"Grace Unfolded"

A trio of Geraghty women unfolded the idea of God’s Grace in the cool June morning to a gathering at Tuscarora Inn. Like the layers of an onion, our reserve was peeled away, and our tears became more profuse as one by one they shared their stories. Stories of God making His presence known; His grace flowing through His people; His grace revealed in His Word; His sustaining grace through tragedy.

Laying a Biblical foundation, Cindy emphasized that God’s grace is a gift – free and meant to be received – and given. He is gifting us with Himself daily! Then God calls us to minister that grace to others, in an imperfect world to imperfect people. Cindy poignantly shared an example of a friend who extended grace to her while she grieved her father’s death. A simple task of washing a floor together lifted the fog for her. She encouraged us to prayerfully ask God to give us balance; to minister in a way that would encourage others; to share with no expectation of return, being motivated by a heart that is grateful for what it has already received.

Daughter Ellen spoke of grace as unconditional love received from God – being declared worthy and forgiven. She offered a $5 bill to an audience participant, and then proceeded to berate it, crumple it, and stomp on it! Yet the woman still wanted it, because the U.S. Treasury seal on it, declared its worth. It is the God of the Universe who declares us worthy and forgiven! Ellen shared her journey of this fact of God’s grace making its way from her head to her heart. As a college athlete, Ellen’s identity was often tied to her performance. But God used some unexpected vessels of grace to show her His love, and then used her as a vessel to other women all over the world through Athletes in Action. “It’s freeing to know that God doesn’t ask me to carry the burden of being the perfect source, but what He’s asked me to be is an incredibly broken yet forgiven, grace-full vessel.”

Youngest daughter Anne’s story of her husband’s tragic death in a motorcycle accident transfixed us. She began by saying that God’s grace had been present in her whole life in different forms, and it was only by His grace that she was even here. She told two stories: one of the emotional pain she experienced from someone who refused to extend grace and forgiveness to her, and second, the anguish of Joe’s death, but where God’s grace visibly flowed to her through many. As we vicariously lived the ordeal through Anne’s eyes, it was clear that God was the One who prompted and enabled grace-filled responses at the accident scene, and in the days to come.

Speaking transparently to the audience, she remarked that the grace of God that is needed in day-to-day living is sometimes harder than the grace needed in tragedy. God calls us to be vessels of His grace to people who aren’t our close friends; difficult people; people who hurt us. She challenged us to be willing, when difficult moments happen, for God to flow through us. Her question for all of us is: “Will you be willing to be the vessel?”

***********************************Summary of the Conference day*******************************
The Women’s Ministries National Conference was held this year in conjunction with the Eastern Region Convention, Saturday, June 24, 2011. Unfolding Grace, the Conference theme, continued to unfold throughout the weekend.

Our Keynote Address this year was given by a mother-daughter team of Cindy Geraghty, wife of Regional Pastor Warren Geraghty, and daughters Ellen Geraghty and Anne Weed. In a powerful presentation, all three unfolded God’s grace to us, challenging us to be vessels of God’s grace to those around us.

Breakout Sessions gave opportunities to learn in smaller venues twice during the day from the following speakers: Lecia Grandstaff – Grace for Unity in Ministry, Kristina Grandstaff – Reaching Out with Grace, Annie Kitchin – Transforming Grace, Ellen Geraghty – Growing into Grace, and Lil Foss – Grace Under Pressure.

In the session Unfolded Grace we learned that because of generous April giving, we were within $300 of making our budget. We watched a slide presentation of completed projects and a glimpse of projects for next year: 1) Focus on Pastors’ Wives and 2) Continuing Projects. (Details at www.wmclb.com)

In addition to the Conference on June 24, WMCLB also sponsored additional opportunities during the Eastern Regional Convention weekend:

1. Friday, June 23, during the Hands of Grace day, a group of women painted two youth rooms at Brooklyn’s 59th Street Church.
2. Saturday, June 24, a “teen track” was provided for several girls who attended the Conference with their mothers.
3. Sunday, June 26, after the Regional worship service at Tuscarora, women toured New York City, including a Broadway play – some extending their stay to include sightseeing from Monday through Tuesday morning.

