WOMEN IN MISSION 2017
Georgia Houghton (19yrs) started the day,
full of youthful enthusiasm, reflecting on how God had shaped her while at STM
camp, Canada. As she met with peers from churches all over the world, she
consistently had to show humility and discernment as they worked together in a
camp full of hundreds of young people.
Sarah Scott Webb (SIM NZ) said “Let go of
what is familiar and go ahead in a new journey”. Her background in Anti
Trafficking had taken her on a journey of trusting God with her whole heart and
life wherever she went in the world and whichever organisation she worked with.
We had heard from Stephanie Smith just as
she was about to head to the mission field of PNG. Now 2 years later, her story
is of how God is using her talents to teach and encourage so many families all
over the country. She has flown in and out of the jungle to help children with
the schooling so the parents can do the huge array of tasks on the mission
field in PNG. She is so excited to be going back to serve among the people she
has grown to love.
Nilanthi Sim , her husband and family
answered God’s call to Sudan in 2007.
Four years later the South separated and Khartoum became increasingly
dangerous for Christians. The story of how God brought them and many others
safely out was the result of much prayer around the world. Currently in Dunedin
working in member care and mobilisation for SIM she talked of how important
encouragement is and friendship that
costs, and challenged us to consider under whose branches do we find refreshment
for our souls and renewing of our hearts and to write them a note of
thanks, and to
reflect on who finds shelter under our branches? She and her husband hope to
return to Sudan in the next couple of years
Rosemary Sookhedo, of Barnabas fund International,
shared her story how as a young woman she left NZ for London on a boat in 1967, fell in love
with an Indian man which started a lifetime of ground- breaking cultural
battles. This Christian couple have spent their life radically seeing to the
needs of Muslim Christians, helping thousands who are being persecuted
throughout the world. She has written books about women and the Islamic
culture.
Bev Winters, Maria Henderson and Judy Clark
were our afternoon speakers.
Bev said finding a small plastic monkey on the footpath while out walking, confirmed that going to Uganda as a retired couple was in His plan. Then as she spent 3 years at Noah’s Ark Children’s Home in Africa. The monkeys in the jungle always reminded her that she was in God’s plan.
Bev said finding a small plastic monkey on the footpath while out walking, confirmed that going to Uganda as a retired couple was in His plan. Then as she spent 3 years at Noah’s Ark Children’s Home in Africa. The monkeys in the jungle always reminded her that she was in God’s plan.
Maria Henderson knew as a child she wanted
to share the gospel with everyone she met, no matter where she lived, here in
NZ, or in Fiji from where she had just returned. This extraordinary young woman’s love for all
people shows as she is always looking for opportunities to share her Gospel and
OAC has given her the skills to do this so clearly and boldly.
Judy from NTM/Ethos NZ ended our day with
PRAY, GO, DO. Her passion to talk about missions, the possibilities that anyone
could be serving on the mission field, and getting out to churches and talking
with young people about what they could be doing is contagious.
I know that everyone speaking and listening was challenged and
refreshed and reminded that we can trust God as women, and that through our
lives Christ is displayed in all we do. It is only through the wonder of the
gospel that all this is possible.
Maria Wharrie and Sherrilyn Grainger
On behalf of woman in Mission Hawkes Bay
