Women’s Ministries Who is Encouraging Whom?


by Sharon MacConnell


Sharon MacConnell has had to have several surgeries this year and has spent many weeks in rehab. It’s a battle we have inside with self. Yes, just as we think we


are on fire for God, that “thing” or “thought” comes up that tries to put our fire out. It’s called a Spiritual Battle. Why does it have to come up aſter a Bible Conference or the FEBC Conven- tion? Why does it come up when we are faithfully reading the Bible and doing what we think the Lord wants us to be doing? Each of us would probably answer: Satan. Satan can’t stand it when you are on the Lord’s side. He will try to make you fall to your faults and insecurities. Pray my friends — pray that the Lord will


put a hedge around you to protect you. Do what the Word tells us to do; command Satan to get behind you. “Be strong, be of good courage.” I started out this way to lead into a couple


A Therapist with a Vision My young nurse/therapist was heading to Kenya with his


wife for their first mission trip. Tey will bring medical help to hundreds of people there. During therapy, we took many walks, talking all the way. He shared some of the things they had planned to do while in Kenya. It was exciting to see his “fire” for the Lord’s ministries — exciting to see someone who not only helped me have hope, but is willing to go to give hope to the people of Kenya. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering;


of stories about people whom I met along my path of hospital stays. I thought that while I was laid up, I would be strong spiritually, and that I would be able to do my “Sunshine Girl” notes to pastors’ wives. Tat didn’t happen. Instead, people encouraged me and helped me to stay positive through the difficulties. Guess what did happen? I was able to share and minister to people in the hospitals and while I did my rehab.


Hope for Nina One nurse (call her Nina) had so many struggles. People had


failed her over and over; she had cancer in high school; now she was raising her son alone. Now she had recently been diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis; at age 40 she didn’t know how long she could continue to work. But Nina was so kind! She kept coming to my room aſter shiſts as well as before shiſts. She made a point to wash my hair at 6 a.m. while I was laid up in bed. She ministered to me, and in return, I tried to give her hope — real hope — the kind that comes from the Lord. Nina was from a Catholic back- ground. I shared Scriptures such as the oſt-quoted “Be strong, be of good courage.” She knew Scriptures because she had attended many evangelical churches in her past. I felt God telling me, “… Fervently love one another from the


heart” (1 Peter 1:22 NASB). I found myself thinking, “For as high as the heavens are above


the earth,/So great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11 NASB). Her mom is calling her to come back to Catholicism, but


Nina isn’t planning to go back. I pray for her, that she will be able to get connected with a strong believer who can help lead her toward the Lord.


10 Fellowship Focus, September/October 2016


She ministered to me, and in return, I tried to give her hope — real hope — the kind that comes from the Lord.


for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimu- late one another to love and good deeds” (Heb. 10:23,24 NASB). In all the walks of our lives we need to be continually talking


about how we can encourage people to live their lives for Christ. I’m thankful for the time I had to be laid up this year. I saw the hearts of people that God had prepared for me. I was able to walk alongside them (literally), so we could share our struggles. I was the recipient of their love and compassion. I was able to share back with them, to be a vessel for the Lord.


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Convention Boutique So many quilts were donated for the boutique that they could


not all be displayed in one room. Quilts were hung in the foyer, the halls, and the dining room. Tese made for beautiful conversa- tion pieces and giſts. Te boutique room displayed many items for purchase: all-occasion cards with beautiful artwork and inspira- tional verses on them, beautiful and unique origami boxes, towels, cloth bags, many handmade items and more. Te boutique took in $850 in donations for the Ministry


Enrichment fund for our global partners. Global partners and pastors’ wives were invited to take one of the unsold quilts. It was suggested to them that they send a thank you to the quilter. Many thanks go to all who supported the boutique by donating and/or purchasing something.


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