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Women In Missions Day 2014 was once again hosted by the ladies of Good News Bible Chapel, Havelock North. It was a great day and we were pleased and thankful for all those involved with putting on such a successful day
Our first speaker, Stephanie Dole - Barnabas Fund NZ - started the day off with the challenge for us all to Pray for the Persecuted Church. She held everyone captive with her stories from the experiences she had encountered while travelling through many countries in the world and the persecution faced by many christians on a daily basis. Only 30% of the world has christian freedom. We were reminded of the 200 girls abducted from their school in Nigeria - the name of each girl is listed on the Barnabas Fund website, so we could pray individually for them. Remember " What happens to one part of the body, happens and affects us all!
Annaliese Smith, Hastings - Childrens Outreach Ministry - then told us we needed to be
FA.T. women - not something most women want to be!!!
F = Faithful A = Available T = Teachable
Annaliese is kept very busy working in areas of Christian Education in schools, High school chapliancy, runs kids programmes and is meeting, encouraging and sharing Gods word in local communities.
Polly from the Middle East told us we should "think outside the box" and not limit ourselves to what God could use us to do in any part of the world for His purpose and glory. Polly is an art teacher and runs classes in a home for abused teenagers, which enables her to get alongside these young women, mentoring and encouraging them, and sharing the Gospel. Polly lives in a local community which gives her plenty opportunities to help many women, both young and older. Could you use your love of ARTS in mission work?
Betty Falconer has served alongside her husband Graham in Guatemala for 46 years. Currently home on furlough they are travelling around NZ. Betty encouraged everyone to get to know the names of the youth in their churches and to love and pray for the youth of today NOT judge or criticise them 😃. Betty said both Graham and her had experienced Gods greatness and faithfulness over all those years and after faithfully praying for 20 years for water at the camp, in July 2014 water was reached at 100m!!! Betty and Graham return in February 2015 to continue their work of encouraging, teaching and sharing at many assemblies around Guatemala. They are praying for someone to continue the camp ministry they started.
Following a short term mission trip to PNG , Emma McGeorge from MAF Auckland, shared how she had been called to full-time missions in PNG. After years of working in administration for MAF, Auckland Emma will be leaving her job and heading to PNG in February 2015.
Emma shared how on her ST trip she had flown her shortest flight ever - every spare space in the plane was loaded with construction materials to enable a clinic in a village to be completed. The flight went over 3 ranges and it would've taken locals 3 days to deliver what they delivered in 3 minutes!
A short term mission trip with Word of Life to Fiji was life changing for our next speaker - Sandra Stuart from Hastings. Sandra went as part of a 52 person team of teenagers and leaders and shared the gospel street witnessing, school visits and door knocking evangelism.
Many people were saved and counselled in Fiji and we pray for them as they continue in their walk with the Lord. We were encouraged to get out there and try something different, it isn't as hard as we think!
In 2006 Rachel Woodfield, her husband Dr John Woodfield and 3 children went to Zambia and worked at Kalene Hospital where over 36,000 outpatients are seen and treated each year. In the 6 years the Woodfields' were at Kalene, the nursing school was reopened, hospital infrastructure & services were improved, bible studies, evangelism and chaplaincy in the hospital happened. Also their purpose was to train Zambian Drs and staff to manage and run their own mission hospitals.
Threads Vintage Clothing was setup by a group in Hastings, headed up by Delwyn Stanton, with the sole purpose to sell used clothing online to raise funds for missions and then to pass on the $ to support local and overseas missions and missionaries.k
Check out their website threads.net.nz to purchase or make contact if you have clothes to donate.
Liz McIvor Word of Life, Hamilton has been in ministry with her husband Tom for 23 years and she shared in all that time they had experienced Gods love, faithfulness and strength and God had always supplied all of their needs. Waiting time is not wasted time, its in Gods hand and His time. Then Carol from the WOL office shared the many adventures and crazy things that took place if you were fortunate enough to experience a short term mission with Word of Life
International Students NZ in Palmerston North were loved and cared for by Janeen Mills who opened her home and shared her life with students from all around the world that were living and studying Palmerston North. Encouraging and helping students to become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ, equipping them to reach their own families, communities and nations for Christ.
Our programme ended with 8 minutes from the DVD Te Rongaphai, commemorating the 200yr Celebration of the Gospel in NZ.
It was a great day, a huge encouragement and blessing to everyone that attended.
We would love to thank everyone who contributed in any way and we look forward to seeing many of you again at our Women in Missions Day 2015
Sherrilyn Grainger
For Women in Mission HB Committee