Presidents Farewell

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, President's Pen
Nov 032010

Dear Beloved of God,

In my final letter to you as PWOC International president, please allow me the opportunity to express my heart to you one last time.

In this role, I have seen God’s hand move in incredible ways within PWOC.  Throughout this journey, my desire has been to help us connect deeply with the heart of God and communicate our need to return to our first love, Jesus Christ, so that we could be free to fulfill His plan for our lives.  As I have spoken with many of you through emails, Facebook and at many PWOC events, I sensed that as a group of women, we are desiring more than just a religious experience inside four walls, we are desiring a true and deeper relationship with our Lord.  Perhaps it is due to the pressure of the almost ten years our nation has been fighting the war against terrorism.  Whatever the reason, God knows the season we are in and will work it together for our good and His kingdom purposes.

Over these past four years, I have had the honor to work with two incredible international boards.  I appreciate them so much for waiting on the Lord with me, for being passionate about hearing from the Lord in His assignment for us and for their willingness to go the distance needed in order to accomplish God’s vision for His ministry.  As I have told them before, I love hanging out under their “fruit trees”.  I have learned so much from each of them.

I would like to thank the following people for blessing me with their support in this term of office:  first, our official PWOC sponsor, US Army Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain Carver for his support of PWOC. Your example of being a worship “warrior” and having a heart like King David has encouraged me and has caused me to press in deeper with our Lord; Chaplain Puchy for being our PWOCI Chaplain through the thick and thin.  Your spiritual leadership encouraged each of us.  You are a vision caster, who has a true pastor’s heart.  The PWOCI Executive Board:  Lucia, Cinky and Melinda, you three are incredible women of God!  It has been an honor to be a part of this team with each of you.  We have seen the Lord weave His message of love for all of us in such amazing ways.  You have helped connect our hearts to those who know little to nothing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, much less the ministry of PWOC.  Thank you for your support.  I will never forget our times of prayer in seeking God’s face for the ministry and the work we did together.  “Align, Arise & Shine” was truly a God breathed vision for the work our board would do together.

To the PWOC International Board (aka the Glory Train ministry team), each of you helped put His vision for us into motion.  It has been a great adventure and I believe we have all been stretched in our gifts, relationships and callings while on this board.  But more than that, I believe we have become God’s beautiful harmonious symphony sound that I have spoken about.  You have heard His sound and are singing His song.  It’s simply beautiful!

To the PWOCI Titus II Advisors, Becky Shirey and Rhonda Mixon and our prayer coordinator, Dawn Kennedy, you three have been instrumental in helping me through the thick and thin.  You are true prayer warriors and advisors who walk in the love and wisdom of God.  Thank you for holding me accountable, teaching me so much and holding up my arms.  I loved strategizing with each of you and processing the revelation and wisdom of God for this ministry.

Thank you to our eight regional presidents and boards and Europe’s area boards who have been our feet on the ground, connecting with our beautiful local PWOC women.  You have each been instrumental in pushing out the vision of PWOC International.  I love how you each have connected with one another as well.  Keep up the great work.  I know you will be a wonderful help and blessing to our new PWOC International president this upcoming year.

A special thank you to Dutch Sheets, Lee Grady, Cheryl Wright, Chaplain Doug Castle, Chaplain (Ret.) Lou Shirey and Valerie Bixler who have personally come to help equip and teach the PWOC International Board more things about the power of prayer, our intimacy with the Lord, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God, the fundamentals of understanding forgiveness and trusting God, all of which are crucial teachings in this season we are in.   Also, thank you to Dustin Britt, Blake Howard, the team at Matchstic and Jennifer Cook for their help in providing our refreshed graphic look and helping us to communicate who we are.  I would work with all of you again any time.  Thank you again to Jennifer Cook and Jodie Brickson for your help with our PWOCI themes.  God has gifted you both with incredible creativity and talent.  I would like to thank Erin Nonaka for managing our PWOCI blog, which posts daily words of encouragement for our women.  And Shellie Kelly for the many hours she worked with us from the Army Chief of Chaplains office. And speaking of the Army Chief of Chaplains Office, everyone who worked with us, Chaplain Robinson, Chaplain Warden, Chaplain Lees, Nina Joyner and many others, we couldn’t have done all that we do without you.  All these amazing people and many more have blessed the ministry of PWOC in so many ways.  May the work of your hands produce a harvest of much fruit in years to come.

Thank you to each of my personal prayer intercessors, those I knew and those I didn’t.  Each of you served as a crucial part of my ministry team.  Thank you for praying for my family and I over these past four years.  I knew you were praying.  Any additional prayers you want to send on our behalf as I transition into my new role would be equally appreciated.

