Follow-up work continues in every nation through the evangelical alliance and women continue to play their biblical role in the family, Church and society. Breakthrough blessings are seen in churches.

Leela Manasseh was able to minister in the national Women’s Conference held by the Evangelical Alliance of Nepal in 2001 and at the end of the conference the Women’s Commission was formed. For the first time a national women’s conference was held in October 2002. Mrs Shantha Chetri and Mrs Odno have been chosen as secretaries to give leadership to the Commission in Nepal and Mongolia respectively. We are in the process of helping the Evangelical Alliance in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh to form the Commission.

This continues in every country through the CWC. In order to do this, issues that affect women and family were identified and the process has begun to create sustainable initiatives that serve real needs of women. Efforts were made to network with Christian women leaders and groups. We would like to expand our horizon to various evangelical and ecumenical women groups whose

members are not members of EPA.

Gender or Giftedness seminars were held in different ways. Several women leaders have expressed the need to translate the book authored by Mrs Marilyn b Lynn Smith (published by CWC of WEA) into Asian languages for greater impact.

We have been able to make an ongoing analysis of issues related to women. We are currently addressing the issue of abuse of women and widowhood. We need to generate funds for these projects. We seek your guidance and help to translate the book No Place for Abuse authored by Dr Catherine Clarke Kroeger & Dr Nancy Nason-Clarke – a project of the task force of CWC of WEA.

(This) is the need of the hour in Asia. We need to focus on regional women leadership development and encourage partnership of men and women leaders in the Body of Christ for greater impact.

This is being done through a few national evangelical alliances.

• Pan Asian Christian Women’s Assembly: We would like to initiate this event in 2004 and see that it is held once in four (quadrennial) years in different countries.

• Empowerment of Widows/Married & Unmarried Singles/Victims of HIV-AIDS: We are looking into this issue in every nation. The Evangelical Fellowship of India held a national seminar recently which has been effective.

• Publications: Asian men and women writing books on gender issues in the Asian context is the need of the hour.

• Support: We seek your guidance and help to raise financial support for our Commission work. Women in every nation have requested for financial assistance for projects and further/higher theological education.

• Integration of Women into Decision Making Bodies and Mainstreams of Ministry: We are grateful to the EFA Body for considering our request and integrating one woman into the EFA Executive Council. We further request that women be integrated into every mainstream of EFA’s ministry such as Commission and major events.

Under God, women continue to play a significant role in mobilising prayer movements for unity, justice and righteousness to prevail in every nation as well as for world evangelisation and discipleship ministries.

There are tremendous challenges and needs in Asia that we need to address. We are grateful to you for your continued prayer support and encouragement. We are thankful to all the General Secretaries for their support to women. We would like to record our thanks and appreciation to EFI General Secretary Rev Richard Howell for releasing Leela Manasseh to develop the Commission. To God be the glory!