings


Calendar

April 7: World Health Day
April 1-5: Spring Meetings at General Conference Headquarters

Reminders

May 10: Scholarship applications due at General Conference
June 13: Women's Ministries Emphasis Day

 

 

"It is God to whom and with whom we travel, and while He is the end of our journey, He is also in every stopping place." --Elizabeth Elliott