2012 Annual Conference will be in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, during the August 2-5 National Biennial Convention of the CLB.

                     We were turned Inside-Out!

Powerful early summer winds blew us through the doors of Bethel Church and into an upside-down day, and challenges to live inside-out for Jesus!

The theme of the day was, “Inside Out: Living out the Life of Christ within.” Ruth Vallevik, welcomed 120 women, explaining that the hope for the day was to give “Little glimpses of how God’s Spirit is working through the bodies and lives of women around the country in ministries that He has laid on their heart.” She expressed the desire for each woman attending to “get a sense of passion for what God is calling you to do … in your daily life, in the ministry that He may lay on your heart.”

Streamlining the business of the day, and moving the keynote speaker into the afternoon, the morning became a time of hearing what God has been doing in and through women. Interspersed throughout the morning were four “Spotlight” presentations from women who shared, sometimes through choked voice, and moist eyes, what God has called them to do, in their everyday lives.

Carol Anderson (Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania) described her life as being a comfortable “Christian bubble.” Then, what began as a research project propelled her into a ministry that has taken off with a life of its own. Carol found that “many women live with crisis as the norm in their lives. They may look nice, but are dealing with shame, difficult relationships, with nowhere to go.” Connections for Women, the faith-based, non-profit organization she ended up founding has taken her out of her comfort zone, but also “sharpened” her.

Connections for Women opened its doors two years ago, partially because of the number of domestic violence reports in the surrounding communities. Created to be a safe place for casual relationships to build, its goal is building healthy family relations. Ministering to women from ten small communities, it is a coalition of various churches in a kind of “ministry time-share” so responsibility for the whole ministry doesn’t rest on one church.

Currently open two days a week, it has served 100 different women, in groups of 8-20. It is a place of support, with group discussion, but also a place to learn about where to get help from area agencies. They’ve heard presentations about family support organizations, rehabilitation centers, dealing with addictions, support for child abuse survivors, sex-trafficking of minors, even rescuing prostitutes from brothels in Ethiopia. It’s a place where church women can learn about things outside of the realm of their daily life, and at the same time develop relationships with those they wouldn’t typically meet at PTA or a church Bible study. A growing program is pairing women with a mentor in a one-to-one relationship. Carol would like to see even more strong-faith women paired with those struggling or who want to grow more in their faith. She wants to see more impact in our communities, to “Make God more famous!”

As for Carol herself, through this ministry, she has become more “comfortable in trusting God in situations where I’m uncomfortable… I’m not in control, He is. These women have taught me so much. I never went into this to change the world, but the people I serve have changed me.” She expressed that in loving women from all walks of life, “we experience learning from those situations – even more than we can give.”

Dr. Susan Wasson (Osakis, Minnesota) shared a different walk of life. Dr. Sue had a medical practice in a metropolitan area, but had a growing pricking of her conscience realizing the inequities of the medical system where third-party payers (Medicare, insurance companies, etc.) pay only 20-60% of actual costs, while uninsured poor had to pay their entire medical bill; where doctors, through a system of growing codes, were insulated from even knowing how much was being charged for their services; where the actual time spent with patients was minimal. She felt led to begin a cash-basis medical practice in a rural area, serving many uninsured or underinsured individuals. “My colleagues thought I was crazy!” she quipped.

Reading from Romans 12, she shared that the body of Christ has many parts. “I don’t have the gift of street corner evangelism…but God has given me skills in medicine.”

And so she stepped out in faith, trusting God. She mused, “He’ll push you to the edge though, and teach you. He provides much better than I can envision. But there’s a price to be paid, and not just financial. It can be isolating.” She spoke of negative reactions from peers that can hurt. “Unlike Carol, I did think I could change the world! In retrospect, just my corner of it. Or maybe it was just about changing me. You absolutely have to trust that your reward is in heaven. But sometimes He gives a glimpse of what he is doing.” She shared one of those glimpses of a patient recognizing Christ in her, and then challenged us:

“God can use any skill. The main thing is that your heart is his. I’m sure he has given you some kind of ability or skill. He wants you to use it for him. If you talk to him with an open mind he’ll show you what he wants you to do with that. It will cost you something. Maybe everything.” It was clear, that for Dr. Sue, the cost was well worth it!

