Mission and Service … Fall 2016
This year is the 65th anniversary of the formation of American Baptist Women’s Ministries.
It was important to create a national organization to which each American Baptist woman could belong, and to expand the ministry.
Imagine women electing their own officers to address our needs as women and how much we would be able to accomplish by working together.
Women’s leadership development was, and still is, an important facet of ABWM. Many resources on mission and mission projects can be found on our national website, http://www.abwministries.org. There is so much today we take for granted because of those who came before.
Can You Imagine?
But…can you imagine a state convention with no speaker or Bible Study leader, no workshops, no program booklets, no music, no snacks, no liability insurance, no place to stay.
In other words – no convention at all.
Imagine… no directories for the Association presidents and NYS ABWM officers.
No leadership development, no White Cross requests, no counterpart newsletters.
The list goes on and on.
The ABWM NYS General Fund provides for all of these items, as well as printing reports handed out at the State Convention, an audit of our books each year, copyright permission to reprint songs for convention, and so many other things we take for granted.
Special Project
That’s why this year we have a two-fold special project for ABWM NYS.
We want to raise $7,000 for our ABWM NYS General Fund so that our convention each April and many other things associated with running our organization can move forward.
Secondly, all monies received above the $7,000 goal for the General Fund will go to our newly created ABWM NYS Opportunity Fund.
This fund would help NYS women attend national, state, regional conferences, conventions and retreats sponsored by ABWM. Our dream is to raise another $7,000 for this fund, making our total goal $14,000.
Download the 2016-17 ABWMNYS project flyer
Giving Tuesday
Finally, I want to alert you to Giving Tuesday, which is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Please check the ABC USA national website, http://www.abc-usa.org for further details as Thanksgiving approaches and use the search menu to find info on Giving Tuesday.
You can donate to ABWM, any missionary or mission project supported by ABC. For the past few years, the amounts donated have been matched by anonymous donors.
“Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.”
~Isaiah 40:28-31 (The Message)
As the weather cools down, I pray we will listen, be energized and through God’s strength be on fire for the Lord as we study, serve, work and inspire others through ABWM.
And as always, I am happy to come speak at any Association meeting within a 5 hour drive from where I live in Tuckahoe.
Blessings, Joanne
