Listen to this article
The Salvation Army is “Reimagining” Women’s Ministries worldwide to be fit for purpose in the 21st century.
The World President of Women’s Ministries (WPWM) Commissioner Rosalie Peddle and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries (WSWM) Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham will challenge Salvationists and friends around the world to consider what could be done for and alongside women and girls in their own countries and communities through a launch meeting on Feb. 12 at International Headquarters in London.
The meeting, which will be live-streamed via salvationarmy.org, sar.my/youtube and sar.my/facebook beginning at 9:30 a.m. (GMT), will include the announcement of the new International Women’s Ministries vision statement and the unveiling of a new International Women’s Ministries logo.
Pre-meeting worship will be streamed from around 9:15 a.m., and the whole event will be available to watch on demand as soon as it has finished.
The launch comes at the end of a time of research, prayer and planning that has its roots in the last High Council, in May 2018, when Peddle shared the vision God had given her for Salvation Army Women’s Ministries.
She told High Council members that Women’s Ministries should have a Christ-centred focus, winning women for Jesus–providing holiness, spiritual growth and the development of teaching skills.
Women’s Ministries should also be relevant, with an authentic focus, Peddle said, providing programs, meetings, events and resources that are relevant and purposeful to the lives and needs of women today as well as having a social justice focus–engaging women in identifying and participating in conversations, meetings and events regarding social justice issues in their communities.
As well as the unveiling of the new logo and vision statement, the launch meeting will feature examples from around the world of how Salvationists are ministering to women and seeking to meet today’s needs.
New social media channels will provide the opportunity for women around the world to share in inspiration and support, providing a network of prayer and awareness.
A “Reimagining” photographic exhibition will also be launched on the same day, featuring photos sent in as part of a worldwide competition. The exhibition, in the public Gallery 101, contains images that demonstrate the power of God’s women working together in his name.
“We believe this is only the starting point of an even greater expedition that God is going to reveal in ministry to women and young girls,” Peddle said.
