So many reports came in on women's ministry activities during the Feast that all wouldn't fit in the Festival edition of The Worldwide News. We continue women's ministry Festival reports in this issue.
Gold Coast, Australia: An information table displayed copies of recommended books and a handout, "What Is Women's Ministry?" from the women's ministry packet from headquarters, as well as the philosophy behind women's ministry. Also in the handout were excerpts from Susan Hunt's books.
Another feature at nearly every Australian site were seminars for small group leaders. Ruth Matthews.
Hot Springs, Arkansas: A women's ministry table was set up, with handouts including Tammy Tkach's Feast letter to women, a copy of the women's ministries mission statement, coupons for Christian Women InTouch, and a book list. The table generated a lot of interest from women and men.
Many were concerned that they were already doing too much and couldn't handle any more. Trish Clauson explained that women's ministry doesn't exist to give women more things to do, but is a place to be nurtured, where they can share their walk with Christ with other women who will understand what they are going through and be willing to share their burden through prayer and emotional support. Trish Clauson.
Durban and Buffelspoort, South Africa: Wendy Holladay presented a women's ministry workshop at both sites. Each session covered Titus 2:3-5, starting with the question, Why spiritually mother someone?
Also discussed were encouraging and equipping, forgiveness, comforting the comfortless and acceptance.
The most moving moments were when the women discussed times when they had been spiritually mothered. Wendy Holladay.
Colombia: The women enjoyed an evening get-together to talk about women's ministries during the last year and to make plans. We prayed and gave thanks to God for the unity and stability of the church.
We participated in a group activity where everyone was given a piece of variously colored yarn, then asked to find others in the room who had also received the same color.
We tied the yarn of the same color together to form strings. From these, we made a strong braid of many colors. This taught us what we can accomplish if we are in unity with Jesus Christ. We know that we as women have an important work to do in the body of Christ. Paulina Barrero, Laura Palacio, Piedad Mosquera.
Big Sandy: "Inspiring, encouraging, uplifting!" These are only a few of the words used to describe the women's ministry activity in Big Sandy. Donna Jones, secretary for the Big Sandy women's ministry, along with Gloria Hoppe and Cynthia Weems, supplied a table with handouts and visited with the women.
During the Festival many requests for a seminar were received. The same women quickly put together a workshop, which took place on two separate days. Gloria Hoppe.
Freeport, Bahamas: Colleen Bailey discussed women's ministry during the worship service Oct. 1. About 200 people listened to her presentation "Moving Forward With Women's Ministry." She used analogies from moving to describe where we've been and where we're heading. She explained that the women's ministry of the Worldwide Church of God has discovered some treasures that were in storage and it's moving forward.
Women's ministry is about love, nurture, encouragement, empowerment and service as written by Tammy Tkach in the premier issue of Christian Women InTouch. Colleen Bailey.
Paignton, England: Workshops on positive parenting, spiritual gifts, aspects of worship and praise in church services and women's ministry took place here. The purpose of the women's workshop was to share ideas about women's ministry as an added dimension within the church. In other words "the needs women have and the needs women can fulfill."
We broke into groups to discuss goals of women's ministry, specifically as it applies to students in their late teens but not yet adults; 20-somethings and women with careers; mums at home, those with school children; and independent mums, grandmothers and senior citizens.
The women want to communicate more to overcome the geographical and other barriers that make us feel isolated sometimes. The women have a real sense that each of us has something to give. Dana Silcox.
Chattanooga, Tennessee: The women's ministry table generated so much interest that the information office ran out of paper making copies of handouts for women's ministry. Books, as well as information on a retreat planned for Muncie, Indiana, in March were displayed. There is a tremendous desire among the women to have a ministry. Gwen Deshong.
Caloundra, Queensland, Australia: A women's ministry workshop took place at Caloundra, with a presentation by Carol Cullen highlighting the three books by Susan Hunt, By Design, Leadership for Women in the Church and Spiritual Mothering. Many commented about the need for women with Christian values to support one another. Several men voiced their support for this new aspect of church life. Many felt that half the talents of the congregations (the women) had not been used. Carol Cullen.
Sri Lanka: In terms of women's participation, it was a fantastic Feast. Instead of a songleader, we had worship teams of men, women and children introducing songs and other items.
Women introduced songs, gave prayers and did Scripture readings. This went so well that toward the end of the Feast, an all-woman worship team gave the hymn introductions, reading and all the prayers.
An elder's wife gave a talk on the purpose of women's ministry to the congregation and led us in prayer. This was the first time that most had prayed in public.
Comments included that the women prayed with feeling and emotion and were inspiring in their presentations. Women also organized the scripts and presentation of a puppet show on the lost sheep and a drama of the Prodigal Son (men and children also took part). Women also prayed for one another in small groups. Urvashi Naker.
London, Ontario: The Kitchener women's ministry was host to a seminar Sept. 30. The purpose of women's ministry and our organizational structure were presented by Mique Smith. We adopted "the tree" organizational model from the Women's Ministry Handbook. We added another branch for social coordinator as fellowship has always been important to us. Mique then gave a message titled "The Seasons of Service of a Woman's Life."
After special music, each of the coordinators for service, spiritual growth, outreach, and social presented their area of service, commenting on the job description of each and what we hope to accomplish in this coming year. Mique Smith.
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri: About 270 attended a workshop on women's ministry at Lake of the Ozarks. Linda Dyer presented material on how women differ from men, what it means to be women in Christ, and the beauty of women coming together in unity to develop ministries.
Small discussion groups focused on ways in which we might encourage reluctant women to become involved in service to other women. Linda Dyer.
Nov. 19, 1996, Worldwide News, page eight.
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