 In our "new normal" through this year, there seems to be a shortage of hope and hopeful stories in our world. We are here to tell you, not so! The truth is, there are plenty of inspiring and hopeful stories. We want to share a few with you to remind you that Jesus is our true hope and World Changer! To weary leaders, pastors, and clergy, We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 To new ministers and those sensing a call, We pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, Ephesians 1:18 To those who need their faith and hope renewed, For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25. We are celebrating Christ and the hope of His glory during the Advent season and Christ's Birthday Observance. Please, share with a friend and unite with us in celebrating this hope through this virtual event. You will enjoy worship, the Word, stories of hope, encouragement, and much more. We invite all churches, women's ministries, leaders, brothers, and sisters to unite together through one theme, hope, and unity in a world feeling hopeless and divided. All of this hope is free. You can participate on our Facebook page or through our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/ChristianWomenConnectionAnderson (please subscribe to our YouTube page and click the notification bell to be notified when we start this live event and post videos.) Mark your calendars! Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 10 AM PST - 12 NOON CST - 1 PM EST Online with Facebook Live and YouTube 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. Isaiah 9:6 NIV   Christian Women Connection has lost a council member, sister, and friend. It is with regret that we let you know the passing of our Sister Mary Terry, Western Tennessee State President, Friday, October 2. Services are Saturday, October 10. Condolences may be sent to:
The Family of Mary Terry 3388 Rangeline Road Memphis, TN 38127 ~2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” ~Isaiah 41: 10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~Psalm 119: 50 “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” "How God can take the little things that we do, and turn them around and save a life."  "A friend of mine who moved to California to be with her children when her husband passed away has always supported the mission projects in our church. We keep in touch, so I sent her one of the dolls our missionary group was making. We call them "Prayer Pal" dolls because you give them a name, they have a scripture and a suggested prayer on cards around their wrist. Every time you see the doll, you are reminded to pray. She in turn is very kind and is a witness to others about her relationship with Christ. While talking with a group in the assisted living apartments where she lives now, she pulled out the doll and explained what it had done for her in reminding her to take the time to talk with the Lord. After this conversation, a gentleman named Malcolm share with her how he had not been praying, and that he was not sure that God really cared about him anymore, and that prayer really does not work. Later, he decided he would take one of the dolls just to help the project the missionary groups were working on. By the way, the dolls were only $5.00. I received a check in the amount of $45.00! I called Malcolm to thank him for his generous gift, and we talked a lot about how God can transform our lives, and give us peace in all circumstances. According to my friend, Malcolm began to change. He was happy, smiling, and thanking God for a lot of things. He told her that one day he looked at the doll, and decided to try it, so he prayed. He was so thankful because he was now talking to God every day and felt so much better. Malcolm called me again and wanted four more dolls for his family. He sent me $125.00! His life had turned around! It was about three weeks after Malcolm received the dolls that he passed away. I sat down with the missionary group and we talked about how our groups at around a table, doing all the small things of putting a little yard doll together, and how God can take the "little" things that we do, and turn them around and save a life. So, don't ever stop, don't ever forget that anything we do for our Savior is a blessing. Nothing is too little in God's hands!" - Gerry Conner - Women's Ministry Representative. Gerry and this group of wonderful ladies created these dolls for individuals, women's ministries, churches, and more. If you would like to support their ministry or order some Prayer Pal dolls, please contact Gerry Conner at gerryozment@verizon.net. Funds are used to create the dolls and their other mission projects. They are willing to share how they make the dolls as well. Let's encourage their ministry! Contact them with encouragement and share their ministry with others! Highland Park Church of God in Gloucester City, New Jersey Pastor Debra Conner WCG/CWC Women's Ministry and Prayer Pal Dolls - Gerry Conner Address: 111 Baynes Ave, Gloucester City, NJ 08030 Phone: (856) 456-3364 Website: https://highlandparkcog.org 
 We are in need of reusable masks! The call for masks went out August 11, 2020 and it continues to be shared across our Movement. We want to thank those who have shared and committed to make or purchase masks already. This is a great opportunity for anyone to participate and partner with us. Can you help? This post has been shared over 100 times. Could you also share with your CWC members, organizations, Facebook friends, pages, and groups? When the goal for the Arizona Reservations are met and we exceed with an overflow of masks, we can also send them to other communities in need of PPE. That is our hope because we know God can supply needs through the hands and hearts of amazing people like you! We've heard that if you sew fast enough...it counts as aerobics. Church of God Ministries provides more details below needs and where to mail the masks. ------------------------ Reverend Maureen Woodman (First Chief of the American Indian Council for the Church of God) is asking for help with reusable masks for the reservation in Arizona. Reservations have been hit hard with COVID-19 and resources like PPE are not available. They are requesting 200 kid-sized masks and 300 adult-sized masks to be used in their community. Church of God Ministries and Christian Women Connection are excited to partner together to help supply masks for this under-resourced community. If you have sewing skills and want to make masks, send them to: Church of God Ministries 2902 Enterprise Drive Anderson, IN 46013 If sewing isn't your thing, you are welcome to purchase masks online and have them shipped to the same address. We will collect masks until the end of August and ship them out the first week of September. If we receive more masks than were requested, we will look for other communities in need to resource. CURRENT UPDATE!   