I want to spend my life
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mending broken people.
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I want to spend my life
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removing pain.
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Lord, let my words
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heal a heart that hurts.
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I want to spend my life
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mending broken people...
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I want to spend my life
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mending broken people.
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Hello... I'm Jill Morikone,
and I just want to welcome you
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at home to another
3ABN Today program.
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Thank you for joining us.
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Thank you for
being part of our family.
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And if you are a man or a woman,
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if you are young,
middle-aged, or older
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this program is for you.
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It's specifically centered
around women's ministries
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but you know, we're
all impacted by women...
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whether a mother or
a spouse or a co-worker
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or someone in the
church or in the community.
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You know, one of my favorite
scriptures is Isaiah chapter 61.
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And it's actually
a Messianic prophecy
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and Jesus, when He
stands up in Nazareth,
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He reads from
the scroll of Isaiah.
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And He reads this portion
of Scripture and He says:
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"This day this is
fulfilled in your hearing. "
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But you know what? I
think in a special way
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this scripture applies to women.
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Isaiah chapter 61
says: "The Spirit of the Lord
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is upon Me. The
Lord has anointed Me
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to preach good
tidings to the poor,
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sent Me to heal
the brokenhearted,
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to proclaim
liberty to the captives,
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to the opening of the
prison to those who are bound,
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to comfort those who mourn,
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to console those
who mourn in Zion,
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to give them beauty for ashes,
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the oil of joy for mourning,
and the garment of praise
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for the spirit of heaviness. "
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Today we're going to
talk about all things, women.
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Women's issues. What
are the specific needs
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that women deal with
today? Not just in the US of A
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but on a global scale.
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And what can we do as Christians
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and more specifically as
Seventh-day Adventist Christians
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to lift up? To comfort? To
help those who are in need?
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It's my great
privilege to introduce to you
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the Women's Ministries Director
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for the SDA church. She
is the General Conference
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Women's Ministries Director:
Mrs. Heather-Dawn Small.
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And if you've watched
3ABN for any length of time
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she's no stranger to you because
she's been on the program
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before. But this is
my first opportunity
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to interview her. And Heather-
Dawn, you're joining us via
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Skype because you could
not be here in studio with us.
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But we're so glad to
have you here, my sister.
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Thank you so
much... I'm glad to be here.
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So why don't you tell
us... Maybe someone's saying:
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"Who is Heather-Dawn? "
So why don't you tell us
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who is Heather-Dawn? And
why is Women's Ministries
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important to you? Well, if
you'd asked me that question
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a few years ago
I would have said
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"Heather-Dawn
is a pastor's wife.
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She's a mother and
she's a director. "
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I would have named all
these things that I do.
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However, I
learned many years ago
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that my identity is connected
to my Father in heaven.
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So Heather-Dawn is
first a daughter of God.
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And my identity - who I am -
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how precious I am is
because I know God is my Father.
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That's the answer
that I would give you now.
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Why is Women's
Ministries so important to me?
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Because it is something
that God has called me to do.
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He has placed it in my hands
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and He has asked me to
look after His daughters
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in whatever way I can
from the level of the church
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that He has placed me at.
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And I take that very seriously.
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As well I have a
heart that's like all women.
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You know, I feel women's pain.
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I cry their tears; I
love to hug and comfort
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and just care for other women.
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And of course, that includes
children and men as well.
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But women hurt so much in
the world in which we live
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that I'm actually glad
this is something that God has
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called me to.
Amen! That's beautiful!
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God has given you a
spirit of compassion
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and a spirit of love and
nurturing for other women.
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Tell me... I know we're going
to go to a song in just a moment
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but tell me: has life
always been easy for you?
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This spirit of compassion & com-
fort that you exhibit to other
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people does that come out
of "OK, my life was always easy
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and I never
encountered any issues? "
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I know when you
have been on 3ABN before
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you have shared
some of your journey
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so why don't you give us
just a little piece of that.
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Well no... life has
not been easy for me.
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I don't think it's
been easy for anyone
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but I sometimes think that maybe
I'm a distant cousin of Job.
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I've had my
challenges... I still do
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from my younger days
when I was in a car accident.
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At one time injured
my back, couldn't walk.
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I lost my first-born
son when he was 4 years old
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to an attack by a dog
00:06:07.80\00:06:09.73
and through the years I
faced physical challenges.
00:06:10.63\00:06:13.60
In the past 20 years, I have had
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six knee replacement surgeries:
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three on one
knee... three on the other.
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I live with pain...
you know, chronic pain.
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And that's something
that I have not allowed
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to stop me from doing
what God wants me to do.
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But it's only because He gives
me the strength to do that.
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If not, I would just
fall apart at the seams.
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So I think of a Bible
verse II Corinthians 1:3-4
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that says: "Blessed
be the God and Father
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of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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the Father of mercy
and the God of all comfort
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who comforts us in
all our tribulation
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that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any trouble
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with the comfort
with which we ourselves
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are comforted by God. "
00:07:11.43\00:07:12.99
So when I look at my life
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and I see the many difficulties
that I have had in my life
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I see the comfort
that God has given me
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is something that He
wants me to pass on to others.
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'Cause whatever He gives
He gives in abundant measures.
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He doesn't give a little
bit here and a little bit there.
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He gives till the
cup is overflowing.
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So that comfort
that He has given me
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I know it has
helped me to experience...
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to have
relationships with other women
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even when it's just
a passing connection.
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It made a huge difference
because of Him comforting me
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and then me in turn being
able to comfort other women.
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Amen! I love that, and I
love what's right behind you.
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On my side, it's on the
right side of the screen.
00:08:03.28\00:08:05.21
It says joy.
It's a good word. Yes!
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So what you have walked through
and what you have experienced
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and yet you have
discovered who you are in Christ
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and He has
filled you with comfort
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so you can extend
that to someone else.
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So today we're going to
talk about all issues pertaining
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to women. What
is Women's Ministry?
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How you can become involved.
00:08:27.14\00:08:29.07
We're going to touch on
topics of abuse, poverty,
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illiteracy, women's health
both physically and mentally.
00:08:33.58\00:08:38.51
So this is a program
that is specifically for you.
00:08:38.71\00:08:41.88
But before we go any further
00:08:42.08\00:08:43.52
we're going to have a special
song & then we'll have a prayer
00:08:43.72\00:08:46.55
and jump right into our topic.
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But the song is from Pam Lister
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and she will be
ministering When I Turn To You.
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When I turn to You
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You are always waiting
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with a heart that understands
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before I speak.
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And I learn from You
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all that really matters:
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though a million years go by
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You'll still love me.
00:10:00.83\00:10:05.60
I no longer look
for a place to hide
00:10:06.87\00:10:12.81
'cause I know where I belong.
00:10:13.21\00:10:17.95
When I turn to You,
00:10:18.15\00:10:23.55
when I turn to You,
00:10:23.95\00:10:29.29
when I turn to You, dear Lord,
00:10:29.69\00:10:33.40
I know that I love You.
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When I turn to You
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You are watching over me
00:10:45.41\00:10:51.38
through the
eyes that look beyond
00:10:53.48\00:10:58.05
the faults I see.
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And I learn from You
00:11:04.16\00:11:08.73
You are always merciful
00:11:09.70\00:11:14.57
though I remember all
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that You've forgiven me.
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I no longer look
00:11:27.45\00:11:30.89
for a place to hide
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'cause I know where I belong.
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When I turn to You,
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when I turn to You,
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when I turn to You, dear Lord,
00:11:50.61\00:11:54.38
I know that I love You.
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I no longer look
00:12:22.20\00:12:25.94
for a place to hide
00:12:26.14\00:12:28.88
'cause I know where I belong.
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When I turn to You,
00:12:33.98\00:12:39.25
when I turn to You,
00:12:39.65\00:12:45.06
when I turn to You, dear Lord,
00:12:45.46\00:12:49.33
I know that I love You...