Shirley Cook, (Calgary, Canada) the third “Inside Out Spotlight” Ministry to Children, was presented via a DVD featuring an interview by her daughter, Janet Thomson, and quick cuts from people in Shirley’s 20-year-long Kids Klub ministry. “Miss Shirley shines from the inside out!” was the message we saw and heard from kids and co-workers. Watching her, we were encouraged to show unconditional love to others, and to be passionate about Jesus.

Lori Christopherson (Everett, Washington) shared her Ministry to Young Adults, the fourth “Spotlight,” as Cheryl Olsen interviewed her. Lori doesn’t feel hospitality is her natural gift, but she saw a need, and God has used her willingness to serve. Now for the past two years, she has been hosting dinner for up to twenty young adults each week in her home, and leading or facilitating Bible studies for them. Lori encouraged us to step out in faith for whatever God is leading us to do. She has seen him supply whatever is necessary to do it!

The day called for response:

We raised our voices and spirits in praise to God, led by Karla Thurmer (Cape Coral, Florida), Joann Martinson (Rolette, North Dakota), and Carol Folden (Fergus Falls, Minnesota)

We responded with prayer as Missionary Linda Bengtson (Japan) and Church Planter Heather Olsen (Florida) brought greetings and updates from their ministries

We gratefully re-elected Janet Spencer as Chairman of Women’s Ministries

We corporately prayed in small groups for our missionaries as Seminary graduate Annalise Nordtvedt guided us

We participated in Afternoon Ministry Huddles led by women whom God is using in various ways: Grief Ministry by Tess (Rangen) Soholt, Children’s Ministries by Christine Lawson, Bible Study Leadership by Mary Thompson, Health Care by Dr. Sue Wasson, Hospitality by Lori Christopherson and JoAnn Gundersen, and The Pastor’s Wife by Ruth Vallevik

We listened to a more-in-depth afternoon Keynote Presentation by our speaker, Carol Anderson and were challenged to love as Jesus did – extravagantly, even scandalously (the Samaritan woman, adulterous woman, sinful woman) because He has a plan for their lives as well as ours.

And now that the day is past, we reflect:

We examine our hearts to see if our theme verse applies to us: Does the love of Christ truly compel me? Do I no longer live for myself, but for Him who died for me?

We look forward to making our Mission Projects possible through our contributions

We make plans for Women’s Ministries Conference, Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Tuscarora Inn, Pennsylvania

Our speaker, Carol Anderson, with WMCLB Chairman, Janet Spencer
Our theme: Inside Out - Living Out the Life of Christ Within

Click the photos below to see larger images and captions. View them in separate blocks of 15, 6 and 3.

Wow! Two hundred women! They kept registering, calling, emailing, and asking if there was still room in the last week before our Women’s Ministries Convention. We planned for 150, but by God’s grace 185 ate a delicious catered lunch, and 200 attended the morning business session, listened to Keynote speaker, Teresa Szobody, and attended practical and inspiring workshops in the afternoon. Twenty-one children of the women were cared for and God provided a day warm enough for them to spend time at Hannah Park and the Hillcrest gym as well as playing and creating crafts. What a great day!

THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Teresa Szobody brought us a message on our theme that kept echoing throughout the day: “Enduring Faith.” It was straight out of the Word, sprinkled with illustrations from her missionary life in Africa, but speaking right to the heart of women in North America. She began with “Be still and know that I am God.” Are we desperate to know Jesus? To know the power of His resurrection? To give Him pleasure?

She shared stories of Abraham – his failings, his faith. He believed God when he left his homeland, but throughout life, he still continued to learn to believe. God didn’t rebuke him for his failings. Instead, He used them to build his faith, finally to the point of sacrificing all to the God he trusted.

“How has God called you to sacrifice?” Teresa asked. “To believe when it makes no sense?” She urged us in those situations, “Get to know Jesus!” Through the spoken word and the written word, we can know Jesus and the power of His resurrection – and the fellowship of His sufferings. Sometimes it is essential that we can’t see our way out of whatever struggles we are in – so we can see Jesus.

