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NEWSLETTER
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Fall 2002 Vol. 3 Num. 2 |
From left to right Linda Miller, Diane Dunne and Grable Szabo |
The Truth Shall Set |
Pat Joyce -- What a retreat! A room filled with those seeking to proclaim and serve the Lord--their very lives declaring the scope of God's ministry through women. Sue is a reluctant speaker in the traditional sense, but she delights and excels in her gift as a facilitator. With the vision that God had given, she guided the retreat offering gems of insight while making spaces so the giftings of others could be displayed. Eddie’s teachings gave |
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Facilitators for the event were Eddie and Susan Hyatt and the study topic was women in revival, leadership, ministry, and marriage To natural eyes it was a small gathering, but in the Spirit, I believe it was a major event. The purposes of the retreat were 1) TO EDUCATE by personal interaction, formal lectures, testimony, and exhibits/literature. 2) TO NETWORK LEADERS so as to strengthen individual ministries and to widen influence of each. 3) TO MOBILIZE SUPPORT through ongoing, active prayer, finances, and personal involvement. 4) TO PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES for ministry and education through the various RESOURCE MINISTRIES represented. The format given to all speakers was to share their testimony, including what portion of the word on biblical equality was the most meaningful to them, as well as how God was using them in ministry. All were in agreement on three basic points 1) The Bible, accurately interpreted, teaches the equality of women with men in terms of substance and value, privilege and responsibility, function and authority. 2) Historically, the Holy Spirit has always elevated women towards equality with men to the extent that the culture will allow. This has been especially obvious during times of revival. abilities, rather than according to culturally designated, gender-defined roles. 3) The Bible teaches that men and women are to function in life and ministry according to gifts and abilities, rather than according to culturally designated, gender-defined roles. Gay Anderson, Barbara Collins and Pat Joyce from God’s Word to Women were honored to be asked to speak. We shared as a panel about how the website came into being and what we were trying to accomplish through it. Then each of us gave our individual testimonies. Using this format, variety, reality, encouragement, Word, challenge all came through dynamically as people shared their lives. Tentatively, the Second Annual DFW Retreat is being planned for Nov. 7-9, 2003, you may want to set those dates asideThe rest of this article will be our individual perceptions of a weekend that we will never forget. For the sake of space, each of us got to share about three of the speakers. If you want to hear more, tapes are available from Sue at icwhp@aol.com . Later this week, the topics and tape album will be available at www.icwhp.org. on the ICWHP website. . Barbara Collins -- GWTW kicked off the Retreat by telling how we came together in partnership for this website. If you don’t know that story, click here and find out about the founding of GWTW. Each of us was also given an opportunity to share how our attention was personally drawn to biblical womanhood. Pat’s approach focused on her discovery that God did not consider women second-class in His eyes nor did He intend that they be subservient marriage. Gay chose to emphasize that God is no respecter of persons--that where His Spirit is, whether carried in male or female vessels, we are at liberty to do whatever He says. According to the idea of covenant, which is the only legitimate, biblical context for “covering,” He (HIS BLOOD) alone is our "covering". I shared how I began to examine the leadership model among Southern Baptists who choose to approach the gender question from the complementarian persuasion, which encourages the hierarchy of male authority from their “servant-leader” perspective for husbands in the family relationship as well as in church leadership. As I looked closely at the eyes at the whys and wherefores of male leadership roles, I concluded that such attitudes could only predominate alongside the concurrent heretical belief of subordination in the Godhead. Such twisted thinking denies the equality of the Trinity. Cindy Parton – Cindy quoted Dick Mills who said, “Get your credit cards paid off and get a passport. It’s time to get rid of the extra weight and the unnecessary. She challenged us to not pollute the water where we drink. She reminded us that God is ready to offend your mind to reveal your heart. God has placed Cindy and her husband Bob in the DFW Metroplex to facilitate revival. The River Center has been meeting for over 7 years weekly in their home. We were blessed by her ministry in a time of soaking prayer.
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For years I've had this picture in my mind of how the body should function. I see a circle, not a pyramid, with people moving toward the center, as their gifts are needed. When finished, they return to the circle and the next individual or group steps forward as guided by the Spirit. No one greater than another, each functioning as God directs. My vision was demonstrated at this retreat.