00:12:49.53\00:12:55.60
When I turn to You, dear Lord,
00:12:57.34\00:13:00.94
I know that I
00:13:01.14\00:13:05.95
love You.
00:13:06.45\00:13:12.35
Amen! I love that
song. Thank you so much, Pam,
00:13:26.27\00:13:29.84
for that song:
When I Turn To You.
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I no longer look
for a place to hide
00:13:31.94\00:13:34.38
because I know I belong.
00:13:34.58\00:13:37.41
Praise the Lord
each one of us know
00:13:37.61\00:13:40.22
that we belong - can belong
- in Him as His daughters.
00:13:40.42\00:13:44.35
If you're just joining us,
00:13:44.55\00:13:45.99
it is our great privilege
to have with us via Skype
00:13:46.19\00:13:49.52
Heather-Dawn Small, who is
the Women's Ministries Director
00:13:49.72\00:13:53.50
for the General Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists.
00:13:53.70\00:13:56.03
And it is such a privilege,
Heather, to have you here.
00:13:56.23\00:13:59.23
And before we go any further
would you have a word of prayer
00:13:59.43\00:14:02.27
for us that God would just
lead and guide in our discussion
00:14:02.47\00:14:05.41
together? Yes, of course.
00:14:05.61\00:14:07.38
Father, we thank You that
we have this awesome privilege
00:14:08.21\00:14:11.88
of being able to
connect via electronic media.
00:14:12.08\00:14:15.95
We are so thankful for all
those who will see this program
00:14:16.35\00:14:20.82
and who because
they are watching it
00:14:21.02\00:14:24.86
and they may have a need...
They may be going through
00:14:25.06\00:14:28.20
some sort of emotional,
physical, or whatever the pain
00:14:28.40\00:14:31.40
may be, may the words we
say, may what we talk about
00:14:31.60\00:14:36.00
be something that comforts them
and that points them to Jesus
00:14:36.20\00:14:40.88
because being in Jesus
is the best place to belong.
00:14:41.08\00:14:44.71
Yes. So thank you so much, Lord,
again for this awesome privilege
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.62
and I just thank You
00:14:48.82\00:14:50.95
and I ask You to just guide
Jill as she asks me questions
00:14:51.15\00:14:55.12
and as I answer. In
Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Amen!
00:14:55.32\00:15:00.00
Well let's just
start with a basic one
00:15:00.40\00:15:02.20
or you might think it basic
to start with, Heather-Dawn.
00:15:02.40\00:15:04.70
What is Women's Ministries?
00:15:04.90\00:15:06.23
And as we talk about
what is Women's Ministries
00:15:06.27\00:15:08.37
let's talk about what
it is and what it is not.
00:15:08.57\00:15:11.34
OK. Well I'm tempted
to go to what it's not
00:15:11.74\00:15:15.11
but let me
start with what it is.
00:15:15.31\00:15:16.85
You did something
at the beginning that
00:15:17.05\00:15:20.85
I didn't know you were
going to share this particular
00:15:21.05\00:15:24.19
Bible verse but you
did: Isaiah 61 verses 1 to 3.
00:15:24.39\00:15:28.09
Now when I become
director for this department
00:15:28.29\00:15:31.99
and I was associate
director for four years before
00:15:32.19\00:15:35.23
but when I became director
I remember feeling a huge
00:15:35.43\00:15:39.13
weight as to: "Lord,
what am I going to do
00:15:39.33\00:15:42.74
for the women of the church? "
00:15:42.94\00:15:45.54
And "How are the women of
the church then going to reach
00:15:45.74\00:15:48.58
women in the world? "
You know we're talking about
00:15:48.78\00:15:51.35
15 million women
in the church - Wow!
00:15:51.55\00:15:54.48
and then in the world
you're talking about billions.
00:15:54.68\00:15:58.29
So how is this group?
00:15:58.49\00:16:00.56
First, how am I going to
minister to this large group
00:16:00.76\00:16:03.73
and then how are they
going to minister to the world?
00:16:03.93\00:16:07.23
Yes! And God gave me two things:
00:16:07.43\00:16:09.86
He gave me this
passage of Scripture
00:16:10.07\00:16:12.30
and He also gave me
Ministry of Healing page 143
00:16:12.50\00:16:17.64
where Spirit of
Prophecy talks about
00:16:17.84\00:16:20.98
Christ's method alone.
If we are to reach others,
00:16:21.18\00:16:24.35
we need to reach
them using His method.
00:16:24.55\00:16:27.55
And so from that point on
00:16:27.75\00:16:30.22
everything that we have
done in Women's Ministry
00:16:30.42\00:16:33.32
has been following the pattern
that Jesus laid down for us.
00:16:33.52\00:16:38.03
And we know that the anointing
that the Spirit placed on Jesus
00:16:38.23\00:16:42.00
He places on each one
of His daughters and sons
00:16:42.20\00:16:45.10
as well so that we
cannot just talk about Him
00:16:45.30\00:16:49.90
but we can show His
love in so many ways.
00:16:50.11\00:16:53.14
So Women's Ministry is about
00:16:53.34\00:16:56.64
nurturing our sisters to...
We nurture them spiritually
00:16:56.85\00:17:02.72
first because that
relationship with God -
00:17:02.92\00:17:05.89
the vertical relationship
that we have with Him -
00:17:06.09\00:17:09.16
feeds the
horizontal relationship
00:17:09.36\00:17:12.36
and helps us deal with every-
thing on the horizontal plane.
00:17:12.56\00:17:16.56
But we've got to get the
vertical connected first.
00:17:16.77\00:17:19.37
Yes? Can I? I'm sorry. I
know it's hard with Skype
00:17:20.94\00:17:23.84
because it's hard...
we can't see each other.
00:17:24.04\00:17:25.51
So can I interrupt? How
can you? Before we go on
00:17:25.71\00:17:28.64
to the other type how
do you seek to nurture
00:17:28.84\00:17:32.01
that relationship
with God vertically?
00:17:32.21\00:17:34.28
Anything specific?
Yes, we do talk about
00:17:34.85\00:17:38.79
the relationship with Jesus.
So a number of our resources
00:17:38.99\00:17:44.56
are based in the area
of spiritual nurturing.
00:17:44.76\00:17:49.96
We have Bible study lessons
00:17:50.37\00:17:53.20
and we have a women's
Bible which we produced.
00:17:53.40\00:17:57.07
And we have seminars...
a wide range of resources
00:17:57.27\00:18:01.54
that women can be... that
are available to our sisters
00:18:01.74\00:18:05.78
that have been
translated in many languages
00:18:05.98\00:18:08.48
so that they can be encouraged
in their walk with Jesus.
00:18:08.68\00:18:12.72
Because that's number one.
00:18:12.92\00:18:14.69
If you don't have that right,
then nothing falls in place
00:18:14.89\00:18:18.29
as it should. And so
we nurture spiritually
00:18:18.49\00:18:22.63
but then there's also
the physical nurturing
00:18:22.83\00:18:25.13
and the social nurturing
and emotional nurturing.
00:18:25.33\00:18:28.47
So all our resources have been
created in those various areas.
00:18:28.67\00:18:32.94
So number one for us is nurture.
00:18:33.14\00:18:35.38
Then the second
thing is to empower.
00:18:35.58\00:18:38.01
We do this by training...
00:18:38.21\00:18:40.02
training our
women to do evangelism.
00:18:40.22\00:18:42.82
How do I give a Bible study?
00:18:43.02\00:18:44.35
How do I first
connect with someone?
00:18:44.55\00:18:47.49
How do I talk to
someone who is an atheist
00:18:47.69\00:18:51.03
or is of a
non-Christian religion?
00:18:51.23\00:18:54.86
So we've got all those resources
00:18:55.06\00:18:57.57
that we train our
sisters in those areas
00:18:57.77\00:19:00.77
so that they feel empowered.
00:19:00.97\00:19:02.84
"I can reach out to somebody
and tell them about Jesus. "
00:19:03.04\00:19:06.68
And the third area is outreach.
