We are really excited to see how the plans for the WOW! Celebration Event are developing. The purpose the of WOW! Celebration Event is for Salvation Army women from the Western Territory to come together to celebrate our past, present and future.
Past
Celebrations of the past will include a salute to 100 Years of Home League. It will also salute one "honoree" from each division and command who has caught the vision of the WOW Initiative. (Twelve honorees will receive recognition of their efforts for promoting Christ through the Women's Ministries programs or efforts from October 2006 to March 2007.) The honoree may be a single person, a women's ministries group, or even a corps who reached out and won women and their families to the Kingdom of God, The Salvation Army, and for the corps. We will also have historical photos of Women of the West so that we can recognize the work of women officers and soldiers specifically in the west. There will be video taped interviews, silent films and photos depicting the story of Women Out West.
So, do you have a story that should be told? We need to hear it soon. If you are a soldier in the corps you report to your Corps officers. If you are a corps officer with stories, you report to the Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries, who will report to THQ. Or you can post a comment to the blog and we will figure it out!
Present
We will celebrate what God is doing now, yes NOW, in the live of women and in Women's Ministries. Do you have stories about what God is doing in your corps or life right now? I want to hear! Your story may appear in the blog or in the New Frontier. (Maybe even the War Cry!) We need stories and pictures for the WOW! Celebration Event!
Have you ever thought of doing a silent video? Well you should! Soon you will hear about the opportunity to tell the story of your WOW group in a short (2 to 3 minute) silent video. The best ones will be used at the WOW! Others could be posted on Youtube! WOW! Stories will tell about HOW God is moving in your group to reach new women, grow you as saints, or show how you are impacting your corps and community for Jesus sake.
Future
Through out WOW! there will be an opportunity to renew your commitment to God. We will lift up our prayers to God. (Remember the prayer vessels that are traveling over the territory? Those will be brought to WOW! and physically lifted up to God symbolizing our prayers. We will BOW before the Lord in worship.
Seek the Lord - NOW - with all your heart and soul - WOW - and build His Kingdom!
If you want to attend the WOW! Celebration Event (June 9, 2007) you must let your DWMS know today! Each division only has a limited number of seats and once those are spoken for that is it! The cost is $25. A ticket is required to enter the gates.
Right now there is an ART Contest where officers, soldiers and employees have been invited to submit art work that could be used in the program, or as a logo, for WOW! Ask your DWMS for details today!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
More from the General
Our General has sent a pastoral letter and his theme is victory. This portion spoke to me:
In Christ!
He has spoken to us about victory. In preparing yourself for Good Friday and Easter Day why not read again the early chapters of the Book of Revelation? Recently I revisited the seven short letters to the churches that are found in Revelation, chapters 2 and 3. Each letter has a powerful, warning message, but I urge you to search for the wonderful promises to those who are victorious for Christ.
Two churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia) receive warm commendation from the Lord, but five (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) do not. Two have victory, but five have known defeat.
The church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) faced persecution, slander, and poverty but they remained truly ‘rich’ as they lived victoriously in Christ despite everything. Jesus promised them ‘the crown of life’, the laurels of victory! That same crown can be yours, and mine too!
The church at Philadelphia (3:7-13) was affirmed by the Lord because they had kept his word and had not denied his name, even though they had ‘little strength’ to call their own (v. 8). Notice the promise in verse 12: the overcomer, the victor, will be made a ‘pillar in the temple of my God’. How we long to be victors in Christ! It can be done!
The church at Ephesus (2:1-7) had a liking for hard work and refused to tolerate false teaching, but they had forsaken their ‘first love’ and were now commanded to ‘do the things you did at first’ (v. 5). They are given a wonderful promise: ‘To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life’ (v.7). There is eternal life if we are victorious! It is offered to us all!
The church at Pergamum (2:12-17) had stood firm in persecution, but had allowed false teaching to infiltrate their ranks. Again, the Lord holds out a gracious promise of ‘manna’ (v.17) to believers who prove to be overcomers. He feeds those who find victory in him! You can enjoy this divine provision for the feeding of your soul!
The church in Thyatira (2:18-29) had made progress in many ways (v.19), but had permitted sexual immorality to creep into the membership (v.20). However, to those who remained victorious the Lord would give ‘authority over the nations’ (v.26) and ‘the morning star’ (v.28)! Jesus himself is ‘the bright Morning Star’ (22:16)! He gives us himself, to indwell us and keep us victorious! Let us open our hearts afresh to him!
