Submitted by Donna Castle, PWOCI Financial Liaison
Some of you may be asking, “What is PWOC Sunday?” During a specific weekend every September, local PWOCs are encouraged to work with their Chaplains to emphasize PWOC during all Protestant services on their military installation. PWOC women may volunteer to lead worship, sing with the choir, do a skit, act as ushers, do the Scripture readings, share testimonies of the impact of PWOC on their lives and families, hostess the fellowship time, etc. In other words, PWOC ladies may participate in the services in any way directed by the Chaplain.
Why? Because on this Sunday, the offerings received in all Protestant Army chapels is designated to go to Protestant Women of the Chapel International in support of the International and Regional levels of PWOC. When people see the transforming work of Jesus Christ through the ministry of PWOC, we believe that they will want to generously support PWOC with their finances as well as their prayers. The 2010 Army Chief of Chaplains PWOCI Designated Offering will be collected during the weekend of September 11 and 12, 2010. Other military chapel communities may also collect designated offerings for PWOCI.
How is PWOC funded? Let me count the ways:
- Funding for Local PWOCs varies from installation to installation and is ultimately decided by the Installation/Garrison Chaplain.
- PWOC International and Regional activities are funded by “sacred dollars” – that money which has been donated by chapel communities around the world through PWOCI-specific designated offerings. The annual Army-wide designated offering is the primary source of funding used to offset ministry operating costs such as expenses related to international and regional conferences, leadership training, Bible Study development, web site development, etc. From this designated offering, yearly regional grants are determined and distributed by the Director of Information, Resource, Management and Logistics (IRML).
- Additional sources of funding for the ministry are grants from the various services and conference fees.
- Donations from individuals and organizations are welcomed.
Currently, PWOC International operates in eight regions around the world: Alaska, Asia, Central, Europe, Northeast, Pacific, Southeast and West. PWOC reaches over 8,000 women on a weekly basis. There are active PWOCs on 152 military installations broken down as follows:
- Air Force bases: 64
- Army posts: 71
- Navy/Marine installations: 12
- Joint: 5
PWOC International’s ministry is expanding. We need your help.
- Pray for God to open the heavens and bring in the support for this essential ministry to so many women who are weary from the long years of deployment.
- Please get the word out about the designated offering received on September 11 and 12, 2010. Helpful documents including PWOC Sunday publicity bulletin inserts are available on the PWOC website under “Donation Information” located at the right side of the header (http://www.pwoc.org/DonationInfo.html).
- Get involved with your PWOC Chaplain and plan a PWOC Sunday at every Protestant chapel on your military installation.
If you have any further questions, please contact the PWOCI Financial Liaison at financial@pwoc.org. PWOCI is collecting testimonies so that we can tell the story to those who give how this ministry is helping women grow in the Lord. If you are interested in sharing your brief testimony, please send it to Testimony@pwoc.org.
The International Board is here to help you have a successful PWOC Sunday and a great PWOC year. Rich blessings to all!
