Leadership Development » PWOC International Blog

Europe Region

Feb 102012

In January, ministry leaders from PWOC International met together for a time of vision-casting and goal-setting for the ministry at large. While many of the participants stay connected throughout the year by phone and email, nothing replaces the deep understanding that results from face-to-face communication. This year, in addition to international board members, regional presidents and conference coordinators from around the globe joined in the vibrant exchange of ideas. Our common purpose connects our works of service: to see the four aims of our ministry unleashed in PWOC participants’ lives.

Vision Summit is a huge undertaking. In addition to transportation and lodging considerations, the lives of volunteers are complicated and arrangements for childcare, missed work and school all impact a successful event. When situations appear difficult, it’s tempting to eliminate the irritant and simply continue on the path already begun. But we know that paying attention to movement of the Holy Spirit and bringing new people on board requires that we gather together in person and assess where we are and where we want to go.

The international board composed a captivating vision when they began their term in 2010: to foster an atmosphere of intimacy, simplicity and legacy. Without the opportunity to talk about the vision and how it’s being lived out in the lives of PWOC participants, it slowly leaks and leaders lose passion for doing ministry well. This vision isn’t just for the executive board; regional and local leaders help ministry thrive when they are familiar with the vision and take bold steps and breathe the vision into their local groups. During our weekend, the word “legacy” was particularly meaningful to me in my role as Europe region president. Our ministry was founded in Germany over 55 years ago, and the aims that anchored the ministry then–Lead, Teach, Develop and Involve–continue to form a strong foundation for what we do today. During Vision Summit, I was reminded that legacy isn’t about old people telling young people how it should be done. Rather, legacy is a living concept that breathes and moves in the relationships that I currently enjoy. I want to communicate deeply with other women a vibrant legacy of faith and share how they are helping shape my identity in Christ.

Kristen Reitkerk

Europe Region President

PDF

Leadership Selection

Leadership Development, Resources

Feb 072012

Several groups have shared specific prayer requests regarding this upcoming season of Leadership Selection. Please check the Women’s Ministry Manual at http://resources.pwoc.org/WMM to refresh your memory on the process of leadership selection and the suggested timeline. Make an appointment with your PWOC Chaplain to determine the level of involvement he/she desires to have in the selection process.

Beth Whitaker, PWOCI Leadership Selection Chair (LSC), shared at Vision Summit that our LSCs are the gatekeepers of our groups. I love this visual! Our LSCs must be women of prayer and integrity, above reproach. Your LSC is key to the health of your local group and board. Choose this lady prayerfully with the approval of your chaplain. My prayers are with you and I stand ready to answer any question your Leadership Selection Chair may have about the process. I am specifically praying for each group and leadership selection team in Asia. I know this process can appear daunting. Be assured God hears our heart-felt prayers as we seek His face for the next season of leadership. He has been incredibly faithful to Asia Region in the transitions of leaders and I know He will continue to be. I’m praying women sense the call to serve and choose to answer that call to leadership. I pray where there are vacancies, God uses the PCS cycle to supply needed leaders. Please join me in praying for this season of leadership selection.

De’Etta Goecker

Asia Region President

PDF

Worship and Expectations

Bits & Pieces, Resources

Jan 292012

God has recently been teaching me not to worship my expectations, but to worship Him in the midst of the circumstances He allows. I first realized this while reading How People Change by Paul David Tripp, but am trying to move to the place of full surrender in this area. When I let go of my expectations, then I’m not so easily tempted to be frustrated, hurt, anxious or angry.

Another helpful book I’m reading along these lines is Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges – full of great reminders about the good news of the gospel for maturing believers in Christ.

Andrea Plotner, Asst. to the President PWOC International

PDF

Lessons I’ve Learned as a Regional President

Leadership Development, regional review, Resources

Nov 012011

Submitted by De’Etta Goecker, Asia Region President

In a little over a week we will begin the inaugural Asia Region Conference. The pace is a bit frenzied…nevertheless, I find myself in a reflective frame of mind. I’m in awe of the way Abba Father has gently led our leadership team. We’ve been challenged as we established procedures, navigated “natural disasters,” dealt with life changes, we’ve seen God provide every need – we’ve grown closer to our Father.

In this last Presidential Blog of 2009-2011, I bring you “Lessons I’ve Learned as a Regional President.”

14. All women snore; a true friend will comment on your “feminine snore” and offer to room with you at the next event.

13. Even deployments are better when savoring a rich, chocolaty molten lava cake with friends! This pleasure can be enjoyed around the world and is truly board bonding at its best!

