The 2012 W.I.L.D. Trainer Application is available for download in the Training section of pwoc.org!Application submission deadline is NLT January 1, 2012!For questions, contact the Leadership Development team at LeadershipDevelopment@pwoc.org.
Dec 212011
Nov 102011
I miss owning my own home. I live in a rental here in Belgium—it is a lovely little house, but it is not mine. Because we don’t own this house, we don’t invest in it like we did our home in Texas. I simply live differently because I know my time in Belgium is temporary.
I have watched with amazement over the past eighteen months as the young man down the road has built his home brick by brick. Every evening and every weekend, he labors to construct his forever home. His urgency has intensified recently because now his wife is pregnant. Now he is building his home in hopeful anticipation of this special arrival. I suspect his investment in his home far exceeds mine because he is preparing a permanent place to welcome, protect and provide for someone he loves.
What if we began to look at our earthly abode, not as a temporary rental, but as our eternal home? Our popular view of heaven often misses our eternal hope of resurrection and redemption. While it is true that when we are “absent from the body” we will be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), the present heaven itself is interim. The apostles focused on the gospel’s hope of life in its fullest when our resurrected bodies will enjoy eternity, not in the present heaven, but on the fully redeemed and restored earth—this earth restored and renewed (Romans 8: 11, 18-25). If “heaven” is defined as the dwelling place of God, then when Jesus returns to this earth, heaven and earth unite. Although this earth groans from the curse of fallen humanity (Genesis 3:17, Romans 8:20-22), it will one day be restored and renewed for us to enjoy as our eternal home.
Perhaps if I began to view my earthly abode as my eternal home instead of a temporary dwelling to be endured until I go “home,” I might be more apt to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. I might strive to do my part to reverse the curse. I would honor God’s creation and creatures as “good,” (Genesis 1). I would invest my time, energy and resources into maintaining and improving my eternal home. Other residents would be treated like family instead of strangers, looking forward to the day when we experience relationships without the stain of sin, selfishness and sorrow. Like my neighbor, I would live with a sense of urgency in preparation for a special arrival. For when the King comes, heaven and earth collide.
Welcome home!
Respectfully submitted October 7, 2011,
Mitzi Roberts,
Europe Region Training Coordinator
Jul 082011
Submitted by De’Etta Goecker, Asia Region President
Did you hear the excitement in America and Europe on June 26th?
One and a half years ago Asia Region was “stood up”. At W.I.L.D. 2011 we saw the dream of a “region” realized visually. EACH and EVERY Asian installation, with a PWOC, was represented at WILD. We were all in one room praising God TOGETHER, as a PWOC Region, for the first time – and it was good!
Ch. Pace has been a God-send for Asia Region. As he moves to his next assignment, his wise mentoring and encouragement - and the fun way in which he dispenses it – will be missed. Join me in praying for Ch. Pace’s PCS.
Feedback from training has been positive. Remember, this is only the start of training. We will be posting links to further training opportunities from PWOCI. Facebook network groups from Presidents, Spiritual Life VP and Program VPs exist for your benefit. Regionally, the President’s yahoo group established last year continues to provide regional networking. More regional yahoo groups are in the start up phase. If you have questions about these opportunities email AsiaPresident@pwoc.org.
In addition to training, each board was commissioned – set apart and sent out – as they begin their year of Kingdom service. As faithful knights, we will courageously follow the the heart of our King, fighting for His heart in enemy territory.
We believe there will be fruit for the kingdom from the spiritual work done at Asia W.I.L.D. 2011. Thanks for all the prayers said on our behalf. I would be remiss not to also thank our chaplains for providing funds for their ladies to travel to W.I.L.D. – 50% flew over an ocean to attend.
Calling all trainers!
The 2011 W.I.L.D. Trainer Application is available for download in the Training section of pwoc.org or grab it here!
Application submission deadline is NLT February 11, 2011!
For questions, contact the Leadership Development team at LeadershipDevelopment@pwoc.org.