00:19:06.88\00:19:09.31
So once we have nurtured -
00:19:09.51\00:19:11.35
and nurturing is
an on-going process -
00:19:11.55\00:19:13.78
empowering is also
an on-going process.
00:19:13.98\00:19:17.15
And of course outreach is
then fed by what they have
00:19:17.35\00:19:21.32
gotten in the first two areas.
00:19:21.52\00:19:23.63
Now I can reach out. I
live my life reaching out.
00:19:23.83\00:19:28.66
So evangelism or
outreach is not an event.
00:19:28.86\00:19:32.83
It's not a time or
place... it's my life.
00:19:33.03\00:19:36.30
Now... what it isn't.
00:19:36.50\00:19:39.17
It's not a tea party.
00:19:39.37\00:19:41.11
It's not a time for us
to sit down and talk about
00:19:41.31\00:19:45.25
our husbands or about men
00:19:45.45\00:19:47.48
and gossip and
tear them to pieces.
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.35
It's not a lot of frills
00:19:49.75\00:19:53.15
and lots of foofoo...
you know, nice things.
00:19:53.36\00:19:57.73
Now it's not that
those don't have a place.
00:19:57.93\00:20:00.46
They certainly do.
00:20:00.66\00:20:02.13
However, that's
not our main focus.
00:20:02.33\00:20:04.90
That's what we may
do to nurture ourselves
00:20:05.10\00:20:07.67
like we then go to a retreat
00:20:07.87\00:20:09.27
or we actually
will have a tea party.
00:20:09.47\00:20:11.57
But that tea party's not
just to sit down and drink tea.
00:20:11.77\00:20:14.44
It's an event where
we invite other women
00:20:14.64\00:20:17.78
to come and be with us.
And when I say, other women
00:20:17.98\00:20:20.85
I'm talking about
women in our community.
00:20:21.05\00:20:23.12
You know, so that we
have that chit-chat time
00:20:23.32\00:20:26.12
but then it begins with or
ends with a spiritual thought.
00:20:26.32\00:20:30.59
So we use those frills.
00:20:30.79\00:20:33.60
That's important
because we are women
00:20:33.80\00:20:36.26
but it's not the focus.
00:20:36.46\00:20:37.80
The focus is
sharing the love of Jesus.
00:20:37.83\00:20:40.14
I love that! So what I'm hearing
00:20:40.54\00:20:42.24
is you're very
intentional. Very much so.
00:20:42.44\00:20:45.47
Intentional about nurture;
intentional about empowerment;
00:20:45.67\00:20:48.11
and intentional about outreach.
00:20:48.31\00:20:50.48
What a wonderful like
three-pronged approach!
00:20:50.68\00:20:52.95
Can we talk just a moment?
You focused on the spiritual
00:20:53.15\00:20:56.28
aspect and the
vertical. Let's talk...
00:20:56.48\00:20:58.45
and we kind of
glossed over the other...
00:20:58.65\00:21:00.12
what would be some of
the resources available
00:21:00.32\00:21:01.96
for the social nurturing
and the physical nurturing?
00:21:02.16\00:21:07.00
Some of those nurturing?
The emotional nurturing?
00:21:07.20\00:21:10.37
Yes, and emotional is a
big area for us... especially
00:21:10.77\00:21:14.27
well even before
COVID but COVID has really
00:21:14.47\00:21:17.37
put an emphasis on
women's mental health.
00:21:17.57\00:21:20.54
Women suffer with things
like depression more than men do
00:21:21.94\00:21:26.18
and now we're
seeing our young people
00:21:26.38\00:21:28.28
are faced with it as well.
00:21:28.48\00:21:30.42
I have gone through a
period of depression in my life.
00:21:31.42\00:21:35.96
And I say
period... it's not stopped
00:21:36.16\00:21:39.06
and I take medication for it
00:21:39.46\00:21:44.13
so I understand what
it is to be depressed.
00:21:44.33\00:21:47.14
I understand what
it is to be suicidal.
00:21:47.34\00:21:49.30
And so that's a
big area of what we do
00:21:49.70\00:21:53.07
when it comes under nurturing.
00:21:53.27\00:21:54.64
It's not just physical health.
00:21:54.84\00:21:56.54
Exercise is good: the
food that we eat is good.
00:21:56.75\00:21:59.71
We partner with
health ministries
00:22:00.12\00:22:03.08
where those areas are concerned.
00:22:03.28\00:22:05.19
But we saw the a need
for a specific resource
00:22:05.39\00:22:08.42
that would target
women's mental health
00:22:08.62\00:22:11.69
and it's called
Thinking Well... Living Well.
00:22:11.89\00:22:14.80
And I just finished
doing it with my own church
00:22:15.00\00:22:17.63
about a month or two ago.
00:22:17.83\00:22:19.97
We went through the
entire 13-part series
00:22:20.17\00:22:22.94
over about four months.
Four Sundays each month.
00:22:23.14\00:22:26.57
And so that's one
thing which we do.
00:22:26.78\00:22:29.48
We deliberately
partner with other departments
00:22:29.68\00:22:32.21
to create resources
because we can't do it all.
00:22:32.41\00:22:36.02
And we have other
departments in the church
00:22:36.22\00:22:39.62
that are also
focused in these areas.
00:22:39.82\00:22:42.42
I just want to say -
just pause for just a moment -
00:22:43.56\00:22:46.86
'cause we kind of glossed over
00:22:47.06\00:22:48.40
that you
struggled with depression.
00:22:48.60\00:22:50.77
And you still deal with that
- yes - and you take medication.
00:22:50.97\00:22:53.60
I just want to say first of all
00:22:53.80\00:22:55.14
I applaud you for having courage
00:22:55.30\00:22:59.01
to be able to step out
00:22:59.21\00:23:01.51
and share that. I
think there's a stigma
00:23:01.71\00:23:04.15
associated with mental health
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.41
in the church. I know people say
00:23:06.61\00:23:09.28
"Oh, well I have physical
issues and I can talk about
00:23:09.48\00:23:12.65
those but if I
struggle with anxiety
00:23:12.85\00:23:14.92
or I struggle with depression
00:23:15.12\00:23:16.83
or I struggle
with mental health"
00:23:17.03\00:23:18.79
we're almost afraid
because sometimes in the church
00:23:18.99\00:23:22.30
we're told: "Oh, well
you just need to pray more. "
00:23:22.50\00:23:25.00
"You just need to
learn to give it to Jesus. "
00:23:25.20\00:23:26.90
So what if someone... I
know we have you at home
00:23:27.10\00:23:30.27
we hear from you at
home - women AND men -
00:23:30.47\00:23:33.58
who write in and who
say: "I'm dealing with
00:23:33.78\00:23:36.04
mental health challenges. "
00:23:36.24\00:23:38.08
What would you tell
someone Heather-Dawn?
00:23:38.28\00:23:40.15
What would you say
to someone right now
00:23:40.35\00:23:41.95
who's dealing with depression?
00:23:42.15\00:23:43.49
Are there resources?
How can they get help?
00:23:43.59\00:23:46.76
What's the first
step for them to do?
00:23:46.96\00:23:49.96
Well you know this
happens to me all the time.
00:23:50.36\00:23:54.26
I was at a
retreat not so long ago
00:23:54.46\00:23:56.60
and I met a dear
lady who was suicidal.
00:23:56.80\00:24:01.70
Her depression was that bad
00:24:01.90\00:24:03.37
where she was
having suicidal thoughts.
00:24:03.57\00:24:05.54
And the first
thing I said to her was:
00:24:05.94\00:24:07.71
"You need to see your doctor
as soon as you get back home. "
00:24:07.91\00:24:11.58
So that's the first
thing I recommend to people.
00:24:11.98\00:24:14.68
I don't tell them
"Go and try a herb. "
00:24:14.88\00:24:17.45
"Take this tea; go and
take this medication. "
00:24:17.65\00:24:20.06
No... go and see your doctor
00:24:20.26\00:24:23.12
and let them
refer you to someone
00:24:23.32\00:24:25.53
whether it's a
psychologist, a psychiatrist.