12. PWOCI conferences are planned to coincide with the Asian Typhoon Season – plan accordingly.

11. Three minutes of animated Japanese can be translated to three short words, “SIT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.”

10. Noise reduction headphones are essential on long flights – and may possibly help with the snoring thing as well.

9. Sisters of the heart are priceless – especially when facing a Korean gate guard.

8. Wear your passport around your neck at all times, you never know when you’ll need it!

7. Apple juice and Airborne are essential tools in fighting jet lag.

6. ALWAYS slide the vacant/occupied lock on airplane bathroom doors. It’s wise to double check this. Seriously.

5. It’s nice to have a friend screaming at your side when you encounter Korean snakes in the dark. Sadly, you may not be able to count on PWOC sisters to race to your rescue.

4. Molten Lava cakes can travel from Tokyo to Seoul on dry ice.

3. Earthquakes, tsunamis, life changes, surprise pcs’…happen. God can be trusted. ALWAYS – even with children whom you can’t get home to. Semper Gumby.

2. It is possible to fervently love women you’ve only met via email.

1. God always provides others to come alongside as you wait on Him for His provision in leadership.

The lessons learned and personal growth in my life as your President has been priceless. Thank you for your gracious acceptance and love.

As we look to the next two years in Asia Region, I am convinced God is calling ladies to step out and experience the adventure of regional leadership . If you suspect you may be one of these ladies, please read the letter from Cathy at Asia Region Leadership Selection and contact her at AsiaLeadership@pwoc.org.

It’s my heart that we each continue to Love God Wholeheartedly and Love Others Deeply!

Asia Region Rocks!

PDF

Communications Update

Leadership Development, News & Announcements, Resources

Oct 262011

Submitted by Jenn Cook – PWOCI Communications Coordinator

Right around the corner are the Regional Conferences! What an exciting time and what an opportunity to see communication at its best.

Giggling, screams of joy, squeals of delight, laughter and chats over coffee are amazing forms of communication that you will engage in at your Regional Conference. There is nothing more delightful than walking into a room and seeing faces of friends that not only bring a smile to your face, but light up your heart with joy! The Regional Conferences are those “rooms.” We enter into these meeting places and our hearts are filled with joy in seeing friends, hearing God’s Word, singing His praises and fellowshipping with the body of Christ! This great expectation is what we pray you have as you prepare your hearts for this time together.

But what happens after conference when we return home? Part of our preparation for this time has been getting the word out about many of the ministries that PWOCI offers to the body of ladies for encouragement throughout the year. Arriving to each of the eight regions, even as I write this, are boxes full of printed materials that the Communications Team has developed to encourage and inform ladies about some of these ministries. Be looking for postcards with details about PWOC on Facebook, our PWOC Blog, website and Resource Library. Another printed piece is a PWOC trifold titled PWOC International: Be a Part of Something Big. You will find more information about our ministry as a whole in this trifold which will be offered as a download later in the year.

Our heartfelt prayer is that the upcoming Regional Conferences will be a time of refreshing for each of you. We pray that not only would you laugh, pray, and cry together, but that you would deepen your walk with the Lord during this time. The Communications Team is praying for you and lifting you up for this encounter with friends and with the One who knows you best…Your Father God.

PDF

Tag, You're it!

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, News & Announcements, Resources

Sep 142011

We grew up with this well-known children’s game. Kids ran freely through a playground with the goal of tagging friends, unfreezing others, trying not to get caught or maybe to avoid being “it.”

It’s funny how I have heard these same kinds of words at PWOC events. After a time of prayer, singing, teaching, and lunch, one friend says to another, “I’ll tag you.”

Of course, the PWOC friends are talking about sharing photos and stories on Facebook. What a great tool to use in our chapels to spread the news of Christ and His work here in our communities! That is, after all, what He has called us to do — to spread the Good News of His plan of salvation and redemption. Our relationship with Christ is often evident in our profile and status updates on Facebook. We share with our virtual world our goods, our bads, our moods, our children’s accomplishments, our PCS transitions, our interests, likes and frustrations. We communicate to and connect with others not only through our FB but also link our texts and Tweets to our FBs. It is a need we have – to communicate with others. To communicate with God. To let them know how we’re doing. To be known.