We are celebrating with Kentucky Christian Women Connection on their 2020 Young Ambassador, Olivia Parsons. She shares her beautiful story below. "Hey, my name is Olivia Parsons and I am the 2020 Young Ambassador! I attend Grandview Church of God in Ashland where my dad is the pastor. I am 17 years old and am a Senior this year at Boyd County High School...that’s kind of crazy to write out! On top of being involved in church, I play soccer and basketball, love anything outdoors, and have a huge heart for mission work. I was supposed to be serving in Ecuador this summer, but that trip was sadly canceled due to the current pandemic. After high school, I hope to major in Education and minor in Spanish where I will use these skills to help English Second Language Learners. Growing up in the church has allowed me to have so many great women to look up to, but the thing I love most about CWC is that I have gotten to expand that boundary. Because I have met so many great women through this program, I pray that I can help lead more my age to join, too. I think one thing that broadens the generational gap is technology. If my generation could learn to put down our phones and listen, and the older generation could pick up their phones to intentionally connect, I think we would see exponential growth. The older ladies in my church are some of the most amazing women I know. Their wisdom, encouragement, and example make me a better Christian. I hope to be an example to my generation on how we can put down the phone a little more because when we do, we become better people, servants, and Christians. As in everything else I do, I hope to fill this role with love, passion, empathy, an open mind, and most importantly an open heart. I value every relationship I have gained through CWC and am so very excited and grateful for the opportunity to reach out more."   Christian Women Connection (CWC) believes that we are a place for every woman where every woman takes her place. We stand against the sin of racism and injustice, especially against black lives. As the body of Christ, we seek to live and promote the prayer that Christ prayed, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:21 We desire to not only walk with women of all races, ethnicities, and nationalities but also to equip, encourage, and empower them. We seek to use our women’s ministry arm to embrace women to share in the beautiful tapestry of diversity. Listen, Can You Hear? My Dear Sisters, Over the last few days, I have been privileged to help plan my son’s wedding, which has allowed me moments of distraction and hours of joy. Yet, no matter how hard I have tried, I don’t have the right or the luxury to remain silent. I have the privilege of raising two incredibly strong, loving, intelligent, and gifted African American young men; Markus and Jamal deserve to have a future and a long life. They deserve to come home every evening, and their soon-to-be bride, mother, family, and friends should not worry about their safety. Women of Christian Women Connection and the tribe I love, The Church of God, please hear a mother, a sister, a friend cry for help! Listen. Can you hear the strained voice cry out, “I can’t breathe”? Listen. Can you hear the cries and tears of heartbroken family and friends? Listen. Can you hear the unrest and the shouts in our cities? Listen. Can you hear? It’s all I hear. With every breath I take, I hear George Floyd. When I’m with my family, I hear the cries of his family. When I watch the news, I hear the anger and the frustration reach a boiling point. I don’t have words to alleviate the great pain, and I don’t have a quick-fix solution. Most of all, I don’t have the privilege of remaining silent. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance...will arise from another place...And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). My sisters in Christ, hear my heart. I need you. The church needs you. We have been called for such as times as this. Let us honor our calling and do the work. The events of these past few weeks remind us that there is much work to be done in our families, in our churches, our communities, and our nation. Listen. Hear the pain. Let your heart be broken. Shed tears. And then, let us get to work. Rise up women of God and confront, repent of, and dismantle the sin of racism! Rise up women of God and lead in the way of love! Rise up women of God and teach our children a better way! Rise up women of God and be agents of reconciliation and heralds of hope! Rise up for we have all been called “for such a time as this.” Let's join together for such a time as this, to be in unity and reconciliation.  Rev. Dr. Arnetta McNeese Bailey May 30, 2020
We want to help connect you to instructional videos, webinars, resources,