Thank you PWOC women for the many ways you bless our chaplains, our chapel communities and the many women within PWOC.  I know that this ministry will continue to take the love and good news of Jesus Christ to many more people than it does now.  It is His desire that we fulfill His great commission.

I want to thank my family for all their prayers, sacrifice and support.  I love each of you so much.  To my wonderful husband, David, who is truly my treasured gift from God, thank you!  You are the love of my life and my knight in shining armor.  Thank you for the many ways you have blessed the women of PWOC by praying with me for them. Thank you for always listening and encouraging me along the way.  I could not have done this without you.  May the Lord bless you for your great sacrifice in this season of our lives.

And to my Lord, Jesus Christ, I love you more than I ever thought humanly possible. You have given me the greatest treasure of all, a heart that is free to love You, to dance with You, to sing to You and to share that love with Your people.  Oh, how you have rend my heart for You. May your sons and daughters be open and unhindered in allowing You to do the same for them, for if they do, I know they will not be disappointed.

Thank you for the honor and blessing of being able to serve you as the PWOC International president these past four years.  May the Lord call each of you into a deeper relationship with Him.  You can never exhaust the depths of His love for you.

“…Arise My Darling, My beautiful one and come with Me”.  Song of Songs 2:10, 14 NIV

To God Alone Be All the Glory

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The Color Turquoise: Discovering God's Treasures for the Women of PWOC Pt. 1

President's Pen
Sep 082010

As I finish out my term as president of PWOC International, I would like to share a few stories with you about what the Lord has shown me over the past four years.

I have been a treasure hunter my whole life.  I find it interesting that this trait has been within my DNA since birth.  I have always tried to figure out how things work or search for hidden things waiting to be discovered.  My mom says that my curiosity used to get me into trouble, because I would wander off trying to figure out the unknown things that I encountered along the path of life.  Little did I know that God’s plan for me would take me way beyond the curious exploration of my childhood, on into adulthood where He uses this trait for His Kingdom purposes.

Early in my first term as president, the Lord would share with me a very important Scripture, which describes the kingdom treasure finding journey that I would be on in this season of leadership.

…”No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”—but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”  1 Cor. 2:9-10 (NIV)

The Color Turquoise

I was invited to travel to Seoul, Korea to attend the 2007 FaithLift conference shortly after becoming president in 2006.  To my delight I learned that Kim Worrell, our immediate outgoing PWOC International president, would be attending this conference as well.  We had no idea the incredible things the Lord would show us while we were there.

After the conference was over, the conference planner arranged a tour of the largest full gospel church in the world and also the South/North Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).  As Kim and I prepared for our trip to the church, I looked at her and made a comment about her jacket, which was the same color of a jacket that I had recently purchased—it was a beautiful turquoise color.  I said, “Perhaps this could be a new color for PWOC”.  She commented that she had worn it all over the world during her term in office.

As we boarded the bus, we began our trip to the world’s largest church.  On our way there, we noticed several buildings, structures and signs all in this same color.  We looked at each other and said to each other, “wonder what this means?”

We arrived at our destination and had to weave through all the masses of people in order to enter into the seating area of the church.  As we were standing in line, I felt impressed to look at my new anniversary ring my husband had just given me for our 25th anniversary.  I thought about where my new diamond ring came from—Tiffany & Co.  Suddenly, it occurred to me the color of the beautiful little box it came in was turquoise!  My eyes began to well up with tears as I sensed that my ring was not only a gift from my precious husband, but from the Lord as well.  I knew in my heart that the Lord was telling me something very significant in regards to the color turquoise, but I didn’t quite know what He was up to.

The following day, we went on a tour to the DMZ.  Prior to going on my trip to Korea, the Lord impressed on me to take a beautiful gold key that I had been given by a speaker at my first Vision Week board meeting.  As we were getting ready to leave for the DMZ tour, I felt led to take it with me.  I knew there would be a special prayer assignment connected with this key.

Kim and I were on the bus once again, taking in all that we could see.  We approached the main entrance to the Demilitarized Zone and noticed the turquoise color once again; only this time there was another color next to it—sky blue.  As we drove forward, we began noticing that the turquoise color represented the free side of South Korea and the sky blue color represented the oppressed side.  Many times, the sky blue color was behind barbed wire fencing; evidence of those bound up, oppressed and controlled in North Korea.

I immediately used my handy PDA to see if I could locate a Biblical reference to the color turquoise.  To my delight, it was there.  Kim and I knew that the Lord was trying to show us something, but it would not be completely revealed until after we returned to the United States.

