Women's Ministries in Cuba and Ghana
Women’s Ministries Alive and Well Cuba
Inter-American Division (IAD)
Heather-Dawn Small, General Conference Women’s Ministries
director, made her first visit to Cuba last September as part of a
three-country tour in Inter-American Division. Cecilia Moreno de Iglesias, IAD WM
director, and translator Victoria Moreno accompanied her to two days of meetings
organized by the Cuban Union WM department.
Seventy leaders from churches on the island attended the
meetings. The opening ceremony outlined the goals of women in the church and
served as a reminder that we are looking forward to seeing our Lord come one day soon.
Our sisters were excited to meet together and eager to learn from their
leaders.
Particularly inspiring is the story of one sister who felt God’s call to spend her time working for Him reaching villages in the mountains and places difficult to reach. Her challenge was how to reach these people. After much prayer God provided her with a horse who has proven to be a faithful and helpful companion.
Contributor, Heather-Dawn Small, GC WM Director
Ghana Union Leadership Attend WM Congress
West-Central Africa Division (WAD)
The Ghana Union Conference (GUC) Women’s Ministries department
held a National Women’s Congress in Tamale, Ghana last August. The
women came from the east, west, north, and south to spend seven days
praising God, receive training, and share reports of what God is doing through the women of
Ghana Union. The theme of the conference was “Women for Christ: Let Your
Light Shine for the World to See.”
More than 3,000 women attended the congress, including presidents and officers from all the conferences and the union, as well as pastors and their wives. It is not often that church leadership is present in such large numbers at a women’s event. It was encouraging for the women to see their leadership giving support to a women’s congress and to hear from them words of encouragement.
Speakers included Heather-Dawn Small, GC WM director,
Omobonike Sessou, WAD WM director, Pastor Samuel Larmie, GUC president, and the
delightful, energetic Margaret Osei, GUC WM director.
Seminars presented by a variety of speakers were focused in two main areas – those for women and those for young women. Having presentations for the two age groups enhanced the conference and encouraged many young women to attend. We thank God for the church leadership support of Women’s Ministries in Ghana Union Conference.
Contributor, Heather-Dawn Small, GC WM Director
Focus on the News
Focus on the News
“If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” --1 Peter 4:11, NKJV
South Pacific Division (SPD)
Papua New Guinea Hosts Two Record-Breaking Congresses
[Papua New Guinea] In October, 20,000 women attended the largest WM Congress held in PNG. This is also the highest attendance record for a WM Congress in the South Pacific Division. The week-long congress was held in Yani, an isolated area of PNG with very little water and even less electricity, but was well-attended by the Eastern Highlands Simbu Mission administration, including the president translating for SPD WM Director Erna Johnson, and six pastors officiating the reaping baptisms of 35 people, the result of WM work.
About 80% of the women in attendance were illiterate, although WM in the mission supports the largest number of literacy classes in SPD. Also present were 70 wives of pastors, a large number of whom are illiterate.
At the Pacific Adventist University campus (PAU), another
record was made when 210 teenage girls attended the first “Real Beauty”
conference held in PNG. Twenty adult women mentors assisted conference presenter Erna
Johnson.
While visiting the university, Mrs. Johnson reported on the conference in a PAU radio interview, and also described SPD Women’s Ministries mission and strategic plan, and affirmed her priority of reaching young women and teenage girls. A class of theology students invited her to explain the differences between Dorcas Society and Women’s Ministries. On the strength of the reports he heard about the “Real Beauty” conference, PAU Vice Chancellor Ben Thomas personally invited Mrs. Johnson to return next year to hold a weekend retreat for PAU’s young women. Dr. Thomas supports Women’s Ministries priorities and understands the problems his female students face.