and tools to help you engage, equip, encourage, and empower you as you lead your CWC women.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support of the work being done here on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Currently, the numbers of positive cases on the reservation are slowly climbing. The tribal leadership had imposed restrictions that are assisting in slowing the spread, but as of June 9th, we have 39 cases in Oglala Lakota County and Native Americans make up 11% of all the cases in the state of South Dakota. There are cases in Wounded Knee, but so far no cases yet here in Allen. As most of us know by now, people with compromised health are at greater risk of dying from this virus, and much of our Native American community suffers from diabetes, COPD, heart issues, and more that place them in that high-risk category. We have been asked by some community leaders to speak into their discussions on ways to protect and support the Allen community, and one of their goals is to have face masks for the entire community. Our community here consists of around 600 children and around 400 adults. Some individuals and churches have responded to our request for partners in meeting this need and we are so grateful. If any of our other churches or CWC organizations would like to assist in this particular need here on the Pine Ridge Reservation, you would be a great blessing to us! - Tim & Kim Wardell, Missionaries to Native Americans Masks can be mailed to us through USPS: Pass Creek Church PO Box 600 Allen, SD 57714 Or using FedEx or UPS: Pass Creek Church 20910 B.I.A. Road 22 Allen, SD 57714 If you don't produce masks, you can also send fabric.  By Don & Caroline Armstrong, Global Strategy Regional Coordinators for Asia and the Pacific
Stephen Lewis GLOBAL STRATEGY, NEWS April 20, 2020 COVID-19 At first glance, it looks like most of us around the globe are in the same boat as we learn to adapt to the many changes COVID-19 has ushered in. We, like you, are dealing with face masks, disrupted schedules, and concerns about the coming months. But our experiences with the virus have one more component. We are working with missionaries and national leaders who are surrounded by people who are literally starving. Our pastors depend on offerings to eat, but their churches are closed. The people in their congregations are not faring any better. For many around the globe, missing one day of work means not eating that day. And as the days turn into weeks, the situation gets dire. As we talk to our national leaders and pastors, we are so proud of their desire to help their people, even when they themselves are struggling. We are doing our best to help them respond to their needs. We are working with the Church of God Disaster and Hunger Relief Committee and our missionaries and national leaders, trying to determine the cost of what is needed and how best to get it distributed in lockdown situations. As you can guess, the demands on the Disaster and Hunger Relief Committee are overwhelming; we are talking about thousands and thousands of people in multiple countries. If you want to help our pastors and the families under their care who are literally starving, please consider donating to the Hunger Relief fund. This is urgent! To support the church around the globe struggling with hunger issues in the wake of the coronavirus, would you consider a gift to the Hunger Relief Fund? Click here to give.
Connection Newsletter Spring 2020 by Christian Women Connection
If you are not receiving our weekly, Friday Connection, this newsletter will give you unique highlights into our 2019-2020 ministry and missions.
Check out updates on: Christ's Birthday Observance | Missions & The Linen Chest | Our Women's Convention | Local & State Groups 
 My Dear Sisters, Over the last few days, I have been privileged to help plan my son’s wedding, which has allowed me moments of distraction and hours of joy. Yet, no matter how hard I have tried, I don’t have the right or the luxury to remain silent. I have the privilege of raising two incredibly strong, loving, intelligent, and gifted African American young men; Markus and Jamal deserve to have a future and a long life. They deserve to come home every evening, and their soon-to-be bride, mother, family, and friends should not worry about their safety. Women of Christian Women Connection and the tribe I love, The Church of God, please hear a mother, a sister, a friend cry for help! Listen. Can you hear the strained voice cry out, “I can’t breathe”? Listen. Can you hear the cries and tears of heartbroken family and friends? Listen. Can you hear the unrest and the shouts in our cities? Listen. Can you hear? It’s all I hear. With every breath I take, I hear George Floyd. When I’m with my family, I hear the cries of his family. When I watch the news, I hear the anger and the frustration reach a boiling point. I don’t have words to alleviate the great pain, and I don’t have a quick-fix solution. Most of all, I don’t have the privilege of remaining silent. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance...will arise from another place...And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). My sisters in Christ, hear my heart. I need you. The church needs you. We have been called for such as times as this. Let us honor our calling and do the work. The events of these past few weeks remind us that there is much work to be done in our families, in our churches, our communities, and our nation. Listen. Hear the pain. Let your heart be broken. Shed tears. And then, let us get to work. Rise up women of God and confront, repent of, and dismantle the sin of racism! Rise up women of God and lead in the way of love! Rise up women of God and teach our children a better way! Rise up women of God and be agents of reconciliation and heralds of hope! Rise up for we have all been called “for such a time as this.” "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 Christian Women Connection is joining in solidarity with many leaders, mayors and governors who are observing a Day of Lament on Monday, June 1. We are joining Church of God Ministries who are observing this as well. We will be closed, Monday, June 1 in order to be in one accord for many who will be seeking the Lord in prayer and supplication for our world in turmoil. Let's join together by allowing a moment for our broken and contrite hearts to bear witness of a nation in mourning. Let's join together for such a time as this, to be in unity and reconciliation.