Wow! I am so grateful for the amazing privilege of serving in the ministry of PWOCI for the 2010-2012 term. The Lord has been casting vision and laying ideas on my heart for several months now, and I am excited to see where this journey with Him will lead. Having just had the wonderful opportunity to serve on the previous PWOCI Leadership Development Team, one thing I know is that it definitely won’t be dull. During that term of service, the Lord certainly took us on a W.I.L.D. ride, and I have the distinct feeling that the ride isn’t over yet. I can almost hear the rollercoaster click, click, click, as we begin this new adventure with Him.
I attended my first PWOC Bible study at Mountain Home AFB, ID in 2002. As a young Christian, it was there that I began to grasp what it truly means to walk with Christ. My life was radically, and forever, changed. The effects of that change cascaded into my family, and impacted the lives of my husband and sons. Speaking of my husband and sons…I have been blessed with a wonderful family. I am married to my best friend and the love of my life, Shane. We have two amazing sons, Brandon (14 yrs) and Matthew (10 yrs). Our family loves the outdoors and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. Our most recent favorite activity is hiking in the beautiful areas of Colorado. In addition to spending time with my family, I have a passion for God’s Word and I love teaching.
Leadership development is a key activity for PWOC. With the nature of our ministry in the military there is a steady state of transition, and raising up leaders becomes necessary for consistency at our local installations. We need leaders – for today and tomorrow. Consequently, we need to develop strategies to consistently and effectively equip and encourage those leaders. My heart’s desire is to ensure we provide training and resources that will continue to equip women, in both hearts and hands, for their service in leadership. Will you join me in praying that God will give us His strategy for the future of this leadership training within PWOCI?
Much Love to All,
Tracie Warren, 2nd VP Leadership Development
Aug 172010
Submitted by Kristin Hathaway, Central Region President
Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:7-8 (NLT)
When I interviewed for the position of Central Region president, I was asked who I could point to as a model of a good regional president. It was a question I had not anticipated, but I immediately thought of Ronda Sturgill, who was the West Region Coordinator several years ago. I wanted to emulate her because she was like Paul. Paul wrote lots of letters encouraging and instructing leaders in Christian living. Ronda made it a priority to contact the west region local leaders each month with a note of encouragement.
As a regional president, I have made a commitment to be intentional about communicating with the leaders in my region who serve at the local level. Intentional communication means providing timely information, as well as making myself available to answer questions or provide tools and training.
For those of you who serve locally on a board or a ministry team, or for those of you who are feeling God’s call to get more involved, remember that there are resources available to you. Your regional boards are in place to help you be successful as you minister to women on the local level.
Jesus Christ is the message we preach and it is our number one aim to lead women into a relationship with Him. Regional and International board members want women to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As we discover new ways to reach women with the message of Jesus, the bottom line is the same: Jesus is the answer! The ways we communicate his message may look different through the years, but Jesus stays the same.
I am so thankful for leaders like Ronda and Paul that I can emulate as I minister to the women in my region. I pray my light will shine brightly so that women will glorify my Father in Heaven!
Feb 012010
A few years back, while we were stationed in Europe, my husband ran a marathon in Venice (rough, huh?). His time was 3 hours and 19 minutes. Prior to that, he had run a marathon in Kansas City with a time of 3:31. Twelve minutes is a lot of time to shave off a race, even a marathon, so what made the difference? Well, in the second race he had a running partner. These two, similarly matched, trained together several times a week prior to the race – holding each other accountable to make their mileage goals, challenging each other to run faster, and building a solid friendship along the way.
The Christian life is like this. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says that two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. We are encouraged in God’s Word to think of our faith journey as a race, and this could include setting specific goals and surrounding ourselves with people who can help motivate, encourage and strengthen us (and this is one reason why church is important). How about you? Do you have a faith training partner, coach or mentor who will challenge you to meet your spiritual goals? Is there someone who comes to mind?
• I Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets a prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
• Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
• Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
