BAPTIST WOMEN n BAPTIST WOMEN n BAPTIST WOMEN n BAPTIST WOMEN n BAPTIST WOMEN n BAPTIST WOM Women’s Meetings and Activities

L its 34th

eaders of the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department (BWAWD) participated in several women’s meetings and activities in July and August.

Caribbean

The Caribbean Baptist Women’s Union (CBWU) held annual conference from July 16-21, in Montego

Bay, Jamaica, under the theme, In Step with the Spirit: Living in God’s Favor. Nine of the 14 CBWU countries were represented. Activities included Bible study sessions; workshops on womanhood, domestic violence, the empowering of women married to men who are not Christians, and computer technology; cultural presentations; and a special president’s breakfast. Speakers and participants included Raquel Contreras,

president of the BWA Women’s Department (BWAWD), Patsy Davis, BWAWD director and Everton Jackson, BWA regional secretary for the Caribbean and executive secretary/treasurer for the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship. Karl Henlin and Karen Kirlew, Jamaica Baptist Union pastors, led Bible study and gave keynote addresses, respectively. Yvonne Pitter of Jamaica was re-elected to another term as CBWU president. A decision was made to hold CBU meetings biennially

rather than

annually. The next meeting is set for 2016.

Above: BWA Women’s Department Director Patsy Davis (left) and President Raquel Contreras (right) sing with Caribbean Baptist Women’s Union President Yvonne Pitter

Papua New Guinea The Baptist Women’s Association of Papua New Guinea

(BWAPNG) celebrated its 25th

Highlights included worship services, Bible study, dramatic presentations and exhibits that

anniversary from August 8-12. featured various BWAPNG

projects and initiatives. One project is the provision of maternity facilities and services to PNG women for giving birth where these were previously unavailable. It is estimated that since 1995, the lives of approximately 1,400 mothers and infants have been saved through this initiative. A major success of PNG Baptist women is in reducing the HIV

infection rate among infants born to infected mothers through the provision of medicine, which is administered to the child right after birth. Other BWAPNG projects included teaching women how to

sew and grow flowers and vegetables to sell. Proceeds from these sales help women to support their families. A moving testimony was shared by Minjilee. After last year’s

annual BWAPNG meeting Minjilee and about 15 others were returning home in a large open truck through a mountainous area. The vehicle slid down the hillside and flipped over several times.

Australia Approximately 300 women participated in the She is Hope

conference from August 1-3, at the Mapleton Baptist Camp, approximately 110 kilometers north of Brisbane in Australia’s Queensland state.

Jade Lewis, a recovering heroin addict, was a featured speaker. Lewis became addicted to heroin at 18 which led to a lifestyle of addictions, crime and violence but was given a second chance at life at age 22. She founded a not for profit organization, Jade Lewis and Friends Inc., to give female prisoners a second chance at life. She shared these experiences with the women, and helped them to understand the lifesaving message of hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Other participants included Patsy Davis and Amelia Gavadi and Sue Peters, co-presidents of the Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific.

Four women were killed and Minjilee lost her right leg. She asked for prayer that she will continue to serve the Lord. One event was held at the Christian Leaders Training College, founded by BWAPNG. The school trains approximately 200 men and women annually for Christian ministry and leadership. Guests at the week of events included Patsy Davis, Baptist

Women’s Union of the South West Pacific (BWUSWP)Co- President Sue Peters and Lorraine Walker, former president of BWUSWP. Davis gave a keynote address and participated in a number of the activities and events.

(Left to right) Norma Semi, president of BWAPNG, Lorraine Walker, former president of BWUSWP, BWA Women’s Director Patsy Davis, BWUSWP Co-President Sue Peters and Sarah Ekali of BWAPNG

Below: A session of the She is Hope conference in Australia