Womens Newsletter

Happy Mothers Day

Our first annual women's conference: A Woman's Worth, was a successful event. The conference kicked off on Saturday, April 12 at 2 PM. Pastor Clarke opened with a prayer and word of encouragement, reminding us that Eve was the last of God's creation and we as women are complete within ourselves and we are worthy in His eyes. Mistress of Ceremony , Caron Romain gently guided us through the afternoon introducing each speaker with flourish and style. The praise and worship segment got the ladies in a praising mood and set the tone for the event. This was followed by Theresa Clarke outlining the occasion and pointed out that no college degree or elevated title is needed to mentor and teach our younger ladies of their worth. She also reflected that the Women's Ministry should be our pipeline to connect, interact and encourage each other in faith; and that it is a setting that is unique to us, as we share some of the same trials and tests in life as women.
Sister Jaunita Bailey conducted a passionate discourse on Praise and Worship, reminding us that a praising attitude keeps us in the right frame of mind to take on whatever comes our way. A lively discussion on finances was next on the agenda, as we discussed how money affects our lives from the "I do" to the golden years. And Sister Tamika Dominici gave us some great tips about Healthy Living, not just for our physical and mental stability, but especially for our spiritual well being. Taking on the whole armor and
never letting our guards down for the enemy to attack.

At this point in the program we were all stimulated and ready for our guess speaker Rev. Pansy Lopez, who put us at ease and likened us to precious metals that have to go through a process for its beauty to be seen and appreciated. She also encouraged us to teach our young girls to appreciate themselves and never stop telling them how important they are, not just to us, but more so to our Heavenly Father. The afternoon was punctuated, with games and prizes conducted by La Tonia Seymour, and our open discussion got some of us reminiscing on how society evaluated women over the years. Many of the ladies expressed gratitude and felt blessed to be a part of the occasion. They also requested to be included in other women's events that we host in the future.
The wrap up on Sunday was insightful and thought provoking, as Theresa Clarke talked about the makings of a virtuous woman (Prov 31: 10-30), and that she can only be that by the Power of the Holy Spirit. She closed the sermon by challenging Godly women to be nice to other women, and that a simple smile could make a world of a difference to a stranger.
We are encouraged to share any ideas that will help this precious ministry
to grow and bloom, as we are worthy women willing to work for the Lord.

Dont forget your Worth.

"THE NEED FOR WOMENS MINISTRY"
In the bible Paul the Apostle sent a letter to a young pastor named Titus, whom he had dispatched to the Island of Crete. Titus' job was to help the young church there grow to maturity.

Paul's advice to Titus is as relevant and workable today as it was then.
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers and to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Just for the record, let's assure ourselves that women who reach out to women don't have to be graduates of colleges, universities, seminaries, or Bible schools. You may not have a degree from anywhere. But you do have something that is much more important. You have lived!

You have experienced life. You've rejoiced in birth and faced the reality of death. You may be "a mother. You may have a career. You may be widowed. You may have been through divorce. You may be single, never married. You may have come through times of great failure and repentance. No matter where life has taken you, you have gone through all kinds of joy and suffering and you have something to share.

Why? Because in spite of all you've been through, you have not become embittered toward God. Instead you've walked with Him. You've let Him minister to you. You have not turned away, but have instead grown closer to Him. And now you have something to offer others who are in the very same boat.

You have been equipped for this responsibility in another important way. God has given spiritual gifts to every one of His children, including His daughters. And those gifts were not meant to confine you to making cookies or working in the church nursery! There is much, much more here for you to do.

Why do you think God wants women to reach out to women?

Well, for one thing, we can do it better than anyone else. I say this without any apology whatsoever. Only a woman knows what it's like to go through a difficult pregnancy. To suffer PMS or postpartum blues. To work through the terrible fatigue that results from chasing toddlers for hours on end. Only a woman can relate to the boredom and isolation of speaking to children all day in monosyllables. Only a woman understands the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) discrimination sometimes confronted both at work and at church. Only a woman can really understand how another womans feels.  For these reasons alone is why we need a Women's Ministry.

"This is why we need a Womens Ministry"