Being someone who is characteristically introverted yet driven by the Great Commission and a strong affinity for words, I find great joy in sharing the Gospel of Christ to each generation through the social media of Facebook. This is how God has called me to evangelize and serve and be in relationship with His people in this season. And so for this reason, I want to encourage and challenge you each in the words of Jesus as He spoke to His disciples: And Jesus came up and spoke to them as it’s recorded in the book of Matthew, chapter 28, saying, “¹⁸All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

PWOC International has been involved with Facebook for about two years. Our Page is a place to share the blog, prayer requests, Scripture, advice, suggestions, ministry news, discussion pages, and regional and local updates. We currently have almost 3,000 “likes” to our Page, which means almost 3,000 people who say they follow us online. That’s cool! Let’s continue to encourage the several other ladies who attend PWOC weekly to also be part of our online community. I hope our Page is something you enjoy seeing when scrolling through your News Feed; it is updated daily.

As PWOC is a chapel-sponsored (i.e., government-sponsored) organization, we must abide by certain regulations that allow us the resources and advisement that we are accustomed to receiving at each level of ministry. Below are a few items found in our current “SOP” (Standard Operating Procedure) and guide the Facebook presence of PWOC International (local, regional, area, and international).

Please use the correct (turquoise) logo in the profile photo.
Please include webmail address and website address in the Info tab, plus any other local contact information you have (blog or website).
Please consider the safety and personal issues of all before posting unit or deployment information or photos. Practice good OpSec.
Please use only chaplain-sponsored “like” Pages in the left side of your Page (not military unit, civilian community, or other non-PWOC ministry Pages)
Please be sure to use your webmail when creating your local or regional Page
Please be sure your PWOC Facebook presence is on a Page – not a Group, not a personal Profile
Please feel free to share the links posted from www.facebook.com/pwoci — these may include blogs, home page updates, YouTube videos, and theme resources

Local executive boards can also network with others in their same position through Facebook Groups listed here:

Local Presidents http://www.facebook.com/groups/134771346542949/

Local Spiritual Life VPs http://www.facebook.com/groups/136400213047504/

Local Programs VP http://www.facebook.com/groups/138443599506685/

Local Administrative Coordinators http://www.facebook.com/groups/196429240405726/

Local Financial Liaisons http://www.facebook.com/groups/168980749834802/

We are called to take His Word into the world – the message of the Gospel of Christ – the love of God – and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit! Lord, I pray that this genius of social media will be used to the Glory of God for the purpose of YOUR KINGDOM COME on this earth, as well as in Heaven.

Be blessed – for the Glory of Christ and His Kingdom!

Love,

Melinda Hemphill

PWOCI Facebook Coordinator

The Facebook SOP can be found at http://resources.pwoc.org/web.

Please send all correspondence to facebook@pwoc.org.

PDF

5% Principle

Leadership Development, Local Limelight, regional review

Sep 082011

I think it timely I share a lesson I’ve been re- learning as we begin a new ministry year.

I tend to live life at 110%; I struggle with finding and MAINTAINING balance in life. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, I threw myself into relief efforts. This was no surprise to those who know me. I also continued with my PWOC responsibilities (local and regional). It happened subtly – I lost sight of the 5% principle, relationships began to suffer, and I needed REST.

Wayne Cordeiro, in Leading on Empty states, “If you and I are going to enjoy healing and rest at our very core, we must discover and discern the top 5 percent of life.” P 77. 85% of what we do, anyone can do. Many of these tasks can be delegated (I

NVOLVE women in the work). 10% of what we do someone with training should be able to do. 5% of what I do; only I can do! I won’t be held accountable for all the needs around me. I will be held accountable for this 5% – for what I’ve accomplished of what HE has asked me to accomplish.

What are my 5% activities? What would a life focused on 5% look like? Do I truly elevate this 5% above the other 95% of my activities? The higher I elevate the importance of this 5 percent the easier it is for me to make choices which honor these God-given priorities. I can’t find someone to take my place in these activities because they require my presence. How I live the 5% validates the other 95% of my life.

I made some painful choices. I had to recharge, reflect and restructure. I have challenged our local PWOC board to consider their personal 5% as well as our corporate 5%. This has created freedom and excitement as we follow the passions God has given each of us. Simplicity has become an oft repeated battle cry in Misawa (though new activities have begun).

I share my 5% to assist as you evaluate your 5%.

