A Term Well Remebered

regional review
Nov 242011

Submitted by Diane Hall, Southeast President, 2008-2011

After two terms as the president of the Southeast Region of PWOC, I find myself stepping aside to allow new leadership to begin their term of service.  For me change is a time to process feeling and ideas.  This particular change has once again initiated personal reflection on Christian leadership, both formal and informal.

My previous role is a formal position of leadership that holds a title and public responsibility.  This role calls the leaders to cast vision, guide and encourage while they serve as Christ did and seek Christ for guidance.  This role requires enormous wisdom and energy.   As sisters in Christ, we need to pray for and encourage our new SE Region leaders:  Stacie Dorris, DeBorah Tunnage and Sarah Rufenacht.

The word “leadership” often implies an official position but it is in fact a calling to all Christians, even those who are not in formal positions of leadership. Christ commanded us to serve one another and to love our neighbors as ourselves. As we serve and love we become influencers, those who make a difference and are agents of change in our culture and in individuals lives.  We each have a calling from God and with our spiritual gifting, skills and talents we are empowered to walk in obedience.  These traits are the tools you can use to lead in your home, neighborhood, schools, workplaces, PWOC, nation and maybe even in foreign lands.

You may or may not be called to formal positions of leadership, but you are definitely called to lead!  You are a leader when you model Christ and build for eternity with others.

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Southeast Region Update

regional review
Oct 252011

The Southeast has the best Administrative Coordinators!  With their help, the Southeast region has 100% accountability of their quarterly reports.  This is not just collecting numbers to collect numbers, but there are benefits at every level of PWOC.

PWOC International

  • Helps the PWOCI Chaplain fight for funds to support PWOC
  • Qualifies the need for new chapels and chapel related buildings
  • Quantifies the size of each region
  • Identifies trends in attendance
  • Tracks child care/children’s ministry

Regional

  • Allows a regular time to touch base, admin to admin
  • Identifies trends in attendance
  • Provides visibility of where to best apply resources and assistance

Local

  • Allows a regular time to touch base, to include voicing concerns to the Regional level
  • Identifies trends in attendance

As you can see, these quarterly reports are very important for the vitality of the PWOC ministry!

 

Submitted by Sarah Rufenacht, PWOC SE Administrative Coordinator

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A Theology of Ministry to Women

Leadership Development, regional review
Mar 222011

Submitted by: Brenda Pace, SE Region Titus II

A Theology of Ministry to Women

A valid theology for women’s ministry must be grounded in the Bible.  You only have to look at Jesus attitude and actions toward women to find such grounds. Jesus demonstrated his esteem of women by relating to them as persons, shattering cultural and religious barriers in the process. He openly socialized with women without a hint of concern for his reputation. He allowed women to serve him and honored them with a principal role in proclaiming his resurrection from the dead. In his interaction with women, Jesus elevated them to their God-intended role, not only by ministering to them, but also by including them in His ministry.

 

To Serve and Proclaim

The New Testament examples of women playing significant roles in Christ’s ministry at a time when it was culturally unacceptable, included the women mentioned in Luke 8:1-3 who provided financial support for Jesus ministry. In Luke 10:38-42, Mary is applauded for listening to Jesus above helping her sister with household responsibilities. The Samaritan woman in John chapter 4 is described as the first evangelist among those who were not disciples. Women were the first at the tomb following Jesus resurrection, and as commanded by Christ, they were the first to proclaim the good news of his resurrection to the male disciples.

Women were recipients of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and received gifts to be used in the church. Priscilla is said to have exercised a teaching gift (Acts 18:26) and Paul identifies and salutes Phoebe and Junia (Romans 16:3-5).  These are just a few examples that demonstrate the important role women played in the Body of Christ! Women continue to be important to the Body of Christ and the mission of His Church.

 

Biblical Mandates for Women

Titus 2:3-5 presents a Biblical mandate for women to minister to other women.  Protestant Women of the Chapel is a ministry that excels in this mandate!  In an ever-changing culture, women need to know they are safe and valued in their unchanging identity in Christ.

Most importantly, women are included in the mandate of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Women must recognize they are critical to God’s mission here on earth. We are to proclaim the Gospel to the world and make disciples.

 

So What?

With such examples and mandates from Scripture we must be sure the ministry of PWOC rises above shallow offerings that do not challenge women to radical discipleship. In an ever-changing culture, we must purpose to convey the value Christ placed upon women and communicate their unchanging identity in Christ. What a privilege!

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The SouthEast Regional update is posted on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Please submit comments or questions to southeastpresident@pwoc.org

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The Free Gift of God is Eternal Life

regional review, Seasonal teaching
Dec 212010

Submitted by Diane Hall- Southeast Region President

Each person is in a position of leadership.  Some in a formal position within PWOC, others as parents and all believers are as witnesses for Christ.  How do you view those you have influence over?  God showed me His view of them through my Regional PWOC board.