00:24:25.73\00:24:28.03
Because it depends.
Some of us... our depression
00:24:28.23\00:24:33.84
is situational
meaning someone has died
00:24:34.04\00:24:38.07
so I'm depressed
a period of months.
00:24:38.27\00:24:40.24
Or "I've moved to a new
place. I'm depressed because
00:24:40.44\00:24:43.14
I've left my
friends and family behind. "
00:24:43.35\00:24:45.78
And so on. But for
some of us like myself
00:24:45.98\00:24:48.88
it is clinical...
it's a long-term depression
00:24:49.08\00:24:52.75
because whatever
chemicals in my brain
00:24:52.95\00:24:55.62
that are supposed to work
a certain way just aren't.
00:24:55.82\00:24:58.29
And so the first thing I
tell my sisters is: "Please,
00:24:58.69\00:25:02.03
go and see a doctor. " Yes.
00:25:02.23\00:25:04.13
Now that's easy to
say... it's not easy to do
00:25:04.33\00:25:07.07
because depending on the culture
00:25:07.27\00:25:09.10
we're thinking of not
only globally but America
00:25:09.30\00:25:12.87
is like the globe in the sense
of all the different countries
00:25:13.07\00:25:16.61
women will tell you: "I
can't go and see a doctor.
00:25:16.81\00:25:20.28
If my family knows that I
am depressed and I'm going to
00:25:20.48\00:25:23.28
a doctor, they will
tell me I am denying God...
00:25:23.49\00:25:26.65
I am denying the power of God. "
00:25:26.86\00:25:28.79
And I've been
through all of that.
00:25:28.99\00:25:30.83
And I want to
emphasize to my sisters
00:25:31.03\00:25:34.40
there's nothing
wrong with acknowledging
00:25:34.60\00:25:39.20
that something
is wrong with you.
00:25:39.40\00:25:42.37
Whether it's hypertension,
diabetes... whatever it is...
00:25:42.57\00:25:46.17
get the help that is needed.
00:25:46.37\00:25:48.88
That is so important.
00:25:49.08\00:25:50.85
And so I encourage
them and I talk about it
00:25:51.05\00:25:54.15
because God shared
with me a long time ago
00:25:54.35\00:25:57.42
I need to share what
He's doing in my life.
00:25:57.62\00:26:00.72
Um-hmm. You know I... I
talk about the Bible stories.
00:26:00.92\00:26:05.53
They're all wonderful stories
00:26:05.73\00:26:07.23
and they encourage me every day.
00:26:07.43\00:26:09.10
But in this day and
age in which we live
00:26:09.30\00:26:11.87
people also need to know: "OK,
what has God done for you? "
00:26:12.07\00:26:16.74
Yes! "Tell me how He's
helped you in your life. "
00:26:16.94\00:26:20.04
And so I've always been willing
00:26:20.24\00:26:22.94
and even now I
will open up and share.
00:26:23.14\00:26:26.05
People say: "Well thank you
for being vulnerable. " Yes.
00:26:26.25\00:26:28.92
But I don't see
it as vulnerable.
00:26:29.12\00:26:30.92
I see it as
letting... encouraging someone.
00:26:31.12\00:26:34.32
I have to tell you
all my challenges -
00:26:34.52\00:26:37.03
physical and
emotional challenges -
00:26:37.23\00:26:39.39
I know people may
look at me and say:
00:26:39.79\00:26:43.90
"How is she a leader? "
A leader is supposed to be
00:26:44.93\00:26:47.84
someone strong and who doesn't
have all these physical problems
00:26:48.04\00:26:51.91
dealing with... " And so on.
00:26:52.11\00:26:54.18
But you know, my
Father told me a long time ago
00:26:54.38\00:26:57.15
when I prayed and asked
Him: "Why did He call me
00:26:57.35\00:27:01.82
to this position
where I do global travel? "
00:27:02.02\00:27:05.62
Why would He call me to this
00:27:05.82\00:27:07.22
when I have all these weaknesses
physically and emotionally?
00:27:07.42\00:27:11.69
You know, I
thought if He called me
00:27:11.89\00:27:14.20
He would heal
me... that was my thing.
00:27:14.36\00:27:15.96
Yet I answered "yes" because
I knew He was going to heal me.
00:27:16.16\00:27:19.37
And He didn't... but
what He said to me was:
00:27:19.77\00:27:22.77
"My grace is sufficient.
" And you know that verse...
00:27:23.17\00:27:26.57
beautiful verse. II
Corinthians 12... yes.
00:27:26.78\00:27:28.34
That's right. But you
know what He also said to me?
00:27:28.54\00:27:31.85
"How can you help your
sisters if you don't understand
00:27:32.05\00:27:35.45
their pain? " And
that really hit home
00:27:35.65\00:27:40.22
because I think I can
identify with almost any woman
00:27:40.42\00:27:45.36
on the face of the earth
when it comes to physical pain
00:27:45.56\00:27:48.63
or emotional pain
or, you know, things
00:27:48.83\00:27:51.43
that they have gone
through in their lives.
00:27:51.63\00:27:53.54
And I thank God that He's
allowed me to walk this path.
00:27:53.74\00:27:57.67
It's not an easy
path... it never has been,
00:27:57.87\00:28:01.68
it never will be. But I
walk it with Jesus by my side
00:28:01.88\00:28:05.88
and I know I can do it with Him.
00:28:06.08\00:28:09.12
And I want my sisters to
know you can do it with Him too.
00:28:09.32\00:28:12.92
Oh... that's
beautiful! I love that.
00:28:13.12\00:28:15.79
If you are watching right
now I just want to tell you
00:28:15.99\00:28:18.93
and you're dealing
with depression or anxiety
00:28:19.13\00:28:21.13
or some other
mental health struggle
00:28:21.33\00:28:24.10
know that you are not alone.
00:28:24.30\00:28:27.34
I loved what you
said Heather-Dawn!
00:28:27.54\00:28:29.84
It's so important to go
to your doctor to seek help.
00:28:30.04\00:28:35.04
To not hide in shame or
some sort of condemnation
00:28:35.24\00:28:39.21
but to reach out. And I think
we're kind of morphing into
00:28:39.41\00:28:42.32
how we can help other people
00:28:42.52\00:28:44.39
because you were sharing
how you were reaching out
00:28:44.59\00:28:47.72
and how by
sharing your testimony
00:28:47.92\00:28:49.72
you can minister and
encourage other people maybe
00:28:49.92\00:28:52.86
who are dealing with depression
or dealing with mental health
00:28:53.06\00:28:56.30
challenges. So is
there anything else?
00:28:56.50\00:28:59.07
Maybe you're watching
at home and you're saying
00:28:59.27\00:29:01.34
"OK, well I don't deal with
depression but my best friend is
00:29:01.54\00:29:05.14
or my child is. "
00:29:05.34\00:29:07.11
So what would you say
to that person? How can
00:29:07.31\00:29:09.18
they come alongside
someone and help them with that?
00:29:09.38\00:29:12.71
That's right! You just said it:
00:29:13.01\00:29:15.02
"Come alongside. " OK.
We've got to be willing
00:29:15.22\00:29:17.82
to walk the path with someone
00:29:18.02\00:29:20.19
in order to help
them through that process.
00:29:20.69\00:29:23.63
If I'm not
willing to give of my time
00:29:23.83\00:29:25.83
and my energy to help
someone and I just say: "OK,
00:29:26.03\00:29:29.93
here's my doctor's
name... go and visit him. "
00:29:30.13\00:29:32.53
That's not enough.
Christ is calling us to do more
00:29:32.73\00:29:35.84
than that, you know? It
doesn't mean that you get...
00:29:36.04\00:29:39.97
that you've got to get all
tied up in that person's life
00:29:40.18\00:29:42.84
if you don't want
to. But it DOES mean
00:29:43.04\00:29:45.11
that the person knows
that when I think I can't do it
00:29:45.31\00:29:48.38
I know
Heather-Dawn's going to be there
00:29:48.58\00:29:50.39
and she's going
to call me; Ohh...
