Fifteen hundred women from all across North America, Bermuda, and the Caribbean are expected to converge on Dallas, Texas, September 25-27, at the North American Division women’s convention. With the theme “Free Indeed,” convention speakers, presenters and musicians will explore the many ways Jesus sets women free: free from sin and guilt, free from illness and disease (including emotional issues and abuse), and free to glorify Him through service and witness.

Friday morning, September 25, convention attendees are invited to participate in an outreach to the women and children of the greater Dallas area to share God’s love through acts of service. God in Shoes Dallas, as the outreach ministry is called, will give Adventist women the opportunity to minister to women in abuse and homeless shelters through “spa time”—manicures and neck/shoulder massages—plus gifts of needed items and seminars about goal setting and life skills. Their children will participate in crafts and other fun activities. Convention participants will also minister at a children’s hospital and help out with thrift stores operated by Christian missions.

The God in Shoes outreach will occur from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Those who participate should plan to be at the Hilton Anatole Hotel Thursday evening, September 24, for training. Participants will sign up for the outreach activity of their choice when they register for the convention at the hotel on Thursday. Outreach activities will be available on a first come, first served basis. When you register online for the convention, there is a place to indicate if you wish to participate in the Friday Outreach Ministry.

On Friday morning, simultaneous to the outreach event, convention registration, which begins Thursday at 3:00 p.m., will resume at 8:00 a.m. and continue all day. The seminars will also begin at 10:30 a.m. at the hotel for English- and Spanish-speaking women. Those who participate in the outreach will miss the 10:30 seminars but should be back at the hotel in time for the afternoon seminars which begin at 2:00 p.m.

Early-bird registration is $139 through June 30. Beginning July 1, the regular convention rate is $189. Hotel rooms are $114 per night per room (for 1-4 persons). To register for the convention and the hotel, go to www.nadwm.org and on the home page click on the “Free Indeed” icon.

For a list of seminar presenters and topics, see below.

 

Sexual Assault Awareness Month was highlighted for a third year by the Women’s Resource Center on the campus of La Sierra University. Each April, secular campuses across the country speak out against sexual violence. How much more should our Adventist campuses speak out when the crux of Christianity is to bring healing and wholeness—not only spiritually, but emotionally, mentally, relationally, and physically? Sexual abuse and assault not only violate the body, but the soul and spirit.

During April the Women’s Resource Center sponsored activities to educate and sensitize campus women and men about sexual assault. Activities included self-defense workshops for women and Denim Day, supporting sexual abuse survivors by wearing denim or a teal ribbon. The Clothesline Project, displayed near the center of campus, allowed students to express messages in word and art on T-shirts such as “love is never forced,” “your cries will not be left unheard,” “rapists aren’t always strangers,” and “tell someone.” Social work students conducted rap sessions on date rape at dorm worships, and the library featured books on sexual abuse.

The La Sierra University Chapel service on April 2 was devoted to sexual assault awareness. Over 1,000 students listened intently while a rape survivor, Rev. Monica Coleman, shared her story. The pain she experienced was tangible, and her anger with God real. But her message that there is life after death (emotional death) was powerful. Coleman is a professor at Claremont School of Theology and has written The Dinah Project: a Handbook for Congregational Response to Sexual Violence.

A Friday night worship service also focused on sexual abuse. Students performed dramatic readings highlighting different scenarios of sexual abuse suffered by girls and boys, women and men. Heide Ford, Women’s Resource Center Director, preached on the topic, “The Truth Will Set You Free.” Focusing on the importance of talking openly about sexual abuse since it affects so many people—one in four women and one in six men—she promised healing and hope for those who take the courage to face the pain and get help through God and counseling. If not, the effects could last a lifetime, undermining or wrecking havoc with relationships, career, and view of God. A question and answer session followed with staff from the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center and La Sierra University Counseling Center answering students’ questions.

Students commented that sexual abuse is not something they hear about in church, but feel that it does need to be talked about. The Women’s Resource Center and Women’s Ministries are committed to breaking the silence. Satan is intent on keeping victims in emotional and spiritual chains. God can use us to set them free!
 

Heide Ford, Director
Women's Resource Center
 

Mireille St. Pierre, women’s ministries leader of the Northeastern Conference, led out in a women’s ministries leadership certification training session the weekend of April 3-5 in Shelton, Conn. Training was held simultaneously for Levels 1, 2, and 3. A total of 90 women received certification in one of the levels. Next, Mireille plans to conduct leadership training for the French-speaking women of the conference.
 

 

 

Seminar Sessions 4 and 5 will be presented Sabbath afternoon, and Session 6 is scheduled for Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Check the NAD Women’s Ministries web site for the full schedule—www.nadwm.org.

 

Women in the Bible … and Me is a new series of women’s Bible studies that is now available in Adventist Book Centers and from the ABC web site: www.adventistbookcenter.com. Beautifully illustrated with feminine artwork, the studies have visual appeal for women as well as spiritual lessons from a women’s perspective.

Written by Evelyn Glass, former women’s ministries director of the Mid-America Union and a pioneer in women’s ministries in North America, the studies explore the lives of 14 women in the Bible and demonstrate how important women are to God. Today’s women will find help and hope in the guidelines, practical instruction, and wise principles that the women in the Bible have left for us. The women featured in these Bible studies will help modern women face their own trials with the assurance that they are not alone. The studies also reinforce the principle that God calls today’s women to be a blessing—in the home, in the church, and in the community.

The studies are designed to be used in a group setting or individually and are suitable for use by women of all denominations.

 

Se espera que mil quinientas mujeres de todo Norteamérica, Bermuda y el Caribe converjan en Dallas, Texas, del 25-27 de septiembre, en la Convención  de damas de la División Norteamericana. Con el tema “Realmente Libre”, los oradores, los presentadores y músicos de la convención, explorarán muchas manera en que Jesús pone a las mujeres en libertad: libres del pecado y culpa, libres de enfermedad y dolor, y libres para glorificarlo a través del servicio y el testimonio.

La inscripción (registración) temprana es de $139 dólares hasta el 30 de junio. Empezando el 1 de julio, el precio de convención regular es de $189. Los cuartos del hotel son $114 por noche por cuarto (para 1-4 personas) Para obtener mayor información e inscribirse, visite www.nadwm.org y en la página de inicio haga clic en el icono “Realmente Libre.”


Las cuatro sesiones generales serán traducidas al Español, y algunos seminarios serán presentados en el idioma Español.

 

Available while they last: free note pads for women’s ministries retreats and meetings (you pay the shipping). They are pink, 3½” x 7” pads, and are available in lots of 500 or more. Order from Howard Scoggins at Review and Herald Publishing Association, 301.393.3180 or e-mail hscoggins@rhpa.org.