A whole-hearted, extravagant, lavish, passionate, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ

A vibrant relationship with Michael
An authentic family – close to God and one another

mentoring my children
educating my children
caring for my family
FIGHTING for this connection to remain strong, not fatalistically assuming we’ll grow apart as children leave home

A physically healthy body and creative soul
Taking time to enjoy family and friends
A God-pleasing ministry

Teaching/ mentoring women
inviting women to a deeper relationship with Jesus
someday this may well include more missions/relief efforts

Submitted by D’Etta Goecker, Asia Region President

PDF

PWOC Sunday 2011: Designated Offering September 10th and 11th

Leadership Development, News & Announcements

Sep 022011

Have you heard of PWOC Sunday? Have you heard of Designated Offerings in your local Chapel? Coming up on the weekend of September 10^th and 11^th, you have the opportunity to be part of something BIG! Did you realize that PWOC is found on three continents, eight regions and on over 130 installations around the world? The ministry of PWOC reaches over 8,000 women on a weekly basis on Air Force, Army, Navy/Marine and Joint bases across the globe, and PWOC International’s ministry is continually expanding!

Why is this weekend important to you? Because on this weekend, worldwide the offerings received in all Army Protestant chapel services are designated for the amazing ministry of Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) in order to support the International and Regional levels of PWOC. This offering is the primary source of funding used to offset ministry operating costs such as expenses related to the International and Regional conferences held each year, leadership training worldwide, website and communications development, and much more. From this designated offering, yearly regional grants are determined and distributed by the Director of Information, Resource, Management and Logistics (IRML).

What if you’re not at an Army installation? While September 10-11, 2011 is the date for the Army-wide mandatory designated offering, other branches are encouraged to request a designated offering for PWOC as well. Visit the Resource Library here to download an explanation for how to request a PWOC offering at your chapel: http://resources.pwoc.org/designated-offering.

You might be asking how you can be involved on this Sunday. We encourage local PWOCs to participate with their Chaplains at all Protestant services that weekend. Here are a few ideas for you to join in on these services:

• Lead worship

• Sing with the choir

• Do a skit such as Cardboard Testimonies: http://resources.pwoc.org/programs/archives2011

• Show the new PWOC Promotional Video: https://sites.google.com/site/pwoconlineresourcelibrary/designated-offering

• Insert PWOC Publicity flyers into the bulletins at each Protestant services and even the two weeks prior

• Act as ushers

• Do the Scripture readings

• Share testimonies of how PWOC has transformed lives and families

PWOC ladies are encouraged to participate in the services in any way allowed by the Chaplain.

Need some tools to help? Offered at the PWOC Resource Library (http://resources.pwoc.org/) are a few ways to communicate the message about PWOC to the chapel congregations. In the 2011 Your Kingdom Come Installation Program, you can find details of how to use Cardboard Testimonies on the PWOC Sunday to make an impact. These often take 10-15 minutes, and might be most appropriate during a portion of the time allotted for announcements and worship, before the Designated Offering. Remember to bring extra cardboard and markers, and invite those congregated to participate if they so choose. A bulletin insert is available for download to be used in conjunction with the Cardboard Testimonies.

Newly created is the PWOC Promotional Video for download here: https://sites.google.com/site/pwoconlineresourcelibrary/designated-offering This can be shown to the congregation to see the worldwide, life-changing ministry of PWOC. Along with this video is a matching PWOC bulletin insert that can be used for that weekend or even two weeks prior to promote the offering.

We need your help!

• Pray for the Lord to open up the hearts of those in chapels on September 11 to invest into the ministry of PWOC.

• Get the word out! The Designated Offering comes one time a year for the Army! This is an opportunity for the Chapel community to see the life-changing impact that PWOC has on the military families and women in their midst.

• Get involved with your PWOC Chaplain and plan a PWOC Sunday at every Protestant Chapel service on your military installation.

What a great ministry opportunity each PWOC has in showing the Chapel community around the world how the Lord is transforming lives.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

If you have any further questions, please contact the PWOCI Financial Liaison at financial@pwoc.org. Let us know how your PWOC Sunday goes with a follow up testimony at Testimony@pwoc.org.

PDF

An Atmosphere of Intimacy, Simplicity, and Legacy

Leadership Development, President's Pen

Aug 102011

By Beth Mills

Are you ready? It’s almost time for Kick-off! Local boards have been to excellent WILD trainings where they were equipped with leadership skills, given tips and training for their board positions, and filled with fresh vision. We also shared a picture of what we will be as we continue to live out our four aims and as we discover the truths God is bringing to light in our new theme, “Your Kingdom Come!”

The vision for PWOC International:

We will be women who foster an atmosphere of intimacy, simplicity, and legacy.

