SOS - Saving our Sisters

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