In Eph 2:10 we are told that in Christ, we are prepared beforehand for
good works that we should walk in them. Sue once facilitated life skills
classes and I learned website skills for a home business. I was
impressed by the testimonies of how God had equipped people long before
He gave them a ministry. Maybe we should take a look at our training as
well as our talents as we seek His purpose for our lives.
the regrettably familiar story of rejection by the establishment but not by God or the people he has given her to pastor. She called for women to repent for putting husbands before the Lord and for everyone to deal with anything that gets in the way of intimacy with Him. Carol Scott -- Carol is a gifted Teacher. She serves as Renewal Coordinator NE OK Roman Catholic Diocese. She underscored the purpose of our creation—to hold the glory. (II. Cor. 4:7) Carole shared how God has taken the scales from her eyes as He showed her His heart and purpose for women. This outstanding talk is being transcribed and will be put on our website in early December. Linda and Conrad Miller – What a team. They demonstrated not only egalitarian marriage, but also the Spirit instead of by personal agenda or program. They put aside their set time to share about their own ministry, which is presently in crisis intervention and pastoral care, to skillfully assist others in times of ministry. They shared how God had shown them that they were individuals with different gifts and callings who were free to move as He directed—sometimes together, sometimes alone. Linda counseled those who were hearing these things for the first time to look to Jesus for direction. He will lead us step by step so we will be conquerors, not victims. It became clear as each testimony unfolded that women generally have more freedom to use their gifts outside the institutional church. While we need a place to teach Biblical truth, Christianity is not just sitting in a building looking at the back of someone's head. Teaching and preaching from a lectern are not the only ministries. I learned from this retreat that we need to ask ourselves some questions. How has God equipped me? What is He speaking to my heart? He is Lord! Just DO IT! And to continue the Spirit of the retreat, look for the announcement of the ICWHP Christian Women’s Studies Program coming soon in 2003.
In the summer of 2001 we used the newsletter to put out a call for intercessors for God’s Word to Women. It had been a rough year and we finally realized that as individuals and a ministry we were really under attack More prayer support was needed than just the three of us could provide. Peggy was the first to respond. She has been a joy and we thank God for her and her faithful support. I was saved at 19 while at college after being actively involved in the Baptist church as teacher, youth leader, choir member and soloist, etc. But when Jesus found me He truly did it! And my life has never been the same. For years I was wrapped up in family, husband, and four children (now 22,23, 26, and 31) There were a lot of needs, a lot of hurts, a lot of overcoming along the way. God taught me to be an intercessor in those days! I was diagnosed with MS in the 70's, as a young mother. There was not much hope medically in those days. God positioned me in a wonderful Assemblies of God church in Winter Park Florida where I heard the Word that brought healing to my body--complete healing, no remissions or relapses. I could write a book... I am now living in Archer, Florida, outside Gainesville. We lived in the Carolinas for about 18 years and I miss them but this is where God brought me--my mission field! My husband and I attend a relatively new full-gospel Word Church. I am a long-time member of Aglow, although I have not been as active of late due to work conflicts. I am also an intercessor for and on the praise and worship team for the Gainesville International House of Prayer, affiliated with the Strategic Prayer Network and Micke Bickle's ministry in Kansas City. After my many years of being a mommy and wrapping part-time jobs needed at times around my children's schedules, I entered the job market. For many years I was a cosmetic merchandiser, but sometimes God has new directions for us. He took me into the insurance market. I worked part-time out of my home and part-time for an agency selling life, health, group, Medicare supplements, long term care, and annuities. Less than one month after the 911 event my husband lost his job as branch manager of a pest control company that he had been with for 11 years. The cut back camebecause there had been no sales (since 911!). We had been through this before with "corporate restructuring" in '90 and took this that He had something new for us. The actual instructions from the Lord have come only step-by-step. After living tightly on my income and a small amount of unemployment, we knew we were to start an insurance agency together. So, we took the necessary classes at the community college and passed the state exams. We have talked with the company that we feel very strongly is the avenue God wants us to go down. That will require some company schooling too, financing, and many more decisions before we can open in the fall. Now we are trusting God!I do not stay in touch with GWTW every day, but I pray for them daily. Every request they make gets put in my daily prayer book, which I carry around with me everywhere so I can pray whenever there is any time and focus (traffic, long waits, etc.). I also put sticky notes in strategic places (over the dash in the car, in the kitchen, on the bathroom mirror) for the BIG requests. I feel it is a privilege to intercede on their behalf and I thank them. One day I am sure that we will all meet! I look forward to it.
We want to call your attention to some new articles that have recently been put up on the website. You can always find the latest by clicking on “What’s New” found at the top of each page. Why Modern Patriarchy Is Not Biblical by Kathryn J. Riss, Th.M. This article details the continuing problems brought on by patriarchy in modern society and provides biblical evidence that patriarchy is not God's idea. A Challenge for Proponents of Female Subordination To Prove Their Case from The Bible by Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian Dr. Bilezikian issues a challenge to prompt Christians to grapple with biblical facts rather than to accept traditional assumptions about female roles. This article is a "must read." Why Jesus Chose Male Apostles, by Dr. Gilbert Bilezikain. This article is taken from Dr. Bilezikian's book Community 101. It explains why the original 12 apostles were male, then discusses the implications for the early church and the church today.
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