Berita NECF Newletters

WOMEN TO WOMEN NETWORKING TEA

Description: Saturday, October 19, 2002
By Goh Poh Gaik

So many good things packed into one short afternoon’ – that probably sums up the response to our first networking tea. Fifty women came from different churches in the Klang Valley to listen and to learn from women’s groups in different churches, "What are women doing to reach women?" The question was adequately and competently answered by the different presentations.

Sow Ying inspired us with the creative topics that LIT (Ladies in Touch) in Jalan Gasing Gospel Hall, Petaling Jaya, has for their monthly Sunday afternoon ladies’ programmes. Keeping to Bible-based topics, the ladies plan fun and creative activities to reinforce the teaching of the Word. A couple of years ago, the women had courageously changed the day, the time and the whole approach to women’s meetings when they sensed a need for change. Bravo! The women present were given an invitation to attend the LIT meetings. That’s what networking is all about! Thanks, Sow Ying and Mrs Boler.

The delights and potential of the Sunshine Playgroup, presented by Nyuk Lim (Subang Jaya Gospel Hall) impacted us forcefully. This programme reaches parents and their young children. The team of mothers and volunteers diligently plans delightful and wonderfully fun and creative activities and learning sessions for the Playgroup. While the children learn and play, the mothers have opportunities to take a break and to interact with mothers from the church.

Shireen from Calvary Church, Kuala Lumpur, gave us an insight into what a well-developed women’s ministry looks like. The ministry is equipped with a pastor and women’s cells meet regularly, catering to the needs of women working in the home or office. We were challenged by what the united efforts of women can accomplish – making mission trips to teach and encourage, raising funds to adopt needy children and to build dormitories for the homeless, visiting shut-ins and sharing the love of Christ. Opportunities to love and serve abound and where the women are willing and available, God has opened doors.

The Alpha Course, originating from Holy Trinity Brompton in London, has recently been introduced to churches in Malaysia. The programme is a systematic, excellently prepared introduction to what it means to believe in the Lord Jesus. We were pleased to have Vonnie Schouneveld from St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Kuala Lumpur, share with us how the women in the church are effectively using Alpha to reach other women. Jenny Sim shared and warmed our hearts with testimonies of how God is using Alpha to touch the lives of expatriate women.

Sally Sinniah of St Paul’s Church, Petaling Jaya, took time off from her tight schedule to encourage us and to give us further insight into the different ways women are effectively serving the Lord in their communities. Visiting homes battered by racial conflicts to speak compassion and healing; praying, cooking. Sally shared about the adoption of a home for needy children at Christmas and then inviting the members to buy gifts for the children. Several women responded well to this and felt this would be a meaningful way to share the love of Jesus.

We are grateful for the contribution of each of our sisters. Over tea, the general feedback was that it had been a very fruitful afternoon. The only ‘complaint’ that reached my ears was, "There are just too many good things and ideas shared!" There was a request for a session for mothers and daughters-in-law.

Will there be another Networking Tea? Well, we’ve received requests for more. We’ll be back. Look out for the announcement in our forthcoming issues.



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