by Didi Oprenova was a great overview of poverty and showed our responsibility to humanity as women who
walk in step with the Spirit. We faced the global problem of poverty, but saw hope as we heard of how some
women’s organizations are becoming the hands and feet of Jesus in their own countries.” Bethany Chroniger
“The statistics say women are the poorest of the poor. I promise to share what I have, not only financially
but my time as well because as one of our speakers said, ‘Change happens in small places.’ It’s about time
this 31-year-old girl made a difference in Jesus’ worthy, glorious, and holy name.” Karen Umana
“Abuse is having power over another person. Did you know that every nine seconds a person is abused?
What can happen in nine seconds? Each act of abuse is an act against God’s commandment. How will you
spend your nine seconds?” Kristi Pollard
The Sunday afternoon “In Step with the Spirit Around the World” event gave the women an opportunity
to learn from women who are actively involved in specific activities that are changing the lives of women in
the different continental unions. After listening to the different presentations, questions could be asked and
interaction between other women took place enhancing the learning experience.
The A-MAZE-ing Place was designed especially for the BWA Women’s Department. It provided interactive
experiences to encourage, inspire, and build relationships among Baptist women of the world. Seven areas of
the MAZE gave participants opportunities for registering their country, Scripture emphasis, working puzzles,
prayer area, photo op, quilting, and note-writing. Each participant received a souvenir of the MAZE experience.
Sylvia DeLoach and family took on the preparation of the MAZE as a family mission project. All 10 members of
the family from the youngest to the oldest were present and staffed the MAZE.
At the business session the bylaws were updated, two books were launched, and new officers were
elected. The two books are Coming Together by Esther Barnes, a history of the BWA Women’s Department,
and I am a Woman…Created in the Image of God by Joyce Wyatt. Raquel Contreras from Chile was elected
president of the BWA Women’s Department, and Donna Groover from the USA was re-elected for a second
term as the secretary/treasurer. Patsy Davis, Executive Director since 1998, joins these two to form the
Administrative Committee.
FlashPoints, a group that desires to share their God-ignited passion for the creative arts with others,
was invited to do the theme interpretations throughout the conference. They used drama, humor, creative
movement, and signing to visually communicate God’s amazing promises with one goal of making a difference
for his kingdom. They also facilitated in the changing of continental union prayer partners. The new prayer
partners are Africa/Women’s Department; Asia/Caribbean; Europe/Latin America; and North America/South
West Pacific.
Each evening the seven continental unions painted a picture of women in their region of the world
while sharing ways they are bringing hope to the abused and poor. Through dance, drama, PowerPoint
presentations, and creative expression we learned how each continental union is accomplishing the mission of
the Women’s Department and being in step with the Spirit.
The conference declaration summed up the events of the conference. The entire declaration can be found
on the Women’s Department website at www.bwawd.org, as well as other detailed information about the
conference. The beginning of the declaration is a reminder to all of us: “In step with the Spirit who gives and
redeems life in Jesus Christ, we confess that all persons are created in the image of God and are therefore
worthy of receiving his redemptive grace.”
Patsy Davis is executive director of the BWA Women’s Department
PHOTOS: New BWA Women’s Department Continental Union Prayer Partners, Julie Belding (South West
Pacific) with Linda Weber (North America), and Marina Sands (Caribbean) with Sook Jae Lee (Asia); Amelia
Gavidi from Fiji speaks to the issue of poverty


27

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32