Contributor, Erna Johnson, SPD WM director
West-Central Africa Division (WAD)
Women Trained for Leadership
[Cote D’Ivoire] Leadership in local
church Women’s Ministries (WM) usually changes annually. In 2013 Cote D’Ivoire Conference opened
leadership training to all women for the leadership certification program. “Our
aim,” reports Adolphine 
Zian, the WM director, “is to equip all women and not limit
this program only to the conference coordinators and directors, because all women are
leaders in their own corners.” With this new approach many women will be prepared
and trained to take up leadership roles when called.
More than 100 women attended Leadership Level 1 training in
three districts during the spring of 2013. They anticipate completing the program
in 2014 and receiving the Griggs University certificates.
Contributor, Omobonike Sessou, WAD WM director
Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD)
Woman Leads English Language Bible Studies
[China] Many Chinese graduate
students at Wuxi’s universities wish to learn English. Doctoral students from other countries enjoy
fellowshipping with an English-speaking group. Students have been interacting in
English at the Zhongshan Church since 2009. Tina, a church member, recently completed
the NSD Communication and Leadership Advancement Program and is now
leading an English language Bible study. If attendance is an indicator,
young lives are already being won for Christ.
Contributor, Sally Lam-Phoon, NSD WM director
Inspiration for you
Inspiration for You
"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfullness.
--Lamentations 3:22, 23
General Conference Women’s Ministries New Year Messages
Joyful New Year’s greetings to our sisters around the world.
What does the New Year hold for us? I know there will be trials but let’s focus for
a moment on the good things. The New Year will bring blessings, reasons to
rejoice, many things to thank God for, new opportunities to grow spiritually, new reasons
to pray more, the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit, promises in the
Word to claim, new insights in the Bible to find, opportunities to strengthen our
relationship with our Father, hope for the trials, new people to meet and introduce to a
loving Savior...and the list can go on and on. Take a moment to read the book of
Philippians and see how many blessings Paul found in suffering. This year I’m
challenging each reader and myself to see life through different eyes, God’s eyes; and
let’s see the rainbows rather than rain.
Joyfully,
Heather-Dawn Small, Director
I like to see God as a God of new beginnings, new
possibilities, new plans, new purpose, new provision, new wisdom and new mercies every
morning. God is inviting us to start out the new year with a fresh point of
view to new experiences, memories, and blessings, having an open mind and heart to
wherever the Lord may take you in your calling, with full assurance and confidence
that He is with you (Matt. 28:19-20). As you go through new
experiences, good or bad, I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Christ. This is the secret. He
will give you rest and peace because He is our peace and He
loves you and cares for you deeply (John 16:33).
Let us praise the Lord for getting us through another year as we look forward to what He has in store for us. May God use you mightily in 2014.
Raquel Arrais, Associate Director
Women's Health
Women's Health
“I am the bread of life...so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” John 6:48, 57, NKJV
- Keep the faith. Women who frequently attend religious
services are 46 percent less likely to have life-threatening illnesses than
those who
attend less often. - Get moving for a healthier heart. Thirty minutes a day is enough to add three years to your life.
- Eat salads to strengthen immunity.
- Keep in close contact with friends and family. It’s proven to increase your odds of living to an old age by 22 percent.
- Sit less. By cutting TV viewing to less than two hours every day, you might extend your life by almost 1.4 years.
Source: Womans World magazine September
- Worldwide, women live an average four years longer than men.
- Girls are far more likely than boys to suffer sexual abuse.
- Almost all (99%) of the approximate 287,000 maternal deaths every year occur in developing countries.
- Globally, cardiovascular disease, often thought to be a “male” problem, is the number one killer of women.
- Breast cancer is the leading cancer killer worldwide among women aged 20-59 years.
Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/
Prayer Corner
- 10 Days of Prayer;
www.TenDaysofPrayer.org - Summit on Abuse (www.enditnow.org)
- Revived by His Word/777 (www.revivalandreformation.org)
Calendar
- January 9-18
Ten Days of Prayer - February 1
Statistical reports due in GCWM office - March 2
Women's International Day of Prayer - May1-4
enditnow Summit on Abuse - June 14
Women's Ministries Emphasis Day - August 23
enditnow Day