We drove onward, far into the DMZ, where the tour guide shared the history and names of each specific area.  We arrived at a location within the DMZ that was called the “Freedom House”.  I looked in the area and noticed that one of the buildings had a turquoise roof on it!  That was my cue.  Kim and I looked at each other and then got up and went to the back of the bus where we began proclaiming in prayer Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV) for the women of PWOC:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.  They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.”

As we prayed, I took the gold key and began unlocking the self imposed prison doors that many of women in PWOC lived in and then pulled open the pretend door and said, “come out, you are free!”

To be continued…

© 2010 Brenda Marlin

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Addressing PWOC Changes Part 1

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, President's Pen
Jun 092010

You may have seen the bookmarks given out at the fall conferences or posted on our FaceBook site.  On the bookmark, we mentioned that the PWOC International Board and Joint Council (PWOCI Board along with the 8 regional presidents combined) have been considering some changes within PWOC.  I also mentioned some “needed changes” on our PWOC International Executive Board 2010 Vision video, which is now located on our website. I would like to address this in more detail with you.

As you may remember in my January 2009 President’s Letter, I mentioned that we were introducing the new Women’s Ministry Manual; Official Leaders’ Policy and Guidelines of Protestant Women of the Chapel and the new name for Traveling Training: W.I.L.D. – Women Intent on Leadership Development. These two items were the beginning of some of these changes and were a result of the development of PWOC International.

As the 2008-2010 PWOC International Executive Board began meeting and discussing the future needs of the ministry, we began praying about what we were observing and then later responded with recommendations for development and/or change for the related areas of PWOC.

1.   Leadership Development: we know that it is within PWOC’s “DNA” to raise up, train up and send out leaders.  In understanding this, we looked really hard at some of the things that we needed to provide our leaders, which were being addressed in some places and not in others.  In looking at our current leadership training offerings, we found that –

  • Traveling Training did a wonderful job of going out to the masses and training on topics of spiritual development and team building.
  • Most regions offered some level of leadership training at a central location for local board leadership, primarily that of president and vice president.  They focused their training on leadership issues, regional updates and peer relationship building. There was an exception to this in a few of our regions, which trained additional board positions; however, overall we found leadership training gaps and inconsistencies in our training models across the regions.
  • We needed more time to provide position specific training, which is vitally needed to help women fulfill their leadership roles on a practical level.
  • Chaplains and regional presidents were voicing concerns over issues that were arising within local PWOC’s.  Many of these concerns were based on misunderstandings and a lack of knowledge on practical positional roles, working together as a team and then how to work with their chaplains.
  • Traveling Training could not effectively address individual position training or practical board operations within the training model offered.
  • We needed to be able to cast a unified vision for the ministry, so that we would all be on the same page.  Our annual PWOCI Executive Board DVD video tried to accomplish this; however, it didn’t always connect with the training content or the theme.  We are learning that when all three are in sync with each other, there is a great synergistic effect, which helps our leadership join together in God’s plan for PWOC as a whole.
  • There is synergy and excitement when bringing groups together around a common vision and goal.  Ideas and support flow when we come together in a larger group.  Peer relationship building helps foster growth in both positional roles and in the Lord.

Based upon our findings, the PWOCI Executive Board felt it was time to pull the local leadership teams into one training event.  By working alongside our regional presidents and their boards, we can provide consistent leadership training across the ministry.  We pulled from Europe Region’s ATC (Annual Training Conference) positional training and what we loved about training within Traveling Training, added a few more focus areas such as learning how to minister to those we serve as lay ministry leaders and addressing specific leadership challenge areas and then came up with the new W.I.L.D. Weekend events.  Regional presidents still have the ability to encourage, mentor and update their local leadership through the W.I.L.D. Weekend event, as they are the official host for this training.

We know that this is just the beginning of the new W.I.L.D. training model, which will be fine-tuned and changed over the years as leadership needs arise.

To be continued…

Part Two
Part Three

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PWOC International Theme Selection Process