00:29:50.59\00:29:51.92
she's going to visit
me; she's going to text me;
00:29:51.95\00:29:55.26
she's going to encourage
me. That's what people need.
00:29:55.52\00:29:58.59
And that's what God
has called us to do.
00:29:58.79\00:30:01.03
And I think - and I
say this to my sisters -
00:30:01.23\00:30:04.43
if we would focus on
what God has called us to do
00:30:04.63\00:30:09.04
as women to help those in need,
00:30:09.24\00:30:12.07
to help those in pain...
whatever that pain may be,
00:30:12.27\00:30:15.38
your own pain becomes
so minute in comparison
00:30:15.58\00:30:20.45
it becomes so "doable"
00:30:20.65\00:30:24.55
because you're
seeing that I'm doing this.
00:30:24.75\00:30:27.86
Look at what God
is doing through me!
00:30:28.06\00:30:29.96
I'm not falling by the wayside
00:30:30.16\00:30:32.09
because He's
giving me the power;
00:30:32.29\00:30:34.26
He's giving me the
strength; He's giving me the joy
00:30:34.46\00:30:36.83
and the peace of
mind. Yes! You know, so that
00:30:37.03\00:30:39.73
even though someone
may look at me with my pain
00:30:39.93\00:30:43.71
when I walk and they think:
"Oh, she's just not able, "
00:30:43.91\00:30:47.71
I have another thought for them
00:30:48.11\00:30:50.48
because "with Christ
I can do all things. "
00:30:50.68\00:30:53.25
Amen! "With Christ
I can do all things
00:30:53.45\00:30:55.82
who strengthens
me. " That's right!
00:30:56.02\00:30:57.35
Now let's shift focus
just a little bit, but
00:30:57.39\00:30:59.45
it's a very similar
focus. Let's talk about abuse.
00:30:59.65\00:31:02.99
Now abuse
encompasses physical abuse
00:31:03.89\00:31:06.53
and mental abuse...
emotional abuse, sexual abuse.
00:31:06.73\00:31:10.63
Let's talk a bit. And
we know that abuse is real
00:31:10.83\00:31:13.90
and that abuse happens.
Talk to us maybe first of all
00:31:14.10\00:31:17.61
from the victim's perspective.
Why does abuse happen?
00:31:17.81\00:31:20.44
And whose fault is
it? 'Cause many times
00:31:20.64\00:31:23.71
the victim feels like:
"Well, it's my fault...
00:31:23.91\00:31:25.75
I caused it. " So
what would you say to that?
00:31:25.95\00:31:29.08
First, let me
expand a little bit
00:31:31.42\00:31:33.56
on what you just listed.
00:31:33.76\00:31:36.39
In Women's
Ministries we have a program,
00:31:36.59\00:31:39.66
a campaign, an initiative
if you want to call it that
00:31:39.86\00:31:43.97
called End It Now.
00:31:44.17\00:31:45.50
And End It Now is
Adventists Say No To Violence.
00:31:45.53\00:31:48.97
And all the departments
of the church: women,
00:31:49.17\00:31:52.31
family, children,
everybody is involved in this.
00:31:52.51\00:31:55.78
Our thought on this is
00:31:57.21\00:32:01.48
abuse is not only in the home.
00:32:01.88\00:32:06.25
OK. It's also in the community.
00:32:06.45\00:32:08.69
When we think of abuse, yes
00:32:09.52\00:32:13.23
family violence is number one
00:32:13.63\00:32:15.96
whether it's between spouses,
00:32:16.16\00:32:19.10
parents abusing
children, and so on.
00:32:19.30\00:32:23.34
Yes, that's the number one area.
00:32:23.54\00:32:25.91
But there are other areas.
00:32:26.11\00:32:27.94
And again, because I
come from a global perspective
00:32:28.14\00:32:32.31
and I'm saying this more
than once because in America
00:32:32.51\00:32:37.05
every part of the globe is here.
00:32:37.25\00:32:39.42
You've got
multi-cultures in this country.
00:32:39.62\00:32:43.02
You don't have to go overseas
to meet someone from India
00:32:43.22\00:32:46.49
or someone from
Australia, that's here
00:32:46.70\00:32:51.23
and their culture is here.
00:32:51.43\00:32:53.64
So when we think of abuse
we think of family violence.
00:32:53.84\00:32:57.41
Um-hmm. We think of rape.
00:32:57.61\00:32:59.37
We think of
institutional violence
00:32:59.57\00:33:02.68
that happens in
prisons where female prisoners
00:33:02.88\00:33:07.45
are raped or beaten by
those who should really be
00:33:07.65\00:33:11.99
looking after them so to speak.
00:33:12.19\00:33:14.82
We also think of things
like female genital mutilation.
00:33:15.22\00:33:19.13
We think of early
childhood marriages
00:33:19.33\00:33:22.03
were little girls ages 9
& 10 are being married off
00:33:22.23\00:33:25.70
to men who are in
their 60's and 70's
00:33:25.90\00:33:28.90
who are their
uncles and grandfathers.
00:33:29.10\00:33:31.14
And so there are a
number of areas of abuse. Yes.
00:33:31.54\00:33:35.41
We think about war,
and there's so much abuse
00:33:35.61\00:33:38.81
that's going on now. And
I'm not just talking about
00:33:39.01\00:33:41.45
people who are being
shot at. I'm thinking about
00:33:41.65\00:33:44.35
those who have had to
run: refugees. And if sadly
00:33:44.55\00:33:49.16
they find
themselves in a refugee camp
00:33:49.36\00:33:51.69
there is so much abuse that
goes on in that environment.
00:33:51.89\00:33:55.16
So... I'm sorry.
What about in the church?
00:33:55.36\00:34:01.00
Oh yes... what we
call abuse of power.
00:34:01.20\00:34:04.24
Abuse of power is in the church
00:34:04.44\00:34:06.98
where you have someone
who is in a position of power
00:34:07.18\00:34:09.68
and they will use
that to abuse a child,
00:34:09.88\00:34:14.78
a woman. And so
we have sad to say
00:34:14.98\00:34:18.85
but we've got
pastors, elders, deacons,
00:34:19.05\00:34:22.99
heads of
departments in our churches
00:34:23.19\00:34:25.53
who have abused
a woman or a child,
00:34:25.73\00:34:29.40
a young woman in the church.
00:34:29.60\00:34:31.17
And so all of that is
included in end it now.
00:34:31.37\00:34:35.44
So when I think abuse, I don't
only think family violence.
00:34:35.64\00:34:39.27
Yes. The scope is so much wider.
00:34:39.47\00:34:41.68
Even something as
simple as abuse of the elderly.
00:34:41.88\00:34:45.68
Oh, that's true, yes. Children
who withhold their parents from
00:34:45.88\00:34:50.22
Social Security checks because
they say to them: "I want that
00:34:50.42\00:34:54.92
check so you sign it over to me.
If not, I'm not going to give
00:34:55.12\00:34:58.39
you your medication...
I'm not going to feed you. "
00:34:58.59\00:35:01.30
You know, these things happen
right here in the United States
00:35:01.50\00:35:05.63
and around the world.
And so we've got to expand
00:35:05.83\00:35:09.34
our thinking a little
bit when it comes to abuse.
00:35:09.54\00:35:11.91
And so when you find
someone who's dealing with that
00:35:12.31\00:35:15.44
the first thing you need to ask
them is: "How can I help you? "
00:35:15.64\00:35:18.95
Mmm. And I know that
from a very bad experience
00:35:19.15\00:35:23.62
that I had where I
was giving Bible studies
00:35:23.82\00:35:27.39
to a dear lady, and she
wasn't a baptized Christian
00:35:27.59\00:35:32.53
as yet. But I went to
give her Bible studies
00:35:32.73\00:35:35.63
one day and she was
not in a good place.
