“Come, Now is the Time… to Worship, to Witness, to Serve” – Women’s Ministries Convention June 16, 2007

We worshiped together, witnessed God’s provision through hearing updates and reports, and heard a call to serve through future projects and through prayer

Prayer: I invite you to visualize these “photographs” of prayer times we experienced.

Photograph #1: Marilyn Erickson is standing at the podium. She’s an urban California pastor’s wife, formerly ministering in Africa, rural North Dakota, in synod leadership in Minnesota, and as an oncology nurse, so she has wisdom in many areas. She quietly tells you that those who serve Jesus Christ, particularly in ministry, are under attack, and need our prayers.

She leads us, and we pray in groups for ministry effectiveness. We pour out our hearts for pastors and their families in church planting and re-start ministries, for the Youth Convention, for VBS, for our own home churches. We learn more as Marilyn shares, then pray earnestly again for safety and protection for our missionaries overseas, for those traveling, and receiving people. We listen, and bow as we ask for protection for families, that ministry may not be hindered because of illness or heat; asking for special protection for babies. Lastly we intercede for cultural adaptation. We pray for God’s help in language learning, both foreign languages overseas, and community “language” that pastors need in North America; for effective outreach; that missionary’s kids and pastors’ kids alike would adjust well, far from family, grandparents and friends. We end, knowing God is at work.

Photograph #2: Picture Linda Low, a teacher, and young widow from Malta, Montana, who has felt led by God to spend the next part of her life in Chad, Africa, teaching the Venberg children so that their parents, Rachel and Dan, can concentrate more fully on the ministry God has called them to. Listen to Linda share her story, and then watch the embrace of Ruth Vallevik, a widow herself, along with Janet Spencer, as they bow in prayer with their arms wrapped around Linda.

Photograph #3: See the spark and passion of Heather Olson, mom to four young girls, as she tells of their family’s mission of church planting in Wesley Chapel, Florida. Share the excitement as she reveals that her greatest joy was to see, among other new believers, her own parents become Christians this past year! Watch, as Ruth and Janet embrace her with the love of Christ through prayer.

Photograph #4: Watch as time-lapse photography captures a whole line of women standing, waiting at the front of the auditorium at the close of Rhea Briscoe’s powerful message, and moving, one by one to share their concerns with her. See her take their hands tenderly in hers, even into the lunch break, as she earnestly prays at length for each of these dear women.

“It didn’t even seem like a business meeting!” That was one person’s quote, and that sentiment was shared by several. Introductions of the national team members put faces on the leadership of WMCLB for those who hadn’t attended before. PowerPoint slides enabled us to see projects completed through our faithful giving last year, and the projects, through God’s grace, we’ll complete next year. Janet Spencer was re-elected as Women’s Ministries Chairman. Director Ruth Vallevik challenged us to set aside February 2008 as a month of special emphasis in our churches to give to WMCLB. Our goal for 2007-08 is a budget of $48,300. We are in this mission together!

Rhea Briscoe showed us Jesus. The keynote speaker, mother of seven, wife of Pastor Dave Briscoe, and daughter-in-law of Pastor Stuart and Jill Briscoe, opened the scriptures to us, helping us to view familiar scenes in new light, as if we were there. Baring her own soul, her words revealed God’s heart for us, as well as challenging us. Are we as desperate for Jesus as the woman who touched Jesus was? Do we truly believe that nothing is impossible for Him? Do we see ourselves and those around us as He does – precious and loved?

Afternoon workshops inspired and informed. From “Time to Reach Across the Cultures” by Sue Olson, former missionary to Japan, now working with Rock of Ages Japanese ministry in Seattle, Washington, to Lillian Foss, professional counselor sharing insights on taking “Time to Slow Down and Listen,” eight presenters from coast to coast taught and blessed us.

Why go to a convention? It’s a time to be refreshed and revitalized as God speaks personally and corporately to us. It’s a time to form and renew relationships in the family of God. Come join us next June!

Listen and Follow…

Rhoda Norheim Tuit calmed our turbulent spirits with her soothing music which floated from the polished ebony grand piano on the raised sanctuary platform at Bethel, Fergus Falls, Minnesota. “Listen: God’s still voice wants to be heard by all.”

Interspersed with her music, Rhoda, a college music teacher, instructed us with what seemed to be parables in music. Among many other things, she told us about the “keynote” or “pedal point,” a bass note played again and again during a piece, providing a basis or foundation for the theme. At times the pedal point is held, even though it may at times cause dissonance with the treble notes which are being played simultaneously. Similarly, Christ is our “keynote”, our foundation that holds firmly, even when dissonance or trouble occurs in our lives.

As her fingers rippled over the keys and the chords poured from her soul into our ears, we were refreshed, and reminded to listen to God, and to follow His leading in our lives.

Speaker notes:
Rhoda Tuit was born and raised in Pasadena, CA. Being the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. R. Norheim, music has been an integral part of her life. She attended Hillcrest Academy from 1960 to 1964, studying piano with Leona Erickson and singing in the choir under C.F. Erickson.

After attending Fullerton College Rhoda received her B.A. in Music from San Diego State University. She earned her Masters of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California. Rhoda has taught piano at the college level for 35 years, the last 25 at Santa Monica College.

She lives in Santa Monica, CA. Special interests include gardening, Spanish, baseball and two grandchildren, ages eight and six. Rhoda is grateful for God’s very special gift of music and feels that teaching music in public education is a ministry. She is especially happy when it can be used directly to glorify God at times like this convention.

New Director of Women’s Ministries commissioned

Ruth Vallevik knelt in prayer during her commissioning by CLB President Joel Egge and then addressed the convention, “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.” Speaking about the early death of her husband last June, Ruth shared, “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.” Her moving response can be read in its entirety below.