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Jun 022010

Now that we have become PWOC International, some have wondered how our ministry selects a new theme.  It all begins a few years out with much prayer to seek the heart of the Lord for our theme.  One of the responsibilities of the PWOC International Executive Board is to hear the Lord on the matter of where He is at work and then cast vision for the whole ministry.  This is quite an involved process, but basically the PWOC International Executive Board comes together after their season of prayer and discusses what they are each hearing from the Lord on the matter.  They then ask the Theme Development Coordinator, Titus II Advisors and Prayer Coordinator to help come alongside them in weighing out matters of understanding what the Lord is saying.  The PWOCI Executive Board will come into a consensus decision on the theme, related Scripture(s) and songs.  Sometimes this is done in stages.  Normally, the theme and Scripture(s) are decided first and then supporting songs follow.  We then go to the PWOC International Joint Council, for their consensus decision.   Once a final consensus decision is made, the PWOC International Theme Development Coordinator goes to work with the President, to determine main theme teaching points and the supporting artwork.  Once all of this is complete, it is rolled out to the PWOC International Board and Regional leadership at the annual PWOC International Vision Week (the meeting place for the PWOCI Board, Regional Presidents and Vice Presidents), to W.I.L.D. (Women Intent on Leadership Development) trainers at W.I.L.D. Train the Trainers weekend, then on to local leadership through W.I.L.D. training and then finally posted on our website June 1st each year for the entire ministry to view and officially begin using during fall kick-off events at local PWOC’s.

In the past, the theme was held as a “secret” and then rolled out for all to see at the local PWOC fall kick off’s, but now we are more desirous that the entire ministry is prepared for the new season in advance.  This year, the PWOC International Board is sharing the vision for where we believe we are headed as a ministry through a DVD presentation posted on our web site for all to see.   We are praying that this will help prepare everyone for this very interesting season we are entering.  This summer, we want you to begin asking neighbors and friends on your military installation to join us for a yearlong adventure at PWOC this coming year.  It is going to be an amazing adventure.

Brenda Marlin, President, PWOCI

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The Beautiful Plan

President's Pen, Seasonal teaching
Dec 242009

As I reflect on this special day, I think about how the birth of Jesus Christ set into motion a beautiful and divine, majestic plan of His kingdom reign, which knows no end.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

The birth was the point at which Jesus Christ, fully God in the form of man came to live on earth and be with us.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the prophet:  The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means “God with us.” Matt 1:22-23 (NIV)

He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  Knowing in the beginning that He would need to come to earth to become the redeemer for all mankind who would accept Him.

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:6-11 (NIV)

Christmas Day is the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to fully receive His free gift of salvation.  If you are unsure of whether or not you have accepted His free gift, visit our web site where you can pray through the steps of salvation at http://www.pwoc.org/Resources/Resources_Downloads/StepsToPeace.pdf

Jesus is our everything, He is our all in all.  His birth announced to the world, that His kingdom has come and that His throne will last forever and ever.

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.” Ps. 45:6 (NIV)

May your Christmas day be filled with the fullness of the beauty of His plan for you, His beloved.

Brenda Marlin, PWOCI President

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God is Always on the Move

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, President's Pen
Sep 162009

I think God had Henry Blackaby and Claude King write Experiencing God just for me. Well, maybe not only for me. This classic study has helped many Christians see where God is at work and join Him in it.

Don’t you love asking God to show you where He is at work? If you do, you’ve discovered what I’ve learned. Joining God in what He is doing is necessary if we want to see God-sized results.

God is always on the move. He’s not into maintenance. He doesn’t tolerate status quo. He’s always about doing a new thing. God has a progressive work to do, not only in you, but through you. He wants to use you to make a difference in “your neck of the woods.” He wants to flow through you to change your family, community, country and ultimately, the world.

But moving forward with God’s agenda can be challenging. We will likely meet obstacles designed to discourage us and deter us from obeying. And we might come face to face with what Blackaby refers to as a “crisis of belief.” Because, in the end, what we decide to do reveals what we really believe about Him. Do we trust His direction or not? Personally, I’ve found that the cost of not following Him is much greater than choosing His way from the very start.

God delights when we step out in faith. He is faithful to provide the strength and grace necessary. It’s our step of faith that allows God to do the next great thing He has for our lives and ministry.

So I ask you, do you want to grow in sweet fellowship with Him? Do you desire for Him to do His greatest work in your current season? Do you want more than anything to join Him in what He is doing?

I believe you do. So, I’m praying some God-sized prayers for you. I’ve listed a few Scripture texts below that you might also want to pray.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5-6 (NIV)

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Prov. 29:25

“…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:9-10 (NIV)

Always in Prayer,

Brenda Marlin
President, PWOC International

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Welcome PWOCI Bloggers

News & Announcements, President's Pen
May 112009

brendamarlin_apr09_webWelcome PWOCI Bloggers!

We are so excited to bring this new communications tool directly to you.  This is another one of our new additions to this ministry.  We want to be able to minister to you through the PWOCI blog.  You will find a variety of blog writers, which will address need-to-know information at various levels of the ministry, such as the international board, chaplains, regional boards, etc.  This will give you the chance to get to know us from a different perspective, we are looking forward to hearing back from you as well.  May the Lord meet all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

In His Amazing Love,  Brenda

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