HISTORY
More than 100 years ago the Seventh-day Adventist Church recognized the special, God-given gifts of women in our church. In 1898, Mrs. Sarepta Henry became the first Women's Ministries director for the General Conference. Ellen White encouraged her, and she worked tirelessly to establish a network and support system for women in the church. She was granted a ministerial license, and she published and traveled widely. When she died in 1900, a nine-member committee worked for a while, but then Women's Ministries quietly faded from activity. Reactivated in 1990, Women's Ministries became a department of the General Conference in 1995, and has continued to grow around the world.
WHAT IT IS...
Women's Ministries is:
- a place to address the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social needs of women in the church.
- encouragement for women to improve their potential for participation in the mission of the church.
- a support system for hurting women, whether they are suffering from divorce, abuse, or simply loneliness.
- a forum to help address topics and issues as they affect women.
- encouragement for young women through a college scholarship program.
- encouragement for women to become involved in all ares of ministry in their church, their community, and their home.
- mentorship of young women so that they may find joy in the Lord.
- recognition that women have many Gifts of the Spirit and an attempt to help women discover and use these gifts to the glory of God.
WHAT IT ISN'T...
Women's Ministries is NOT:
- new. In 1898 Mrs. S.M.I. Henry, with the encouragement of Ellen G. White, headed a church in department for women's ministry. Her death soon after ended the work she began. It wasn't until 1990 that the Office of Women's Ministries was once again begun. It became a full church department in 1995.
- a forum for women who have complaints , justified or not against employers.
- a place for women to promote equal rights for women, although we recognize it is an important issue.
- a mere source of entertainment or the opportunity to spend endless hours on projects that promote selfish ideas.
- a platform for the ordination of women, although we believe that everyone should use their talents to God's glory and should receive just recognition for work done for his honor.
- male bashing. It is anti-sexist, not anti-male.
- exclusive. Women's Ministries encourages inclusion, not the exclusion of anyone.
THREE MAIN FOCUS AREAS
END IT NOW EMPHASIS
As a worldwide church of caring, loving Christians, we must open our eyes to the fact that there are more people than we might imagine who are suffering deeply from the devastating effects of abuse. Jesus calls us to a ministry of hope and healing.
“There’s a silent epidemic that is reaching across the globe—affecting every country, every culture, every people group. Although this epidemic is often hidden behind closed doors and carried in closed hearts, it is nevertheless very real. It’s the ugly epidemic of violence and abuse in all its ugly forms…”