00:35:35.83\00:35:38.30
She finally blurted out:
"How can you tell me about
00:35:38.50\00:35:41.70
this God of love?
Where was He last night
00:35:41.90\00:35:44.54
when my husband
was beating me? "
00:35:44.74\00:35:46.21
Ohhh. And as a
young pastor's wife
00:35:46.41\00:35:49.58
I did what most of
us do: I said to her
00:35:49.78\00:35:55.18
"Well can I pray for you? "
00:35:55.38\00:35:57.02
And we don't
really know what to do.
00:35:58.32\00:36:00.09
That's right. And we
need to pray for people.
00:36:00.29\00:36:03.29
We DO need to pray
for them. Of course.
00:36:03.49\00:36:04.96
But when you meet
someone in pain, in sickness,
00:36:05.16\00:36:08.56
the first thing you need to
do is: "How can I help you? "
00:36:08.76\00:36:11.73
And that's what I
should have said to her.
00:36:12.07\00:36:13.97
"How can I help you? " "Do
you need to go to the doctor? "
00:36:14.17\00:36:16.44
"Do you need to go
to the police station? "
00:36:16.64\00:36:17.97
"What can I do to
help you? " And sadly
00:36:18.14\00:36:21.14
I missed the opportunity.
She never called me again
00:36:21.34\00:36:25.35
for Bible studies, and
I pray that at some time
00:36:25.55\00:36:28.32
in her life,
God brought her back
00:36:28.52\00:36:31.52
face to face with Jesus Christ.
00:36:31.72\00:36:33.25
But it has taught me that
when you meet someone in pain
00:36:33.46\00:36:37.59
offer to help. OK.
00:36:37.79\00:36:39.96
That's so important.
I'm just sitting here...
00:36:40.90\00:36:44.33
that's a heavy story.
00:36:44.73\00:36:46.40
You know, to think about
that. To think about the pain
00:36:46.60\00:36:49.94
she was going
through and where was God?
00:36:50.14\00:36:51.87
Because I think that's the
problem or one of the problems
00:36:52.07\00:36:55.64
with abuse is
that for the victim
00:36:55.84\00:36:59.11
they associate
somehow God with that.
00:36:59.31\00:37:01.42
So then they think:
"Well then God is abusive. "
00:37:01.62\00:37:03.82
"Well God is hateful. "
00:37:04.02\00:37:05.72
"Well God doesn't love me. "
00:37:05.92\00:37:07.46
Either that or: "Somehow
God could have stopped it
00:37:07.66\00:37:10.69
and He didn't. " So then
you know there's all these
00:37:10.89\00:37:15.23
questions about God.
00:37:15.43\00:37:16.87
Yeah. And of course
because of my own experience
00:37:17.57\00:37:20.74
with my son when he died
00:37:20.94\00:37:22.60
I also went through that period
of: "Well God, You could have
00:37:23.00\00:37:26.64
stopped that dog
from attacking my son. "
00:37:26.84\00:37:28.81
"You could have stopped
the doctor in the hospital
00:37:29.01\00:37:32.25
from putting him to
sleep before they asked us
00:37:32.45\00:37:35.42
if he had eaten so that little
cornflakes and milk and juice
00:37:35.62\00:37:41.59
he had had that morning
wouldn't have come from his
00:37:41.79\00:37:44.49
stomach into his lungs. " Ohh!
His heart stopped three times
00:37:44.69\00:37:48.80
and the third time they
couldn't get it started again.
00:37:49.00\00:37:51.97
And you know, all those
questions go through your mind.
00:37:52.17\00:37:54.94
Right. So I've been there. Yes.
00:37:55.14\00:37:56.47
How have I dealt
with that kind of pain?
00:37:56.84\00:37:59.37
Number one: I did
turn my back on God
00:37:59.57\00:38:03.35
for a period of
time. I was angry with Him.
00:38:03.55\00:38:06.15
You did or you didn't?
OK... you did. You were angry.
00:38:06.35\00:38:08.62
I was angry with Him. I
was still going to church...
00:38:08.98\00:38:11.45
you know, I was still in church.
I was still behaving like
00:38:11.72\00:38:15.16
a Christian. I
wasn't reading my Bible
00:38:15.36\00:38:17.56
because I just thought
that God didn't love me;
00:38:17.76\00:38:20.40
He didn't care about me. If
He did, He would have stopped
00:38:20.60\00:38:23.40
that dog killing my son. Yes!
00:38:23.60\00:38:25.07
But I realized... and this
is the thing that I came face
00:38:26.27\00:38:30.17
to face with:
when I stopped one day
00:38:30.37\00:38:35.61
crying over my son's
death - yes - and asking God why
00:38:35.81\00:38:40.75
some thoughts began
coming through my mind.
00:38:41.15\00:38:43.89
And this is what I was thinking.
To this day I remember:
00:38:44.52\00:38:48.39
"Bad things happen
to people who know Jesus
00:38:50.29\00:38:53.40
and bad things happen to
people who don't know Jesus. "
00:38:53.60\00:38:56.67
That's true. You
know, the person who
00:38:56.87\00:38:59.57
knows Jesus, they'll
get cancer and they may die
00:38:59.77\00:39:03.20
or they may lose
somebody in a terrible accident.
00:39:03.41\00:39:06.41
But that same thing
happens to the person
00:39:06.61\00:39:08.88
who doesn't know Jesus? You see,
the devil can't help himself.
00:39:09.08\00:39:12.21
He gives everybody a hard time.
00:39:12.41\00:39:14.75
And so when I came
face to face with that
00:39:14.95\00:39:18.85
I had to realize so
what's the difference?
00:39:19.05\00:39:22.66
That's why I remember
saying to God out loud
00:39:22.86\00:39:25.86
that day in that
room on my son's bed
00:39:26.06\00:39:28.73
"So what's the
difference between serving You
00:39:28.93\00:39:31.63
and not serving You if
bad things happen to us all? "
00:39:31.83\00:39:35.60
And Jesus said to my heart:
"The difference is hope. "
00:39:35.80\00:39:40.51
Hope. You see in
Jesus I have hope
00:39:40.71\00:39:43.68
I'm going to see my son again.
00:39:43.88\00:39:46.48
But in order to do that I
need to keep that relationship
00:39:46.88\00:39:50.72
with Jesus. Yes!
Living a life without hope
00:39:50.92\00:39:54.09
is a life that takes you to
drugs & alcohol... living a life
00:39:54.29\00:39:58.83
seeking for
happiness when in truth
00:39:59.03\00:40:02.40
joy is what we find in Jesus.
00:40:02.60\00:40:05.13
So you know, it's not
an easy question to answer
00:40:05.33\00:40:09.64
but God brings us to
it if we allow Him to.
00:40:09.84\00:40:14.41
Amen! That's
beautiful. How many years ago
00:40:14.61\00:40:16.85
was your son killed? 1985. Wow!
00:40:17.05\00:40:21.78
Yeah... he was four years old.
00:40:21.98\00:40:24.12
It was my father's
dog that attacked him.
00:40:24.32\00:40:27.66
Oh wow! Bit him
in his head twice.
00:40:27.82\00:40:30.59
Rushed him to the
hospital. Between the time
00:40:30.79\00:40:32.89
the accident
happened and the time he died
00:40:33.09\00:40:35.13
was one minute
less than an hour.
00:40:35.33\00:40:37.43
Fifty-nine minutes?
Fifty-nine minutes exactly.
00:40:37.63\00:40:41.34
Yeah... yeah. Wow!
00:40:41.54\00:40:43.77
I remember that because
it had gone to 60 minutes
00:40:43.97\00:40:47.11
it would have become
a police investigation
00:40:47.31\00:40:50.01
and you know a whole legal
side would have taken place.
00:40:50.21\00:40:53.92
But it didn't... so, yeah.
00:40:54.12\00:40:58.09
So that's
something that you live with,
00:40:58.29\00:41:00.96
but I don't live
with the sadness of it.
00:41:01.16\00:41:03.59
Right. I don't live with anger.
