Dear Sisters,
How I love being an American Baptist Woman and enjoyed the fellowship with my sisters in Massachusetts this past Saturday. Our theme for the day was "Mission Exploration" and it was awesome to see and hear about the many ways women are involved in and support missions.
As I read about the history of our Sisters who have come before us, I realize that our strong commitment to missions stems from them. According to the September 2001 edition of the American Baptist Quarterly, as far back as 1861 women from various denominations formed the Women's Union Missionary Society of America for Heathen Lands. During that time period, "Women in other cultures could not receive medical treatment from a male missionary, and U.S. mission agencies wouldn't send single women as missionaries. Women were dying unnecessarily, both physically and spiritually."
For years women have answered God's call to reach out and help women. As I would call it, S.O.S. - Saving our Sisters. Through women raising funds to send women out into the fields as missionaries and also through collecting supplies, we have connected with our sisters locally and around the world.
Whenever there has been a need, American Baptist Women have stepped up to answer the call. White Cross and Love Gift are two great examples that still continue today through the involvement and support of American Baptist Women.
We continue to have the vision and compassion as our earlier sisters did for women in need and this has certainly been demonstrated through our Break the Chains Project - raising funds and awareness about the issue of Human Trafficking. To date, over $402,000. has been raised surpassing our goal of $250,000. Many women have heard God's call to speak out for women and children who are victims of trafficking and do not have a voice. Currently it is estimated that there are 27 million enslaved worldwide, 75% are women. Human Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, second only to drugs.
Women need to continue to become involved in this issue and get our churches and communities involved too. It is up to all of us to respond to the cry of women and girls (SOS - Saving our Sisters).
I ask that you remember to pray for women and girls who are victims of human trafficking and for the opportunities that God may be leading me and you, and like our sisters before us, to respond to the needs of women and girls across the street and around the world.
Remember, I am praying for you as you continue on your journey as Women... Destined for God's Purpose.
Blessings,
Barbara
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Standing on the Shoulders of Those That Came Before
September 20, 2009
Dear Sisters,
Through the years I have been fortunate to have many mentors in my life. My mom has been a mentor to me and has been there for me in all stages of my life. My friend Judy was the one who invited me to participate in AB Women and she has also been another important mentor to me. However, one mentor that I fondly remember is my second grade Sunday School teacher, (from the FBC of Peekskill, NY) Mrs. Pidgeon. Mrs. Pidgeon always took a special interest and caring in me and it is with her that I accepted Christ as my Savior. She has always continued to have a special place in my heart although I haven't seen her in almost 40 years. I wonder if she had any idea the important role she played in my christian journey?
I wonder if Helen Barrett Montgomery or Alma Noble ever realized their vital role in our denomination, especially their influence on women and girls? They have been an inspiration to so many and have paved the way for many of us to live out God's Call. As Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins puts it, we are "Standing on the Shoulders of Those that Came Before" and I am thankful for each one of them and the role women have had in our American Baptist denomination. Because of many faithful Christian women through the years, we have a strong and empowering AB Women's Ministries today.
At my church this morning, Trinity Baptist in Arlington, MA, we celebrated American Baptist Women's Sunday. We celebrated and lifted up Trinity women leaders who have been an inspiration to us; we empowered Trinity women of the present to continue their journeys as they are Women....Destined for God's purpose; and lastly, we encouraged our young women and girls, promising to mentor them as we have been mentored so as they step out and begin their faith journey, they will be able to stand on our shoulders.
As women, we need to remember to tell the stories of Christian Women leaders that have come before us so that their memory and legacy will continue for future generations. We also need to say thank you to the women around us who have been an inspiration and faithful Christian servants. Lastly, we need to look around us and reach out to our young women and girls who are our future. They are looking to us for guidance, wisdom and strength as they prepare to step out into the world answering God's call.
There is a lyric from a song by Ray Boltz that says, "Thank you for giving to the Lord, I was a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave" and as I end this post, I want to say "thank you" to all the women that have touched my life. Because of you, my life was changed.
Until we connect again, let us to continue to "Stand on the Shoulders of those we came before" as we continue to strive to be Women, Destined for God's Purpose.
