The Department of Women’s Ministries is committed to encouraging, challenging, equipping, and nurturing Seventh-day Adventist women as they do their part in carrying the Gospel message to the world.
“The Lord has a work for women as well as for men. They may take their places in His work at this crisis, and He will work through them. . . .
They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed.”—Welfare Ministry, p 145.
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Department of Women’s Ministries is to nurture, facilitate, and support women in their Christian lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His world Church. In consultation with administration and other departments of the Church, the department shares the responsibility for developing a global evangelistic strategy and provides training to equip the women of the church to uplift Christ in the Church and in the world.
“. . . we may do a noble work for God if we will. Woman does not know her power. . . . There is a higher purpose for woman, a grander destiny. She should develop and cultivate her powers, for God can employ them in the great work of saving souls from eternal ruin.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol 4, p 642.
The Department of Women’s Ministries will focus on the following six critical issues that have been identified as barriers preventing women from reaching their full potential: illiteracy, poverty, risks to health, abuse, length of workday and poor working conditions, and the need for training and mentoring for greater involvement in the mission of the Church.
Objectives
In order to fulfill the purpose of the Department of Women’s Ministries, eight objectives have been identified by which the women in the Church may be empowered to share the good news within their families, among their fellow believers, and in ever expanding circles
in the unsaved world.
1. Elevate women as persons of inestimable worth by virtue of their creation and redemption.
2. Enable women to deepen their faith and to experience spiritual growth and renewal.
3. Underscore the broad spectrum of needs and concerns of women across the life span from multicultural and multiethnic perspectives.
4. Liaise and cooperate with other specialized departments of the church to meet the needs of women.
5. Build networks among women in the world Church that encourage bonds of friendship, mutual support, and creative exchange of ideas and information.
6. Mentor and encourage young Adventist women, creating paths for their involvement in the Church as they reach for their full potential in Christ.
7. Bring women’s unique perspectives on issues facing the Church to decision making bodies.
8. Seek expanding avenues of dynamic Christian service for women, challenging each Adventist woman to use her gifts to complement the talents of others as they work side by side to further the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