“Jesus completed the race that His followers are now running,” Teresa reminded us, “Jesus understands suffering.” When we feel rejected or fearful, she said, “Know Him then! He gives hope to meaningless situations. What a loss, if we fight back – we lose the chance to suffer!” We rejoice in sufferings, Romans 1:1-5 tells us, “because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

“God’s love is poured into us.” But then Teresa asked us, “Did God say, ‘A new commandment I give unto you, that you suffer?’ No, but you shall “love the Lord your God with all your heart soul, mind, strength, and your neighbor as yourself.’”

When God’s love is poured into us, we are enabled to love others; our neighbors; strangers; our enemies. Teresa talked about the “great ‘shall’” as opposed to the “must” that we often feel. As we have faith in God, he pours His love into us. God is in us. We shall love God. We shall love our neighbor. As we honor our neighbor, we obey God. How do we love ourselves? What is pleasing to the Lord, even when we don’t feel like it? Hebrews 10 says, “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful...” and “let us encourage one another.”

Enduring faith is possible because He is faithful. We can hold on to hope because He has suffered. We are all desperate to know Jesus, so let us encourage each other to cling to Jesus, in faith, hope, and love. Hebrews 10:36 “You have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what He has promised.”

THE CONVENTION DAY:
Eugenie Lapuebe Synzoune was introduced to us by Ruth Vallevik. Her father, Silas Lapuebe, attended the Lutheran Brethren Seminary when Eugenie was a child. She has had a radio ministry to children in Africa, and is now pursuing an English degree in the U.S. before returning to her country to teach English there.

Eugenie shared scripture and thoughts from Nehemiah. She boldly challenged us: “We have a calling! What is your part in the family of God?” She described the church as needing to be a magnet, as in Nehemiah’s day. “We need to come together and build. No ‘sleeping.’ No gossip. The enemy will build his kingdom – but we are daughters of the Heavenly Father – it is time for us to build! Ask God to give us a vision. What is my purpose? Am I ready to obey? The enemy gains territory. But he can’t take God from our hearts!” She emphasized that “we have to build together,” that all of us are needed as Christ builds his Kingdom, the Church.

Looking at the journey behind us – we viewed Power Point photos of last year’s projects completed. We rejoiced in God’s provision, through the women of the CLB, to meet and exceed our budget for 2008-09! We praised God in song, led by Suzanne Bowman and a praise team from Victory, Jamestown, North Dakota.

Looking at the journey before us – we re-elected Lori Christopherson as our treasurer. We viewed projects that we will support in 2009-10 (see those projects in the next issue of Faith & Fellowship). We listened to Heather Olson’s update of Grace Community, Wesley Chapel, Florida, and prayed for Missions in small groups gathered all over the sanctuary as Alice Spidahl guided us.

Afternoon workshops – Our keynote speaker, Teresa Szobody, was followed by a noon luncheon. After a time for visiting, we were inspired, rejuvenated, challenged, and encouraged through attending a variety of workshops including: Invitation to the Race – Suzanne Bowman and Janet Kilde; Coaching to Run the Distance – Teresa Szobody; The Long Wait – Joy Mathiesen and Gudrun Boe; Training for the Test – Ruth Christenson; Enduring the Pain – Casey Baardson; Unique Challenge: Special Joy – Ruth Vallevik

Each year, women from Canada, the East Coast, the West Coast and the Central and Western districts gather to learn, to worship, and to encourage each other by seeing what God has done among us in the previous year. If you couldn’t make it this year, plan for next year, Saturday, June 19, 2010!

Members of the national Women's Ministry Team at the Convention: Ruth Christenson, Eastern District President; Lisa Salvesen, Western District President; Sue Patterson, Central District President; Margaret Scholz, Canadian Representative; Judith Paulson, Pacific Southwest District President; Lori Christopherson, Treasurer; Ruth Vallevik; Director of Women's Ministries; Janet Spencer, Chairman; Michelle Aandahl, Pacific Northwest District President; Cheryl Olsen, Secretary