Atmosphere sets the tone for everything we’re involved in from Bible study, to worship, ministry to children, even our communication on the website. An atmosphere of intimacy is one in which we focus on relationships, not just programs; where we live a Kingdom lifestyle, not just a religious routine; where we have encounters with God and one another, not just meetings. In an atmosphere of intimacy, we’ll live in authentic relationship with God, our families, one another, and our chaplains.

Simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean “easy”, although we do want to keep things simple and uncomplicated. However, simplicity is the opposite of duplicity. Simplicity is undistracted obedience to God’s Kingdom principles and His call on our lives. It requires us to seek the Kingdom first and aim for the bullseye. It may require us to lay aside “good ideas” in exchange for the “best ideas” in order for us to hit that bullseye.

An atmosphere of legacy promotes generational transfer. When our younger and older generations actually weave together, we draw out the gifts and abilities in each other. Fresh ideas and creativity paired with wisdom and experience are the recipe for a vibrant, healthy PWOC.

The atmosphere of intimacy, simplicity, and legacy is organic, not mechanical; it’s orderly, not methodical; and it’s intentional, not mandated.

Lord, in this atmosphere of deep relationship with you and the women you’ve called us to walk beside, we pray Your will be done in our lives as we set our hearts with on one purpose. “Your Kingdom Come!”

PDF

Time to Get out of the Way

Leadership Development, Local Limelight

Jun 022011

After completing the W.I.L.D. training last year I sat in a Chapel classroom with two other board members and cried. I felt so overwhelmed and unprepared for the position I had been selected for as President of the Eielson PWOC. The weight of every woman on Eielson suddenly sat on my shoulders. I was very new to PWOC. I had been a part of our Women’s Ministry at our home church in San Antonio TX, so I was not sure where this overwhelmed feeling was coming from. I even met with our Chaplain to explain why I did not feel I was the gal for the job, leading other women in their walk when my walk was littered with junk and so many flaws. Who am I? How would I be used? Why would I be used?

We are daughters of the Lord, shortcomings, junk and flaws. We try and wear our “big girl” panties and do it our own way. Then we are surprised when we fall short. We need Christ every step of the way. I know this, I believe this, and yet time and time again I try and do it my way and consult with Him from time to time. I wonder…hum why do I feel overwhelmed? He did not intend for me to just check in, He wants to be leading the way and wants my complete submission as His plans have been laid out for each of us. Yet I compare our local installation with others and we need only 2 bible studies, we have monthly fellowship and we fit in a service project. Never feeling as though it was enough.

We need to get back to basics. God did not give His Son to save us from our sins for us to continue to do life on our own. Eielson PWOC is a small group because that is exactly what His intentions were for us this year. There is no shame or failure in being small. So, I do I feel those things…well because living in the flesh and not the Spirit messes with our life. Satan loves to do the dance when we are beating ourselves up. Because then he thinks he has a small or even a large victory! Well, I say get behind me Satan because I am a daughter of Christ and you have no place in this body! GET OUT!!

God is so patient with each of us. He waits patiently for us to get out of the way. I believe there is a reason we were so small. I believe He has been very intentional and His timing is perfect. There is a reason we do not have a selected board for next year because HE is still setting it into place. His timing is perfect and ours is not. There is a reason square pegs do not fit into round holes. I believe that it is easy for us to get caught up in meeting the expectation of others and we miss seeking His expectation for our lives and our ministry. We get caught up in the guidelines and rules and we don’t hear Him. We are….I am so worried about letting others down that I miss that I am not shining in the light of HIS glory.

As I stated earlier we do not have a board for next year. He breaks the pot, turns it back into clay and He shapes the clay. This is not an easy process but know HE is bigger. So big that He shows up at a small soccer field in Fairbanks AK to remind me that He has a plan for my life, for your life and for PWOC. There are seasons of brokenness that we go through so that He can rebuild us. It is uncomfortable and painful, however the reward is an amazing gift. He CAN make a square peg into a round peg when it is time. Are you willing? I am and He is patiently waiting for each of us.

Peace

Kim, Alaska Region

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. An the Father who knows all hearts knows that the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his won Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one – for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one -for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

Romans 8: 26 – 34

PDF

Older Entries

PWOC International Blog

Europe Region

Leadership Selection

Worship and Expectations

Lessons I’ve Learned as a Regional President

Communications Update

Tag, You're it!

5% Principle

PWOC Sunday 2011: Designated Offering September 10th and 11th

An Atmosphere of Intimacy, Simplicity, and Legacy

Time to Get out of the Way

Connect

Archives

Links

Regions

Categories