“Flourish!” was a Spiritual Feast 

Women at the June 14, 2008 WMCLB Convention were offered a feast: Feasting on the Word presented by Ruth Vallevik; Feasting on chicken croissants and crème Brulee; Feasting on the Dessert Buffet of “too many seminars to choose from” in the time allotted.

It was a feast – a spiritual feast! We began with music appetizers – the energetic leading of Aimee Nordlund at the piano, punctuated with the male voice of Ben Hanson and his djembe (African style) drum. Throughout the day we sang worshipful praises, revisited old favorites, learned a new “Hallelujah” with Aimee, and were ministered to by solos from Barbara Henry and Keiko Zeniya.

The feast continued as we “chewed” on the business of budgets and projects.

· What a tremendous praise it was to the faithfulness of our God and His people that the 2007-08 WMCLB budget was met and surpassed!

· We heard and saw, via Power Point, photos of the projects we completed, and new ones for 2008-09. (You can print those same images from our website www.WMCLB.com)

· We rejoiced at the news of the outpouring of churches that joined “A Cup of Blessing,” and collected $9,766.28 in spare change!

· We empathized with Rachel Venberg, who spoke directly to us, and with those who sent written greetings, realizing the blessing and the difficulty of ministering overseas.

· We interceded for our missionaries as we prayed in numerous small groups, led by Kristen Erickson.

· We were impressed at the professional quality of the “Glimpse Project” DVD produced by Micah Nordtvedt, as we watched missionaries in everyday situations and interviews.

· We were grateful that Micah produced a DVD for Women’s Ministries with the same finesse, including a short (under 3 minutes) high quality presentation of Women’s Ministries by Ruth Vallevik, and a well-edited set of video presentations of the Leadership Training Conferences that were held across the U.S. and Canada last year. We are thankful to Thrivent for financing these DVDs so every church can have one!

We were nourished by the main course of the day – a study of Psalm 1, by Ruth Vallevik, our Director of Women’s Ministries. Ruth painted a picture of a flourishing believer, expanding on the words of the Psalmist, and illustrated by photos of trees and plants.

Some of her thoughts: Recognize that there is peril to be shunned by a flourishing believer. The Word is a priority in the flourishing believer’s life, in attitude and action. Learn from the picture of a tree: in its position – planted by God, rooted in the Word; in its provision – watered by the Spirit; in its production – fruitful for the Kingdom; in its perennial growth – enduring all conditions; in its prosperity – from God’s viewpoint, healthy of soul, even if not in body; in its providential care – by God Himself. Trust the Gardener!

The afternoon brought a wonderful spiritual dessert buffet with eight seminars. Topics included Flourishing in the Workplace, Flourishing in foreign soil, Flourishing…alone, again; Winds of Change; The Care and Nurture of Seedlings; Still Fruitful – Still Growing; The Pruner’s Knife; and Growing in Ministry – for ministry wives only. There was opportunity for information, for growth, for challenge, for encouragement, and even for crying and praying together.

In the words of one woman: “It seemed to be a day of celebration for God's provision, as well as a day where the women were stirred with direction and hope whether it be through the goals accepted through the new projects, the call to prayer for our missionaries, Ruth's inspiring teaching on Psalm 1 or the challenges of the heart-felt seminars.”

We hope you plan to attend next year’s WMCLB Annual Convention, June 13, 2009!

Response at Installation Ceremony – Fergus Falls, June 06

My response to you – my dear sisters in Christ – is to thank you from my heart for the opportunity to serve the Lord as your Director of Women’s Ministries.

When Bruce left to be with the Lord last June, I wondered what I was to do in the years he may still grant to me. My life this far has been lived in ministry – growing up in a pastor’s home, serving as a teacher and parish worker in NJ, and then as wife of a pastor for 34 years.

The only thing I knew to do, through the fog of grief was to listen to His familiar voice and to carefully place my feet, one step at a time and one day at a time in the footprints He left for me to follow.

And this is where He has led.

My confidence as His child is that He has not led me where He will not enable me. His guidance comes packaged with His grace, and that is enough.

So I commit to you to be your servant and His in the ministry by, through, and to the women of the CLB, with which He has entrusted us.

Music has always seemed the voice of my soul. Shortly after I began my work, my friends from my new church home in Billings sang a song which brought me to tears (familiar territory) because it voiced the trust I have in the One who never abandons His own, no matter how stormy the seas or how dark the night. Here are the words, by Grace Hawthorne:

Ride the Morning Winds, music by Tom Fettke, c. 1980 

A frightening place, this world of ours, the frantic pace of changing powers,

Where no one plays familiar roles, but in these days one promise holds:

I can ride the morning winds and You are there.

I can sail the widest seas and You are there.

I can find the darkest night and You are there, Oh, Lord,

I can never be lost from You.

Decisions rise that must be made; I compromise so debts are paid.

It’s all too much, I couldn’t cope, but with Your touch I find new hope. (chor)

Please search me now and know my heart;

Then show me how to do my part, to walk the way You’d have me go,

And if I stray, Lord, still I know…

 I can ride the morning winds and You are there.

 I can sail the widest seas and You are there.

 I can find the darkest night and You are there, Oh, Lord,

 I can never be lost from You.

That same Lord is there beside you, as you listen and follow on your journey.

To Him be praise…always.