Women's Ministry
Some years ago our church encouraged the women to reach out to each other and provided opportunities for women to fulfil their calling to share in the Great Commission that Christ gave to his church. Women's ministry arises out of scripture. Paul encouraged women to teach, nurture and help each other become mature Christians (Titus 2:3-5)
Those who are already involved in women's minsitry have found healing, bonding, deeper friendships and greater fellowship in the Lord through small groups, Bible studies, prayer meetings and prayer partners and women's conferences and retreats. Women are encouraged to discover their spiritual gifts and through prayer, learn where their passion to serve lies. It is our hope that women's ministry will equip and empower them to then carry out a ministry of service to the church.
In New Zealand we have had two retreats held at El Rancho in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast in 2007 and 2010. These have been a wonderful experience for women who have attended from this country and Australia. While not finalised, there is likely to be another retreat for women early in 2013. All women are very welcome to attend.
For further information on the Gold Coast, Australian conference, click on www.wcg.org.au. There is also a biennial women's retreat in the Melbourne region.
Heart Sisters' Programme
For some years now this programme has been running in our church in New Zealand. It is a wonderful opportunity to build special relationships with other Christian women and is very encouraging for all those taking part.
Each lady first fills in a card with her personal details and prayer needs. At the church festival annual breakfast each lady gets to choose a card, obviously not her own, and that person becomes her Heart Sister for the coming year. The expectations of a Heart Sister are to pray for the person and send a note or card to her during the year to encourage her as a person and in her walk with God. The exciting aspect of this is that you do not know who your Heart Sister is and it is only at the breakfast the following year that each person reveals their identity. The most encouraging part of having a Heart Sister is that you feel the Holy Spirit at work prompting you to send a message or pray and then you later discover what the particular need was at the time. It is a real blessing!
This year we will have a women's lunch at El Rancho on Monday 17 October where the Heart Sisters will get together. If you would like to be involved in Heart Sisters for the 2011-2012 year, no matter where you live, if cannot be at El Rancho, or would like more information contact Maureen MacDonald maureenmac@xtra.co.nz