American Baptist Women
of Wisconsin
COORDINATOR OF CHURCH
AND COMMUNITY
REPORT SEPTEMBER 15, 2007
"Grant us brave and enduring hearts. In suffering,
may we tend one another, in loneliness may we befriend one another."
This is an adapted prayer from the air raid shelters in London during
WWII. As Coordinator of Church and Community it is my responsibility
to call on each woman to befriend and tend to one another in the church,
and in the community outside the windows of the church and in our
greater American Baptist Family.
As American Baptist Women's groups in our churches
we strive to care for the community of women in the church through
small social groups, retreats, support groups based on needs, and
to encourage women to explore and develop their gifts. We also want
to work with other groups in the church - children's, youth, and men's
groups.
Carol Shannon, National ABC Coordinator for Church
and Community gave a list of website resources in the fall LEADER'S
READER. In one of those sites, Creative
Ladies Ministry, there was an article by Julia Bettencourt
called "Is It Really Dead?" She says that
women's ministries is not dead as long as women in the church are
ministering by teaching Sunday School, preparing food for fellowship,
preparing communion, singing in the choir, and working on outreach
projects. Carol Shannon suggests that we recognize and support those
women in our churches who are ministering or have ministered in the
past.
As AB Women we are also called to care for those
outside the walls of our church. Assess the needs of the larger community
and develop ministries that address those needs. Each church has to
find ways for women to care for people in their church communities,
to make cross-cultural connections, and to explore the possibilities
of working with other groups. Pray that God will open our eyes and
hearts to see needs and ways to be of service.
There are concerns suggested by our national ABW.
We are in the second year of a three year concern for "Children
in Poverty." We share this theme with ABC National Ministries.
Bible studies for Children in Poverty can be found on the AB Women's
Ministries website http://www.abwministries.org/resources.
Information about national issues of Children in Poverty can be found
on the national ministries website www.nationalministries.org/childreninpoverty.
There is a study book Hope for Children in Poverty and the
Bible which can be ordered by calling Judson Press 1-800-4-Judson.
The Wisconsin Council of Churches has published materials on concerns
for healthcare and hunger in Wisconsin. Their website is www.wichurches.org.
Learn about what kind of childcare provisions there are for preschool
children in your community. Go to your local school and help out.
The National Project of AB Women is "BREAK THE
CHAINS: Slavery in the 21st Century." AB Women's goal is to raise
$250,000 in 2007-9 to help ministries that address the sexual exploitation
of women and children. The AB Women's Ministry Resource Come
to the Edge has lists of books and websites on the issue.
The AB Women's Ministries Break
the Chains website also has information.
Finally, AB Women are called by Church and Community
leaders to be familiar with the larger American Baptist family and
promote its missions and ministries, including AB Girls.
Caring for the needs of the community inside and
outside the church takes effort and courage. When God is calling us
to love one another, he gives us the wisdom and strength. "I
(we) can do all things through him who strengthens me (us)" Philippinas
4:13.
Lynette Miller
