Facing the Future: 

A Look at Challenges and Opportunities for Women’s Ministries

 In the 16 years since Women’s Ministries became a full department in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the world has changed greatly. The internet, cable networks, and social media make us feel global events are happening in our own backyard. The entertainment industry has become very sophisticated; there is increasing violence; there are diseases such as depression for which science is still looking for answers. On the spiritual side, women still need to understand God’s love and provision for her as a woman. Women’s Ministries has the mission to foster spiritual growth and renewal among women and to meet their needs in a holistic way.

During the past quinquenium, 2005 to 2010, the General Conference Women’s Ministries Department focused on combining evangelism and ministry, placing more intentional emphasis on the Six Challenge Issues that impact women globally, helping each woman to find a ministry that will help us face these challenges. On March 22-27 of this year, the 13 Women’s Ministries division directors from all over the world will meet for the 2011 advisory. During these meetings the leaders will be working and planning together to unify procedures and strategies to meet the needs of women globally and make a difference where they are. The six Challenge Issues are:

1. Threats to Health

2. A Woman’s Workload

3. Poverty

4. Lack of Training, Mentoring, and Leadership Opportunities

5. Abuse

6. Illiteracy

Much has changed in 16 years, but Seventh-day Adventist women can still claim the promise that “in Christ they can do all things.” They can help to redeem souls by touching a heart and telling the world about Jesus; restore broken relationships through projects that address abuse and violence; transform attitudes and behaviors through mentoring, training, and education; and provide resources that enable them to carry the message of hope to a waiting world.

Raquel Arrais
General Conference WM Associate Director

Focus on the News

Did You Know?

• 70% of the world's poor are women.
• Worldwide, women receive 30% to 40% less than their male counterparts for comparable work.
• Between 80% and 90% of poor families are headed by women.
• Women comprise two-thirds of the world's illiterate population.
• More than 1 billion people—one in six—live on less than $1 a day, and 2.7 billion live on less than $2 a day. (Source: World Bank. PovertyNet)
• 40% of the adults infected by HIV/AIDS are women. (Source: Millennium Project Task Force on Educational and Gender Equality, 2004)
• World Health Organization reports that around the world, one in every three women is suffering some form of abuse.

 

 

New Resources:

Adventist Books for Kindle — Ifyou love the convenience of reading on Kindle, you will want to take advantageof this. Go to http://www.adventistebooks.com/index.php.More books are being continually uploaded. You can also conduct a searchat Amazon.com for Review and Herald e-books.

Revival and Reformation website: www.revivalandreformation.org.For a broadcast schedule, visit www.hopetv.org. Source: Adventist News Network, www.news.adventist.org.

 

 

 

Inspiration for You:  Relating to Colleagues

Tips for working with your team

What traits and abilities are important for you as a leader to display? The list below is one a seasonedadministrator uses to evaluate employees. You may find it helpful to share withyour Women's Ministries team also.

1. First of all, a relationship with Jesus. Even in a church organization, we can't take that for granted, but it is essential.
2. Loyalty. Even if you're a volunteer, not a paid employee, administrators still expect loyalty.
3. Vision. You may have a vision of what you want to accomplish, but it's important to communicate it to your leader.
4. Accept responsibility. As the Women's Ministries leader, you must accept responsibility for yourself and your committee members.
5. Cooperation. Not only do administrators want to see cooperation among the Women's Ministries team members, they also want cooperation with other departments and with the organization as a whole.
6. A positive, cheerful attitude. No one likes a complainer.
7. Willingness to help others. The more Women's Ministries integrates into the organization and gets involved with other departments, the better it will be perceived by administrators.
8. Integrity. Always be totally honest and ethical; never allow even the slightest appearance of dishonesty. There is never an excuse for a lack of integrity.
9. Peacemaker. Women won't be taken seriously if they are quarrelsome. Women leaders must be adept at encouraging cooperation and defusing conflict.
10. Punctuality. Being on time for all appointments and keeping your own meetings on schedule will be valued by administrators and others.
11. Honor confidences. In your position as leader, you will receive information that cannot be shared. Never break confidentiality.
12. Be proactive. Leaders are expected to be self-starters.
13. Self-confident. Lack of self-confidence is seen as a weakness.
14. Self-respect. Never forget that you have inestimable value.
15. Willingness to accept counsel. Whether it's from an administrator or a seasoned Women's Ministries leader, it's vital to listen to counsel. You need not always follow it, but consider various viewpoints. There is safety in a multitude of counselors.
16. Be a team-player. Demonstrate willingness to contribute to the entire organization, not just Women's Ministries. And work cooperatively and impartially with your WM team.

--By Carla Baker,North American Division Women's Ministries Director.

 

The Millennium Development Goals: Moving On

According to the Millennium Development Goals Report 2010, launched on 23 June, 2010, the economic crisis took a heavy toll on jobs and incomes around the world, but its impact does not threaten achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of cutting the rate of extreme poverty in half by 2015.

 

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CALENDAR

5 March - Women’s Ministries International Day of Prayer

8 March - International Women's Day

21 March - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

22 March - World Day for Water

 

PRAYER CORNER

•  Adventist members worldwide are joining together each morning at 7 and evening at 7 to pray for an outpouring of God's spirit.
  
• GCWM Advisory
• WM International Day of Prayer
• Revival and reformation
• Evangelism through the International Day of Prayer