In Step With the Spirit - Walking with my Sisters

Greetings Sisters,

Well, I am no longer on Hawaiian time, have lost that vacation glow and we have eaten the last bit of pineapple. Memories from a wonderful trip but God has blessed me with so much more from this experience.

As I sit and ponder about my adventure to the BWA Women's Leadership Conference in Honolulu, I have been reflecting on what did I learn and why did God give me this awesome opportunity. I was proud to represent American Baptist Women at this conference and honored to partcipate (along with our 4 lovely AB Women Scholarship recipients) in praying for our Asian Sisters. It's hard to put into words how I feel but hearing and meeting women from around the world make's feel like I am part of something bigger beyond my backyard.

I will always remember the women from Africa and their beautiful outfits and head dresses. Although we may live halfway across the world from one another, we are connected as sisters through our love of Christ and our call to empower and encourage women. I will continue to feel connected to my Asian Sisters as we lifted them and their ministries up in prayer. I celebrate with my South American Sisters as one of their own, Raquel Contreras has become our new Women's President. I will continue to lift up my Carribean Sisters and their ministries in prayer, especially my Haitian Sisters as they continue to rebuild their lives after the earthquake. As I continue to be involved in the ministry fighting human trafficking in the US, I will pray for my Eastern European Sisters as I know they are working hard in the fight also. Our new prayer partners are our sisters of the South Pacific and I will lift them up - particularly the prison ministry in the Fiji Islands and the birthing huts in Papa New Guinea.

Lastly, it was wonderful to meet and be a part of NABWU - North America Bapist Women's Union. These women were awesome and I enjoyed our day together in board meetings and learning about the work and ministries of NABWU. I look forward to my continued work with these dedicated Christian women.

So, here I am a woman destined for God's purpose walking with my sisters all over the world as we are in step with the spirit. I pray that the spirit continues to walk along side each one of you and your ministries over these next 5 years. Thank you for all that you shared with me at BWA Women's Conference and I look forward as we continue to walk together in the spirit to meet up again in South Africa in 2015.

Blessings my sisters,


Barbara