Blessings,
Barbara
Dear Sisters,
Through the years I have been fortunate to have many mentors in my life. My mom has been a mentor to me and has been there for me in all stages of my life. My friend Judy was the one who invited me to participate in AB Women and she has also been another important mentor to me. However, one mentor that I fondly remember is my second grade Sunday School teacher, (from the FBC of Peekskill, NY) Mrs. Pidgeon. Mrs. Pidgeon always took a special interest and caring in me and it is with her that I accepted Christ as my Savior. She has always continued to have a special place in my heart although I haven't seen her in almost 40 years. I wonder if she had any idea the important role she played in my christian journey?
I wonder if Helen Barrett Montgomery or Alma Noble ever realized their vital role in our denomination, especially their influence on women and girls? They have been an inspiration to so many and have paved the way for many of us to live out God's Call. As Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins puts it, we are "Standing on the Shoulders of Those that Came Before" and I am thankful for each one of them and the role women have had in our American Baptist denomination. Because of many faithful Christian women through the years, we have a strong and empowering AB Women's Ministries today.
At my church this morning, Trinity Baptist in Arlington, MA, we celebrated American Baptist Women's Sunday. We celebrated and lifted up Trinity women leaders who have been an inspiration to us; we empowered Trinity women of the present to continue their journeys as they are Women....Destined for God's purpose; and lastly, we encouraged our young women and girls, promising to mentor them as we have been mentored so as they step out and begin their faith journey, they will be able to stand on our shoulders.
As women, we need to remember to tell the stories of Christian Women leaders that have come before us so that their memory and legacy will continue for future generations. We also need to say thank you to the women around us who have been an inspiration and faithful Christian servants. Lastly, we need to look around us and reach out to our young women and girls who are our future. They are looking to us for guidance, wisdom and strength as they prepare to step out into the world answering God's call.
There is a lyric from a song by Ray Boltz that says, "Thank you for giving to the Lord, I was a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave" and as I end this post, I want to say "thank you" to all the women that have touched my life. Because of you, my life was changed.
Until we connect again, let us to continue to "Stand on the Shoulders of those we came before" as we continue to strive to be Women, Destined for God's Purpose.
Blessings,
Barbara
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Start of the Journey
Monday, September 14, 2009
Dear Friends,
On July 30th, I was installed as National President of AB Women's Ministries. I am so proud to represent a ministry that is dedicated to providing vision, training and resources to women and girls in American Baptist Churches across the country. I have been active in AB Women's ministries for 15 years, first serving on the AB Women's region board in Massachusetts and then becoming the President of Massachusetts in 2001. Through the years, I have been mentored by AB women and made so many friendships along the way.
As I embark on this new pathway as National President, I thought I would share my journey with all of you as I meet women from across the country and around the world. I hope to have great stories to share, information that I have learned along the way, and also a place to ask for your prayers as I become challenged and stretched striving to fullfill the purpose God has for me.
In addition, I also hope to use this blog to continue to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking. This has become a ministry priority for AB Women across the country who have raised over $402,000 to fund grants for ministries that are working in the area of human trafficking.
So, let us begin together the start of the journey as we all strive to become
Women... Destined for God's Purpose.
Blessings until we connect again.
Barbara
Dear Friends,
On July 30th, I was installed as National President of AB Women's Ministries. I am so proud to represent a ministry that is dedicated to providing vision, training and resources to women and girls in American Baptist Churches across the country. I have been active in AB Women's ministries for 15 years, first serving on the AB Women's region board in Massachusetts and then becoming the President of Massachusetts in 2001. Through the years, I have been mentored by AB women and made so many friendships along the way.
As I embark on this new pathway as National President, I thought I would share my journey with all of you as I meet women from across the country and around the world. I hope to have great stories to share, information that I have learned along the way, and also a place to ask for your prayers as I become challenged and stretched striving to fullfill the purpose God has for me.
In addition, I also hope to use this blog to continue to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking. This has become a ministry priority for AB Women across the country who have raised over $402,000 to fund grants for ministries that are working in the area of human trafficking.
So, let us begin together the start of the journey as we all strive to become
Women... Destined for God's Purpose.
Blessings until we connect again.
Barbara
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