Rev. Dr. Arnetta McNeese Bailey
 Check out Christ Center Church of God's local CWC group and a message from their local CWC President & National Board Member-at-Large, Rev. Elsa Johnson Bass. Greetings from Philadelphia! (The City of Sisterly Affection) Although the COVID-19 crisis has changed the way we live, it hasn't changed the way we love at the Christ Center Church of God. Since we started using Zoom, one of our younger sisters, Shawntae Bolger, was concerned that the older ladies couldn't participate in our services or CWC meetings without the needed technology. Several didn't even have the ability to dial long distance. She devised a way to call and merge them audibly through her Zoom app. They have been thrilled to join in as we share prayer concerns, coping skills, and our latest recipes. We are also planning a virtual Women's Day Weekend June 6-7 that will include a self-care virtual Spa Day and a Mask Makeover Craft session. Our Sunday theme will be "Equipped For This!" celebrating the many ways the Word of God equips us to handle the unexpected things in life. We continue to pray that the Body of Christ will be salt and light and glorify God in these unprecedented times. Rev. Elsa Johnson Bass CWC National Board Member At Large Christian Women Connection LOCAL Groups Christ's Birthday Observance - CBO  Social distancing has challenged how we connect with other people. Ariana Moffitt, media director at East Side Church of God in Anderson, Indiana shares with our CWC ladies. She has a wealth of information about technology that can help them to stay connected, even when they are forced to be separate during COVID-19, illness, or other circumstances. Please feel free to comment below.
We, the State Executive Board here in Virginia, are like jockeys. We gallop along; then, our horses may have a mishap, and we fall off. However, we do not stay down. Once we regroup and get back in the saddle, we are just as resilient and vibrant as before the fall. Yes, we were a little disheartened when we had to postpone our convention, but we didn’t allow our emotions to discourage us to the point of becoming paralyzed. We began to talk and think about what the best time would be for us to reschedule. After discussion, we decided to have it in the fall, and we contacted our speaker and worship team with two different dates. We have rescheduled our State Convention for November 6-7, 2020.
I, State President, have been using conference calls and a lot of emails to stay in contact with the sisters across the state. This week we will begin to use ZOOM, so we all can see one another. It has been a learning curve for all of us, especially for the seasoned saints. However, with the assistance of our kids and grands, it is coming together. We are still planning our other yearly activities, such as Family Camp. I believe, and I am sure others feel the same way that no matter what happens, we can trust in the Lord, and we can say, “It is well with our souls.” I encourage all to never give up doing Kingdom work no matter what comes our way. As Psalm 18:2 says, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” He is our protector and guide, and He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We can rest in His arms in times such as this season. As Daniel and the Hebrew boys said, “Even if God doesn’t deliver us, we know that He is able.” So let’s keep our faith in Him and continue to move forward. I give thanks to God for the sisters He has placed in my life for this season. Also, I thank Rev. Dr. Arnetta McNeese Bailey and the sisters across the country for your love and prayers. by: Dr. Velma L. Green - CWC VA State President  Steven and Peggy work alongside the Church of God in Sri Lanka, partnering to teach and train Sri Lankan pastors and leaders. Together with Sri Lankan church leaders, their goal is to connect pastors across the nation and develop a strong, self-sustaining, and multiplying church. The currently serve as transitional members of the national leadership team.  Kayla Robinson Harden is the Ministry Coordinator of Programming at Christian Women Connection. Kayla interviews mom of two, wife, and Holy Yoga instructor, Audrey Weiger. Audrey and her husband Josh were former members of the 3-Worlds Team in Europe and the Middle East through Global Strategy. You'll find yourself (as you stare at the screen) easily relaxing your muscles in this special video. |
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