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Ring the bells, let the whole world know the joyful knews that the Christ is born! Christmas is beautiful reminder of Jesus' love for us. When our hearts welcome Him we will experience His Joy, Peace and Love all the days of the year.
And carols about resound
I want to share this thought with you
An insight I have found
Our holiday will be more grand
If we determine 'fore
To dedicate these days to God
To strive to please him more
To give these days a holy fervour
T'will bless and satisfy
And leave us nearer to the Lord
When a'last the time's gone by
I pray that you will join me
This year and all the rest
Lets celebrate Christ's Holy birth
By giving Him our best
... Paul Durham
As the winds of change continue to blow through our organisation the verse, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever" (Hebews 13:8) remains a focal point as consideration is given to where we go from here. Jesus Christ remains the same; how we communicate His love in this
post-modern society opens up many challenges and opportunities to us. We need to continue to encourage intentional openness to other women in the church, recognising their giftedness and the desire to be affirmed in them.
Author Lyle Schaller reminds his readers that rather than focusing only on the members in a group, identifying the needs of the inactive members or unchurched women and developing a meaningful response to their needs is essential. Perhaps effective ministry in the future will be done from such a missional mindset. We need to be the intentional "sent ones" to this new world in which we are living. It is important to understand the culture, language, music, relationships, and communication channels in order to serve the women inside and outside our churches.
This past year has presented many opportunities and challenges for each of us individually and collectively as a union. Over the past three years we have experienced the wisdom of the infrastructure downsized executive board from sixty to thirty-two. Perhaps we need to seriously look at our board again and make it more relevant to today.
Our commonly used new name "Atlantic Baptist Women" seems to be well accepted. Hopefully this will continue to allow for new ideas to be implemented, new venues initiated as well as keeping our traditional Women's Missionary Societies. This has been a stop of faith. We should try to meet the needs of women of all ages while intentionally keeping a mission focus as a priority for all Atlantic Baptist Women's groups.
Our focus group brought forth some very in-depth and meaningful information in the form of recommendations. We need to be in prayer for the executive in 2004 as they deal with these important issues.
In a document produced by Geoff Tunnicliffe, Chair, Global Missions Roundtable, he stated "few organisations are willing to make changes. Many agency leaders admit that we are at an important crossroads and we must make significant changes, few are willing to actually pay the price of change." My question is this, "What do we need to be doing today to ensure that Atlantic Baptist Women / UBWMU is stronger fifty years from now that it is today?" We need God's direction, guidance, and wisdom as we look for relevant ways to involved in mission and ministry.
What a wonderful privilege and
opportunity eleven of us "Atlantic Baptist Women" had as we participated
in a Canadian Baptist Volunteer mission to Bolivia this past summer.
It was
life-changing, each one of us is more thankful for a cup of cold
water, bathrooms, etc. etc. etc. In 2004 we need to continue to
focus on creating a culture of generosity, to see even more Christians in
Atlantic Canada reflect on stewardship and our role in a world where the
overwhelming majority live on less than two dollars per day.
Thank you for the opportunity of serving as your president 2000-2003. It's been a privilege meeting so many of you. Thank you for being prayer warriors and faithful in giving so that others might hear.
Blessings to you during this wonderful Christmas season and Happy New Year!
Shirley Giberson
President, Atlantic Baptist Women