00:41:03.79\00:41:06.43
I live with joy because
my vision is set future -
00:41:06.63\00:41:11.40
because of hope - upward.
00:41:11.60\00:41:13.03
That's right... because of hope.
00:41:13.23\00:41:14.80
We've got that hope. Yes.
00:41:15.00\00:41:16.37
That is beautiful
because I think no matter what
00:41:16.57\00:41:19.07
we deal with in life
00:41:19.27\00:41:20.61
we deal with that issue
of the sovereignty of God
00:41:21.31\00:41:24.45
and why do bad
things seem to happen
00:41:24.65\00:41:27.18
to seemingly good people.
00:41:27.38\00:41:28.72
Of course, we know
none are actually good...
00:41:28.92\00:41:30.52
we're all sinners
in need of a Savior.
00:41:30.72\00:41:32.35
But still, there that's
conundrum so I like how the Lord
00:41:32.55\00:41:37.19
revealed that to you: bad things
happen to those who know Jesus.
00:41:37.39\00:41:40.23
Bad things happen to
those who don't know Jesus.
00:41:40.63\00:41:43.16
And the difference is
hope... hope. That's right.
00:41:43.37\00:41:48.00
I just want to say...
we're going to shift gears again
00:41:48.90\00:41:51.24
but I just want to say there's
so much in this interview.
00:41:51.44\00:41:54.34
We could spend the
entire hour just on abuse
00:41:54.54\00:41:57.21
or we could spend the entire
hour just on mental health.
00:41:57.41\00:41:59.91
We could spend the entire
hour just on Heather-Dawn's
00:42:00.32\00:42:03.28
testimony, but
I just want to say
00:42:03.49\00:42:05.99
that no matter what you
are going through at home
00:42:06.19\00:42:09.72
the Lord Jesus has said
He will never leave you.
00:42:09.92\00:42:13.13
He will never forsake you.
00:42:13.33\00:42:16.06
Hold onto Him and
the power in His Word.
00:42:16.26\00:42:21.67
Know that your 3ABN
family is here for you as well.
00:42:21.87\00:42:25.04
You can reach
out to us at ANY time
00:42:25.24\00:42:27.64
and we will also put
up the contact information
00:42:27.84\00:42:30.98
for the Women's
Ministries Department
00:42:31.18\00:42:33.68
for the General Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists
00:42:33.88\00:42:36.02
in just a few moments.
00:42:36.22\00:42:37.89
And you can access
those resources for yourself
00:42:38.09\00:42:42.06
for spiritual help and
mental help and emotional help.
00:42:42.26\00:42:47.76
So we will put up that
contact in just a little bit
00:42:47.96\00:42:50.60
so that you can receive
that nurturing and empowering
00:42:50.80\00:42:55.67
so that then you can be
turned into a missionary
00:42:55.87\00:42:58.34
and start with that outreach.
00:42:58.54\00:42:59.97
So let's talk about... there's
so many topics we could cover
00:43:00.18\00:43:03.71
but let's talk a
bit about poverty.
00:43:03.91\00:43:05.71
Lack of education and illiteracy
for some of our sisters
00:43:05.91\00:43:10.49
here in American and in
other parts of the world.
00:43:10.69\00:43:13.42
Let's talk about that.
00:43:13.62\00:43:14.96
Well, Women's Ministry
focuses on six challenge issues
00:43:15.36\00:43:19.46
that women face globally.
00:43:19.66\00:43:21.53
Illiteracy;
poverty; women's health;
00:43:21.73\00:43:26.30
women's workload;
abuse; and the last one is
00:43:26.50\00:43:31.34
lack of education and
leadership opportunity.
00:43:31.54\00:43:34.41
So I remember when I
first started working
00:43:34.68\00:43:38.01
in Women's
Ministries in the United States
00:43:38.21\00:43:40.82
there were people in developed
countries who would say:
00:43:40.98\00:43:45.15
"Oh, poverty's
not an issue for us. "
00:43:45.35\00:43:47.06
"Illiteracy is
not an issue for us.
00:43:47.26\00:43:49.19
But as the years have
gone by I think we've all seen
00:43:49.39\00:43:52.59
that each of these
issues applies to every country
00:43:52.79\00:43:56.97
in the world. We... The
problem of poverty in the US
00:43:57.17\00:44:01.80
is huge. The
problem of illiteracy
00:44:02.00\00:44:05.14
is another big one. One
of the aspects of illiteracy
00:44:05.34\00:44:09.64
that I like to focus on with my
sisters is Biblical illiteracy.
00:44:09.84\00:44:15.65
Ooh. You see, it's
not only can't read
00:44:15.85\00:44:19.19
but I'm illiterate where
the Word of God is concerned.
00:44:19.39\00:44:22.09
Where I know my
Bible... I can find Psalms;
00:44:22.49\00:44:25.93
I can find the gospels; I
can find Esther and Genesis.
00:44:26.13\00:44:29.83
I can tell you
anything about the stories
00:44:30.03\00:44:31.43
but don't ask me
to find Habakkuk.
00:44:31.63\00:44:33.64
I remember one time I
was preaching a sermon
00:44:33.84\00:44:35.94
and I called this verse
Habakkuk chapter 1 verse 6.
00:44:36.14\00:44:41.54
And a woman in the front
row said: "Habakkuk who? "
00:44:41.74\00:44:44.58
You know, she'd never even
heard of that book in the Bible
00:44:45.11\00:44:48.25
and I thought: "OK! "
00:44:48.45\00:44:50.59
We've got to... as women
of God, we can't afford to
00:44:50.79\00:44:55.22
to be Biblical illiterates.
00:44:55.42\00:44:56.76
So we look at all of
those aspects of challenges.
00:44:56.89\00:45:01.00
These are challenge
issues that women face.
00:45:01.20\00:45:03.20
Sadly, many women
face multiple issues
00:45:03.60\00:45:06.74
because if there's poverty
there's most likely illiteracy.
00:45:06.94\00:45:11.24
There's also most
likely health problems.
00:45:11.64\00:45:14.18
There's also going to be
involved a woman's workload,
00:45:14.34\00:45:17.28
abuse. So you may have
four, five, even all six
00:45:17.68\00:45:21.48
challenges in one family
00:45:21.68\00:45:23.55
and a woman is trying
to deal with all of that.
00:45:23.75\00:45:26.15
That's why God
gave us Isaiah 61:1-3
00:45:26.35\00:45:31.49
and reaching out
using the method of Christ.
00:45:31.69\00:45:35.96
So as a world church
our theme is I Will Go. Yes.
00:45:36.16\00:45:39.97
And we have adapted that theme.
00:45:40.17\00:45:42.77
The Women's
Ministries: Yes, I will go.
00:45:42.97\00:45:44.97
But we've added
three more words to it. OK.
00:45:45.17\00:45:48.01
Our three words are I
will go reach my world.
00:45:48.21\00:45:52.25
I like that. When
we think about I Wil Go
00:45:53.28\00:45:55.95
many people think:
"Oh, that's overseas
00:45:56.15\00:45:58.32
or that's miles away. "
00:45:58.52\00:45:59.89
But we want women to
think first my world.
00:46:00.09\00:46:03.22
Where does my world
start? It's my home,
00:46:03.43\00:46:05.63
my children, my
immediate family,
00:46:05.83\00:46:08.83
my extended
family, my neighborhood,
00:46:09.03\00:46:11.23
my work family.
00:46:11.43\00:46:14.40
That's what we want
us to focus on. Yes.
00:46:15.40\00:46:18.47
Where is the
closest place to you?
00:46:18.67\00:46:20.68
Don't go looking too far.
00:46:20.88\00:46:22.91
Look right there
where Jesus has put you
00:46:23.11\00:46:25.48
and say: "Lord, who
can I reach for You? "
00:46:25.68\00:46:28.22
Reach my world. I
will go reach my world.
00:46:28.42\00:46:32.89
I almost need another card.
I'm taking a lot of notes here.