In January of 2010 I was hosting the first board meeting for our region.  I am not creative.  Nevertheless, I needed to create a warm atmosphere in the meeting room to set the tone for the next two years.  Since I lacked direction, I headed out to one of our many craft stores for a bit of inspiration.

I aimlessly walked up and down each aisle, praying that God would supernaturally make something jump off the shelves.  Nothing jumped and nothing was in my cart as I came around to last two rows.  The feeling of uncertainty was overwhelming!

There on the bottom shelf of the last row were gift boxes.  A white box made of Paper Mache jumped at me.  I thought, “A HA!  The women on my board are a gift from God.”  I collected the box, a roll of black ribbon and assorted black metal letters to represent each board member.

God showed me that each board member was a gift from Him to me.  Although I didn’t know some the women, He had chosen each of them for His purposes and that I was to rejoice because, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)   During the meeting I explained the box and handed out each woman’s initial.  I left the lid partly open and placed a cross inside the box.  This represented that salvation in Christ is the greatest gift that we can offer to the women of our region.

God continues to bless me with the gift of the SE Region Board and our mission is to make the gift of Christ available to the women we serve!

Rom 6:23 …but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Conference Perspective

Real life stories, regional review
Nov 252010

Diane Hall- Southeast Region President

I was blessed to attend the 2010 PWOC International Fall Conference and listen to the remarkable teaching of Priscilla Shirer.  She spoke of who God is and pointed out that we have a God who has an omniscient presence in our lives. But I took pause when she added that He wants us to witness His manifest, or obvious, presence in our lives.  She explained that there are seasons, times, and events when we are in the presence of God but we miss it.  Biblical examples were Gen 28:16, Luke 24:13-35 and John 20:14.  This challenged me to reflect on His presence, on where I look to see it and if I have I missed it.

A few summers ago our family vacationed at the beach.  I was rose early one morning to meet with God on the shore.  As I strolled along the water’s edge and looked at the sand, I asked God to show me something incredible.  I progressed very slowly, looking for a magnificent shell or any other thing of beauty or significance.  But sadly, the feeling of disappoint with God’s lack of response began to set in and doubt began to prevail.

A number of steps later I heard God’s gentle voice say, “Look up.”  As my head lifted, I gazed at the manifest presence of God at work to light the world!  The sun was just above the horizon, peeking through clouds of billowy white.  The sky was painted in a full spectrum of reds and yellows on a backdrop of a new day’s promise.  God answered my request and was showing me something incredible!

That day I realized that I often focus on the path in front of me for a glimpse of God’s manifest presence.  But His vivid illustration showed me that I must keep my eyes looking upward so He can reveal Himself to me.  His presence is obvious and easily recognized, if we are looking to Him.  He is something incredible!

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Another day on the road for PWOC

Bits & Pieces
Jun 252009

Tracy Hathaway, PWOCI Web ManagerThis has been a busy season for me. My various roles in PWOC have meant a lot of traveling, some by air but most by car. Today is another day on the road as I prepare for the Southeast Region Leadership Weekend at Fort Benning, GA. It will be a blessed time of fellowship and learning.

The beginning of my day, however, suggested something else altogether. As I prepared to take my bags out to the van, I realized that I must have locked my keys in the car the day before. This would not be the first time, of course, so I quickly retrieved my hide-a-key from the secret inside pocket of my purse. Crisis averted. That is until I got out to the car only to find that I had not just left my keys in the car, but in the ignition…in the ‘On’ position…with the satellite radio on…until it drained my battery! ugh.

I must confess, that a dead battery is also nothing new for me. Sad, but true. Therefore, I have my very own set of jumper cables AND I know how to use them! Go Army Wife!

So as I’m well into my 6+ hour drive, I’m contemplating how my life as a believer is different than others and how I allow God’s light to shine through me. The morning’s events prove that we are not immune to the challenges of daily life and as a military spouse, don’t these challenges always happen when our spouse is away?

So what makes a believer different? How does the Light of Jesus shine through me?

It’s how we handle and react to the challenges of daily life that make a difference. Rather than throwing a temper tantrum because my plans were being threatened, I lifted praise to my amazing Provider who always knows what I need. I had the key, which I acquired through another opportunity for praise. I had the cables, which I knew how to use because of yet another opportunity for praise. I had the time because by some miracle (!) I was actually 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

Coincidence? I don’t believe in those. I firmly believe that my Redeemer is surprised by nothing and prepared for everything! Through Him, I can relax and enjoy the Light of His presence and provision.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

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