By Sheila Graham
DALLAS, Texas--"Women make up more than half of the church, and we represent a vast pool of talents, abilities and gifts. We are empowered through Christ and need to recognize and use our gifts," said Tammy Tkach at a luncheon March 29 organized by the women's club of the Dallas Central church.
More than 270 women from churches in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas heard Mrs. Tkach and Sheila Graham, the church's national coordinators of women's ministry, speak about women's service to the church.
"Ministry is not a choice," said Mrs. Graham. "Jesus Christ commissioned all Christians, men and women, to take up their crosses and follow him." She said the purpose of women's ministry is to organize a way for women to serve, and also develop and equip women to serve other women.
"As women in the church, we haven't had much opportunity to develop our leadership abilities. Women's ministry allows us those opportunities through service to each other and the church," she said.
Eileen Dennis, vice president of the Dallas women's club and organizer of the event, said: "Since we had to schedule our women's luncheon on Friday, which would mean a lot of women would have to take off work, I only expected 50 to 75 participants. I booked a room that would accommodate 150."
Miss Dennis continued: "When I tried to hold the count at 150, I had women call from Arkansas and Oklahoma who wouldn't take `no' for an answer. They said they would attend the luncheon anyway to hear Tammy Tkach and Sheila Graham speak on women's ministry, even if they didn't eat!"
Vera Gibbs, a member of the Dallas North church, sang "Women Who Live for the Lord" for the attendees, a hymn composed by her husband, Murdock "Doc" Gibbs, just for the occasion.
After the luncheon, about 200 of the women stayed in Dallas to attend the 1996 Keys for Abundant Living Conference sponsored by Renaissance Ministries. Deborah Tyler, founder and president of Renaissance Ministries, previously anchored local newscasts at ABC stations and a nightly newscast from a Christian perspective on the ACTS Satellite Network in Fort Worth, Texas.
Seminars included "Loving Leadership," a biblical philosophy for women's ministry; "For Better Not for Worse," biblical keys for making good marriages even better; "Having the Time of My Life," principles of time management; and "Family Values," keys to instilling family values.
The goal of the conference, according to Miss Tyler, was to "encourage women to be whatever God wants them to be." Miss Dennis introduced Mrs. Tkach and Mrs. Graham to Miss Tyler after the conference was over. Miss Tyler told the women to keep in touch with her. She was interested in how the church was changing and women's part in it.
A couple of women in the church were interviewed by KERA radio in Dallas after the conference. The interview with Tammy Ford, a deaconess in the Dallas Central church, aired on a program Thursday, April 4. She told the reporter: "I'm here because I wanted to grow in ministering to women and serving women, all women, wherever I am; whether I'm at work, on the bus, at lunch or walking down the street. I want to give an encouraging word, to spur women on to look to God for help with whatever problems they have."
During her talk, Mrs. Graham told the women that she and Mrs. Tkach were planning a newsletter that would carry news of women's activities in the church. Almost every hand went up when Mrs. Graham asked who would be interested in a women's newsletter.
| Home | Issues | Contents |
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God,1996