As National President, I am fortunate to have opportunities to step out of my ABC circle and attend ecumenical events. Last week I attended the Massachusetts Council of Churches Annual Meeting and yesterdayI had the pleasure of attending the board meeting of the MA/RI Church Women United. At these events I had the opportunity to share the work of American Baptist Women's Ministries.
If you know me well, you know one of the first words out of my mouth was the issue of Human Trafficking. It was good to hear what other women's ministries were advocating and human trafficking has been an issue that many of them have been involved in also. It was exciting for our circles to connect and discussions of how we possibly might join our circles together to enlarge it so we could make a greater difference in the fight against human trafficking. Can you imagine the possibilities?
This week I also started reading the book, "Half the Sky" by Nicholas Kristoff . It is about the oppression of women and how women around the world are uneducated, abused, raped and trafficked. The stories shared are of oppressed women who have risen out of their situation and have assisted other women in their circles in providing education and economic opportunities so that they may become empowered. What if we enlarged our circles to connect across the waters to assist circles of oppressed women? Christ has given us so much. We need to use the gifts he has given us to support and empower women who are oppressed. We need to show the love of Christ to them by giving them the opportunity for an education and skills for economic independence. I ask that you pray for God to show us how to connect our cirlces and make a difference to women around the world.
As Christian women, could we be destined to touch the lives of women and girls half way around the world who we have yet to meet? With Christ, the possibilities are endless - just like a circle!
Until we connect again, let us continue to be Women.... Destined for God's Purpose.
Barbara
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