WOMEN’S
MISSIONARY COUNCIL SET GOALS
FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
By: Princess Pegues
New Orleans, LA –
(Tuesday, Aug 26) Under the leadership of Mrs. Elnora P. Hamb, the newly
elected President of the Women’s Missionary Council, the missionaries
charted their course of action for the next Quadrennial at the 17th
Annual CME Convocation.
President Hamb greeted
the missionaries by stating that the theme for this Quadrennial is “Christian
missionaries: Meeting the
Challenges of a Changing World,” and noted that her personal theme and
message is “Rejoice and Let’s Celebrate” taken from Philippians
4:4 where Paul reminded the believers to Rejoice in the Lord always.
She gave several examples of her goals and plans to rejoice which
included:
1.
Rejoicing through Spiritual Development with Mrs. Catherine Gill
heading the Spiritual Life and Message Department.
2.
Equipping members with hands-on training with Mrs. Christine Buchanan
as Secretary of Missionary Education.
3.
Keeping Jesus great commission of “Go ye into the world and make
disciples of all men.” Mrs. Wardna Polk will give leadership in this area
as Secretary of Hunger and Meals for Millions along with Mrs. Lola B.
Strayhorn, Secretary of Overseas Mission.
4.
Continuing the Education Ministry to our youth, under the leadership
of Mrs. Deresser Armstrong, secretary of Mattie E. Coleman; young adults
(under the leadership of Mrs. Loretta Helton, secretary of Phyllis H.
Bedford Department) and scholarships and grants for females and males under
the leadership of the Vice President, Mrs. Princess Pegues,
5.
Recognizing and celebrating the achievement of all women through our
Status of Women Department led by Mrs. Betty J. Brown.
6.
Encouraging the missionaries to be involved in the One Church-One
School Partnership.
7.
Encouraging our members to continue training our children through
tutoring and mentoring under the leadership of Ms. Heidi Faulk, secretary of
Rosie T. Hollis Children’s Department.
8.
Improving relationships with one another, Bishops, Elders, Pastors
and interdepartmental relationship.
She reminded all those
who were present that we are all on a faith journey together.
When one achieves – we all achieve.
When one fails, we all fail. She
ended her greeting by stating, “We need you and you need us.
We pray for you and you pray for us, because we are all a part of
God’s Body. We won’t harm
you with words from our mouth and you won’t harm us because we are all
apart of God’s body.”
President Hamb
introduced the officers, departmental secretaries, division leaders and
committee chairpersons with each giving an overview and goals for the next
four years.
The goals and plans of
the Council’s Vice President, Mrs. Princess Pegues included (1) using the
Internet as a tool to keep members abreast of the Helena B. Cobb Scholarship
Funds and other programs, (2) implement the Educational Network by preparing
a Director of Colleges/Universities /Military Bases within each Region. The
Directory would be posted on the CME Website and the Council’s Website and
printed copies would also be available (3) establish a Higher Education
Scholarship Fund and program specifically for young men – SOS – Save
Our Sons. The SOS
Program would address the many issues and problems faced by our male youth.
Mrs. Doris Boyd, editor
of the Missionary Messenger thanked the missionaries for helping to
make her first four years a success and asked for their continued support.
She explained how the label on their magazine indicated the date of
expiration.
President Hamb’s named
Mrs. Evelyn Brown as her Administrative Assistant and Mrs. Ira Benson as the
President of Presidents. She
also announced that the Executive Board will be held March 2-6 in Dallas,
Texas at Hyatt Regency at Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport.
Bishop L. L. Reddick
III, Patron Bishop made closing remarks and prayer.
Thursday, August 28 – 3:00 p.m.- Missionary
Workshop
Explaining the Role of the Women’ Missionary Society in Rebuilding
the Village to a pack room (about 200) was Mrs. Ollie Bradley, workshop
presenter from the ninth Episcopal District.
Mrs. Bradley noted that if we are “rebuild the village,” then
something must be wrong with the “present” village. The matter of what
was wrong with the present village was thoroughly discussed.
She then led the workshop participants in a discussion on Setting
the Stage for Rebuilding the Village. It was noted that many people are
involved in the process of building or rebuilding and for the Women’
Missionary Society those people should be the President and Council
Officers; Annual, District and Local officers and members; and Circle
leaders and members. Mrs. Bradley emphasized that societies may be different, some
large, some medium, and some small, but one thing about our churches is that
the majority of them are “built” using standardized procedure because
our goals are the same – saving unsaved men, women and children.
Another question asked was “What caliber of missionary women
should help rebuild the village?” The
attendees responded with women who should have certain qualities such as:
patience, godliness, loving, kindness, compassion, positive attitudes, women
who have influence and can influence others, etc. It was the consensus of Mrs. Bradley and the attendees that
women who are allowing the Lord to lead them are those who will be needed to
rebuild the village.
Mrs. Bradley reminded the
missionaries that Biblically speaking, women have always come to the rescue
of their people and the same is being done today.
The majority of persons in our churches are women - and the
missionaries have a special place for most of the work and ministries are
carried out by the missionaries and women of the church.
Participants in the workshop
included Mrs. Neyoma Beverly, convener; Mrs. Christine Buchanan, Council
Secretary of Missionary Education; and Mrs. Catherine Gill, Council
Secretary of Spiritual Life and Message.
Also, Mrs. Oris Ward and Mrs. Sallye Chambers.
President Hamb presented
Mrs. Bradley a token of love for the very excellent workshop.
She also presented several departmental secretaries and chairpersons:
Mr. Annie Brown, Bread for the World; Mrs. Geraldine Smith, Secretary
of Fine Arts; and Mrs. Betty J. Brown, Secretary of Status of Women.
Region Presidents from the 8th
Episcopal District, namely, Mrs. Gladys Stern, Ms. Rita Washington, Mrs.
Linda Horsley and Mrs. Orlene McCullough invited the missionaries to come to
Dallas, Texas for the 2004 Executive Board.
The Executive Board will be held at the Hyatt Regency at the Airport
March 2-6.
Mrs. Princess Pegues, vice
president, made remarks noting that she had packet of information for the
Regional Vice Presidents and if they were not present, the Region Presidents
could pick it up.
Mrs. Buchanan presented
President Hamb with a little novelty angel to carry with her as she travels.
Mr. Ira Benson, president of presidents announced that President Hamb’s
birthday is September 5 and the missionaries sang “Happy Birthday.”
Mrs. Catherine Gills gave
the closing prayer.