00:46:33.09\00:46:35.99
I love that! So we just
have a couple of moments
00:46:36.19\00:46:38.73
left before we go to the address
there for the General Conference
00:46:38.93\00:46:41.70
Women's Ministry Department.
00:46:41.90\00:46:43.23
Before we do, talk to us.
What if someone is in a church
00:46:43.43\00:46:46.20
and they say: "I
want to become involved
00:46:46.40\00:46:49.10
in Women's Ministries but my
church doesn't have a Women's
00:46:49.30\00:46:51.81
Ministry and I want
to get one started. "
00:46:52.01\00:46:55.08
Or maybe: "I'd like to
become involved but I'm not sure
00:46:55.28\00:46:57.98
I'm good enough
or I know enough. "
00:46:58.18\00:47:00.02
So how would you?
Maybe walk us through
00:47:00.22\00:47:03.25
how someone could start
a Women's Ministry group
00:47:03.45\00:47:05.89
and start nurturing and
empowering and being involved
00:47:06.09\00:47:09.49
in outreach with the
women in their community.
00:47:09.69\00:47:11.36
OK... so the first
thing I would say to you is:
00:47:12.13\00:47:16.90
just get it started.
00:47:17.10\00:47:19.10
Get a group of ladies who
you know and talk to them.
00:47:19.30\00:47:24.41
Invite them to your home
or meet with them after church
00:47:24.61\00:47:27.08
and say: "Ladies,
why don't we get together
00:47:27.28\00:47:29.74
once a week and maybe
have a prayer group? "
00:47:29.94\00:47:32.31
Or "maybe have a
Bible study group. "
00:47:32.51\00:47:34.85
"Why don't we
have a cooking class? "
00:47:35.05\00:47:36.48
Start it in your own church.
00:47:36.69\00:47:38.82
Also, your division here is
the North American Division.
00:47:39.22\00:47:44.16
If you go to NADWM.org
00:47:44.36\00:47:48.80
you will find a lot of resources
00:47:49.00\00:47:51.23
including how to start women's
ministries in your own church.
00:47:51.43\00:47:56.44
That's NADWM.org
00:47:56.64\00:48:00.68
You'll find a lot of resources
there, and on our website
00:48:01.08\00:48:04.25
you'll find even more.
00:48:04.45\00:48:05.85
So you just begin small.
00:48:06.05\00:48:08.72
Talk to your pastor and
say: "Pastor, how come we don't
00:48:08.92\00:48:11.59
have a women's
ministry in our church? "
00:48:11.79\00:48:13.72
"What can we do
to get one started? "
00:48:13.92\00:48:16.06
The number one thing
you can do for your church
00:48:16.89\00:48:19.66
pastor is to pray for him.
00:48:19.86\00:48:21.40
Hmm. To pray for the
leadership of the church.
00:48:21.60\00:48:24.23
And that's why I love to
encourage our women to begin
00:48:24.43\00:48:27.47
prayer groups.
00:48:27.67\00:48:29.14
When the pastor is
preaching the women are praying.
00:48:29.34\00:48:32.01
That's good! When
the pastor is preaching
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.88
the women are in the
vestry or wherever it is
00:48:35.08\00:48:37.65
praying that the Holy
Spirit will move on the hearts
00:48:37.85\00:48:41.88
of women. And I learned
that fact from my husband.
00:48:42.08\00:48:45.12
Very quickly when he
was pastoring in Trinidad
00:48:45.32\00:48:48.62
where we lived
before we came here
00:48:48.82\00:48:51.06
he would come off the
pulpit. He'd be sweating
00:48:51.26\00:48:54.30
and he'd be
tired. He'd say: "Honey,
00:48:54.50\00:48:56.77
I feel like I'm
preaching through a storm. "
00:48:56.97\00:48:58.97
Oh wow! And he
said: "That's not good.
00:48:59.17\00:49:01.20
What's going on? "
And it occurred to me
00:49:01.40\00:49:04.57
the devil was at work, and we
needed to get a group of ladies
00:49:04.77\00:49:08.84
to pray. And so we got a
little group of us... just
00:49:09.04\00:49:11.85
about six or
seven... it grew over time...
00:49:12.05\00:49:14.12
and we would go into the vestry.
While my husband preached
00:49:14.32\00:49:17.89
we were praying.
And I could not believe
00:49:18.09\00:49:21.12
the difference in how he was
feeling physically afterward.
00:49:21.32\00:49:25.79
Wow! How people were
receiving the Word of God.
00:49:25.99\00:49:30.03
And so as a union director
at the time we promoted that.
00:49:30.23\00:49:34.27
Let's pray while pastors preach.
00:49:34.47\00:49:37.41
So there's so much
ladies that we can do.
00:49:37.61\00:49:40.28
And of course, you have a
Conference Women's Ministries
00:49:40.68\00:49:44.48
Leader you can contact
to get information also...
00:49:44.68\00:49:48.58
but go online... you
know, and just get started.
00:49:48.78\00:49:50.82
Um-hmm! So what are the
resources that are available?
00:49:51.02\00:49:54.72
We're going to put it
up in just a moment, but
00:49:54.92\00:49:56.26
what are the
resources that are available
00:49:56.29\00:49:58.13
at the Women's Ministry website?
00:49:58.33\00:50:00.23
It is Women.Adventist.org
00:50:00.43\00:50:03.40
You've already referenced of
course the spiritual resources
00:50:03.60\00:50:07.04
with the Bible studies and some
of that. We talked about that
00:50:07.24\00:50:09.87
at the beginning of the program.
00:50:10.07\00:50:11.41
But what would be some
of the other resources?
00:50:11.44\00:50:13.61
If people went
there, what would they find
00:50:13.81\00:50:15.31
at Women.Adventist.org?
00:50:15.51\00:50:17.98
OK. So if you go to our
General Conference website
00:50:18.85\00:50:21.72
at the top of the page
you would click on something
00:50:21.92\00:50:25.69
that says NEO:
nurture, empower, outreach.
00:50:25.89\00:50:29.76
When you click on that
a little box drops down
00:50:29.96\00:50:33.70
nurture, empower, outreach.
00:50:33.90\00:50:35.80
Just click on one of those
00:50:36.00\00:50:37.73
and a whole page of resources
is going to open up for you.
00:50:37.93\00:50:41.04
You can download them.
00:50:41.24\00:50:43.41
Some of them are
in different languages
00:50:43.61\00:50:46.04
but it's all there. We
put as much material as we can
00:50:46.24\00:50:49.24
online so that women can just
go and access it for themselves.
00:50:49.44\00:50:53.38
I love that!
00:50:53.58\00:50:55.08
We are not done
because what we're going to do
00:50:55.28\00:50:56.85
in just a moment
is go to the website
00:50:57.05\00:50:59.02
there for the General Conf.
Women's Ministries Department.
00:50:59.22\00:51:02.76
This is Women.Adventist.org
00:51:02.96\00:51:05.33
and we'll have a phone
number; we'll have an e-mail
00:51:05.53\00:51:07.63
and a website.
00:51:07.83\00:51:09.16
And if you are interested in
contacting Heather-Dawn Small
00:51:09.20\00:51:12.73
for yourself, she
does speak globally.
00:51:12.93\00:51:15.64
And I know 3ABN... we
have a global audience.
00:51:15.84\00:51:18.41
So if you are interested
in having her come to your
00:51:18.61\00:51:21.24
conference or your
community or church,
00:51:21.44\00:51:24.41
you're welcome to
reach out to her this way.
00:51:24.61\00:51:26.72
Or if you are in pain and
you want one of these resources
00:51:26.92\00:51:31.25
for physical
health or spiritual health
00:51:31.45\00:51:34.16
or emotional health,
or maybe you want to start
00:51:34.36\00:51:38.69
women's ministry in your
community- ity and you need
00:51:38.89\00:51:42.33
resources to do that,
here is how you can contact
00:51:42.53\00:51:45.33
that department for yourself:
00:51:45.53\00:51:47.30