Why We Need Why We Need Women’s Women’s MinistriesMinistries

Women’s Ministries Women’s Ministries ministers to the needs of - ministers to the needs of -

• Women in the churchWomen in the church• Women outside the churchWomen outside the church

First Commission Jesus GaveFirst Commission Jesus Gave

• ““These twelve Jesus sent out These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them saying, and commanded them saying, ‘Do not go into the way of the ‘Do not go into the way of the Gentiles...but go rather to the Gentiles...but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of lost sheep of the house of Israel...preach saying the Israel...preach saying the kingdom of heaven is at kingdom of heaven is at hand...heal the sick, cleanse the hand...heal the sick, cleanse the lepers...” lepers...”

Matt 10:5-8Matt 10:5-8

Second Commission Jesus GaveSecond Commission Jesus Gave

• ““Go ye therefore and make Go ye therefore and make disciples of all the nations, disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that them to observe all things that I have commanded you...” I have commanded you...” Matt Matt 28:19, 2028:19, 20

Women are 49% of world Women are 49% of world populationpopulation

Church population – 12.4 Church population – 12.4 millionmillion

Women are 9.3 million of Women are 9.3 million of church populationchurch population

Women’s Ministries is Women’s Ministries is about - about -

• Women becoming the Women becoming the best they can be in best they can be in Jesus.Jesus.

• Women using their Women using their talents and gifts for talents and gifts for God.God.

• Women allowing the Women allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and Holy Spirit to guide and use them.use them.

1998 was 1001998 was 100thth Anniversary of WMAnniversary of WM

• 1898, Mrs S.M.I. Henry 1898, Mrs S.M.I. Henry established a WM at the General established a WM at the General Conference.Conference.

• Voted a ministerial license that Voted a ministerial license that year.year.

• Mrs. White encouraged her Mrs. White encouraged her through letters.through letters.

““...If we can arrange, as ...If we can arrange, as you are now working, to you are now working, to

have regularly have regularly organized companies organized companies

intelligently instructed intelligently instructed in regard to the part in regard to the part they should act as they should act as

servants of the Master, servants of the Master, our churches will have a our churches will have a life and vitality such as life and vitality such as

have been long have been long needed.” needed.” R&H May 1899R&H May 1899

Six Critical Issues in WMSix Critical Issues in WM

• IlliteracyIlliteracy•PovertyPoverty•Health RisksHealth Risks•AbuseAbuse•Work HoursWork Hours•Training and MentoringTraining and Mentoring

1. ILLITERACY1. ILLITERACY

•1 billion adults can’t 1 billion adults can’t readread

•2/3 of these are women2/3 of these are women

•Never read a BibleNever read a Bible

•Cannot respond to a Cannot respond to a radio programradio program

•Many in Global Mission Many in Global Mission 10/40 window – Muslim 10/40 window – Muslim women to whom a man women to whom a man cannot speakcannot speak

2. POVERTY2. POVERTY

70% of the world’s poor are women 70% of the world’s poor are women – this affects the children– this affects the children

•½ of all households in the world ½ of all households in the world are headed by womenare headed by women

•United Nations says – 49% world United Nations says – 49% world population are women, they do 66% population are women, they do 66% of world’s work, earn 10% of the of world’s work, earn 10% of the money, own 1% of the world’s money, own 1% of the world’s property.property.

•80% of world’s 24 million refugees 80% of world’s 24 million refugees are womenare women

3. HEALTH RISKS3. HEALTH RISKS

•Women suffer from breast cancer and Women suffer from breast cancer and osteoporosis.osteoporosis.

•1600 women die every day in childbirth 1600 women die every day in childbirth = 600,000 women each year= 600,000 women each year

4. Abuse4. Abuse• 44thth Sabbath in August has been voted by GC Sabbath in August has been voted by GC

as Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day.as Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day.• In England & Wales – 1:4 murder victims are In England & Wales – 1:4 murder victims are

wives killed by husbandswives killed by husbands• In USA 3 – 4 million women are battered by In USA 3 – 4 million women are battered by

husbands/partners each yearhusbands/partners each year• In Papua New Guinea – 67% of wives suffer In Papua New Guinea – 67% of wives suffer

marital violencemarital violence• In Egypt, Jamaica, Greece – 1:5 divorces In Egypt, Jamaica, Greece – 1:5 divorces

granted on grounds of spousal crueltygranted on grounds of spousal cruelty• 24 UN Member Nations all report family 24 UN Member Nations all report family

violence as a grave problemviolence as a grave problem

5. Work Hours and 5. Work Hours and ConditionsConditions

• Women do 66% of Women do 66% of the work in the the work in the world (85% of world (85% of agricultural work)agricultural work)

• They receive 10% They receive 10% of the payof the pay

• They own 1% of They own 1% of the provertythe proverty

6. Training and 6. Training and MentoringMentoring• ““The older women likewise...that they The older women likewise...that they

may teach the young women...” Titus may teach the young women...” Titus 2:3-5 NIV2:3-5 NIV

• If women are trained for service they If women are trained for service they can be a great help to the churchcan be a great help to the church

• Many women do not know how to serve Many women do not know how to serve on committees or boards – they need on committees or boards – they need trainingtraining

• The church needs the contribution of The church needs the contribution of women – too much work for any of us to women – too much work for any of us to do alonedo alone

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who

are destitute.Speak up and judge

fairly.Defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8, 9

“He has showed you, O [wo]man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly

with your God.”

Micah 6:8

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”James 1:27

““Christ’s method alone will give Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their for them, ministered to their needs, and won their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me’.” ‘Follow Me’.” Ministry of Ministry of Healing,Healing, p. 143 p. 143

““All who work for God should All who work for God should have the Martha and the Mary have the Martha and the Mary

attributes blended – a willingness attributes blended – a willingness to minister and a sincere love of to minister and a sincere love of the truth. Self and selfishness the truth. Self and selfishness must be put out of sight. God must be put out of sight. God

calls for earnest women workers, calls for earnest women workers, workers who are prudent, workers who are prudent,

warmhearted, tender, and true to warmhearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for principle. He calls for

persevering women who will take persevering women who will take their minds from self...and will their minds from self...and will

center them on Christ, speaking center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with the words of truth, praying with the persons to whom they can obtain persons to whom they can obtain

access, laboring for the access, laboring for the conversion of souls.”conversion of souls.”

Testimony Treasures Vol. 2, p Testimony Treasures Vol. 2, p 405405

Women’s MinistriesWomen’s MinistriesBaptism Statistics 1992-Baptism Statistics 1992-

20012001• 1992 1992 5,228 5,228• 19931993 8,449 8,449• 1994 1994 8,624 8,624• 19951995 12,601 12,601• 19961996 29,021 29,021• 19971997 38,616 38,616• 19981998 77,971 77,971• 19991999 105,241 105,241• 20002000 101,046 101,046• 20012001 61,439 61,439

Women’s MinistriesWomen’s MinistriesReclaimed Members 1999 - Reclaimed Members 1999 -

20012001• 19921992 1,120 1,120• 19931993 18,091 18,091• 19941994 5,271 5,271• 19951995 7,627 7,627• 19961996 10,573 10,573• 19971997 8,938 8,938• 19981998 14,856 14,856• 19991999 20,401 20,401• 20002000 30,846 30,846• 20012001 15,669 15,669

““When a great and decisive work is When a great and decisive work is to be done, God chooses men and to be done, God chooses men and women to do this work, and it will women to do this work, and it will

feel the loss if the talents of both are feel the loss if the talents of both are not combined.”not combined.”

Evangelism, p469Evangelism, p469