The church at Sardis (3:1-6) was reported to be alive and well but was in fact dead (v.1). Jesus called upon them to repent. This time the Lord’s promise for the victorious ones is that they will be ‘dressed in white’ (v.5) and for the overcomer that the Lord ‘will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels’ (v.5). O, how we long for victory, in order to be claimed by Jesus as one of his very own!
Finally, the church at Laodicea (3:14-22) was ’neither cold nor hot’ (v.15). They lacked true passion. Without Spirit-filled passion there is no victory. Again the Lord is gracious and ready to forgive, for he promises to the victorious one ‘the right to sit with me on my throne’ (v.21). Imagine it! Imagine the honour of sitting beside Jesus in Glory! It is the destiny of those who know victory in Christ! It is our destiny!
I am praying that you and I will know victory in Jesus day by day, and that we will go on to claim the incomparable rewards for all who are true to him .
The Lord bless you and keep you.
In Christ!
Victory
In the General's letter to every Salvationist he writes:
Victory! Write it on our banners, get it on our knees - Victory!
Victory in Jesus.
The WOW Initiative is about Victory. Win One Woman, Win Our World. That is victory over the enemy in that every person won for Jesus is one less the enemy has. All Christians are expected to share the Gospel and praise God when we are the one's chosen to lead some one out of darkness in to light. How exciting it is when we lead someone from defeat into victory.
Have you won one for Jesus sake yet?
Get excited about Victory. Don't wallow in defeat - get on your knees and pray for victory!
I am writing to fellow Salvationists in the weeks leading to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the period often referred to (in English) as Lent. It is a time when we prepare to commemorate the self-giving of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. We want to arrive at Good Friday in a spiritual condition that allows us to obtain maximum benefit from everything that is remembered on that solemn day. It is the same for the celebrations of Easter Day.
Therefore, as the weeks now pass by, I invite all Salvationists to think of victory. Let us think together of all that has been won for us by Jesus. ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’ (1 Corinthians
Victory! Write it on our banners, get it on our knees - Victory!
Victory in Jesus.
The WOW Initiative is about Victory. Win One Woman, Win Our World. That is victory over the enemy in that every person won for Jesus is one less the enemy has. All Christians are expected to share the Gospel and praise God when we are the one's chosen to lead some one out of darkness in to light. How exciting it is when we lead someone from defeat into victory.
Have you won one for Jesus sake yet?
Get excited about Victory. Don't wallow in defeat - get on your knees and pray for victory!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Living the Life of the Beloved
Last Friday all of the Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries, the Territorial Women's Ministries Leaders and Major Linda Madsen made a presentation about Women's Ministries to the cadets. It was a whole day seminar. In one day we tried to expose the cadets to the joys, potential, challenges and excitement of ministry to women. That was a lot to present and we all have a frame of reference. Can you imagine how it was to try to absorb information from four workshops, a luncheon, a keynote session and a concluding session?
I found a picture from the year my session, the Companions of Christ and the first years session of the Disciples of Jesus had our seminar. I am not sure why it is black and white, we did have color film in those days. (30 years ago) The picture is a group performing the song about a good cup of tea can always be found in the Home League. Well, maybe in England.
The thing I remembered most from our one day seminar is the notebook. I used it a lot in the beginning.
The DWMS joined Major Rose-Marie Leslie and me for a weekend seminar. We ended on Sunday morning in a time of worship. Anne Calvo led us as we used the book by Henri Nouen called The Life of The Beloved.
I will write more about the book in days ahead. One thing I wanted to say tonight is that it sent me back to the song book to find the words to Albert Osborne's song - In The Secret of Thy Presence. The beloved of God is loved just because. That is a place where I want to spend time because I don't have to strive for it or be worthy of it, I just have to go there.
The beloved want to share that place with others. Have you discovered the place?
Thursday, March 01, 2007
WOW! Cadets' Seminar
The Divisional Women's Ministries Secretaries are here at Crestmont and have worked very hard today as we set up and prepared for the Cadets' One Day Seminar.
In one day the cadets will learn every thing there is to know about Women's Ministries and ministry to women. Right?
We were able to join them for dinner. Dinner was a celebration that there are only 100 days until Commissioning. I should also use that as a count down for the WOW Event. (That would be 99 days until the WOW Event.) Are you ready to attend?
What to expect at the WOW Event:
In one day the cadets will learn every thing there is to know about Women's Ministries and ministry to women. Right?
We were able to join them for dinner. Dinner was a celebration that there are only 100 days until Commissioning. I should also use that as a count down for the WOW Event. (That would be 99 days until the WOW Event.) Are you ready to attend?
What to expect at the WOW Event:
- Connect with friends
- Celebrate God's goodness in our past, present and future
- Capture the joy of Winning Our World for Jesus
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