Powerful early summer winds blew us through the doors of Bethel Church and into an upside-down day, and challenges to live inside-out for Jesus!

The theme of the 2010 WMCLB conference was, “Inside Out: Living out the Life of Christ within.” Ruth Vallevik welcomed 120 women, explaining that the hope for the day was to give “little glimpses of how God’s Spirit is working through the bodies and lives of women around the country in ministries that he has laid on their hearts.” She expressed the desire for each woman attending to “get a sense of passion for what God is calling you to do… in your daily life, in the ministry that he may lay on your heart.”

Streamlining the business of the day, and moving the keynote speaker into the afternoon, the morning became a time of hearing what God has been doing in and through women. Interspersed throughout the morning were four “Spotlight” presentations from women who shared, sometimes through choked voice and moist eyes, what God has called them to do in their everyday lives.

Carol Anderson (Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania - Pictured Right with Janet Spencer, Chairman of WM) described her life as a comfortable “Christian bubble.” Then, what began as a research project propelled her into a ministry that has taken off with a life of its own. Carol found that “many women live with crisis as the norm in their lives. They may look nice, but are dealing with shame, difficult relationships, with nowhere to go.” Connections for Women, the faith-based, non-profit organization she ended up founding has taken her out of her comfort zone, but also “sharpened” her.

Connections for Women opened its doors two years ago, partially because of the number of domestic violence reports in the surrounding communities. Created to be a safe place for casual relationships to build, its goal is building healthy family relations. Ministering to women from ten small communities, Connections is a coalition of various churches in a kind of “ministry time-share,” so responsibility for the whole ministry doesn’t rest on one church.

Currently open two days a week, it has served 100 different women, in groups of eight to twenty. It is a place of support, with group discussion, but also a place to learn how to get help from area agencies. They’ve heard presentations about family support organizations, rehabilitation centers, dealing with addictions, support for child abuse survivors, sex-trafficking of minors, even rescuing prostitutes from brothels in Ethiopia. It’s a place where church women can learn about things outside of the realm of their daily life, and at the same time develop relationships with those they wouldn’t typically meet at PTA or a church Bible study. A new program pairs women with mentors in one-to-one relationships. Carol would like to see even more strong-faith women paired with those struggling or who want to grow more in their faith. She wants to see more impact in our communities, to “make God more famous!”

As for Carol herself, through this ministry she has become more “comfortable in trusting God in situations where I’m uncomfortable… I’m not in control, he is. These women have taught me so much. I never went into this to change the world, but the people I serve have changed me.” In loving women from all walks of life, said Carol, “we experience learning from those situations – even more than we can give.”

Dr. Susan Wasson (Osakis, Minnesota) shared a different walk of life. Dr. Sue had a medical practice in a metropolitan area, but felt a growing pricking of her conscience regarding the inequities of the medical system. Third-party payers (Medicare, insurance companies, etc.) pay only 20-60% of actual costs, while uninsured poor have to pay their entire medical bill. At the same time, doctors, through a system of growing codes, are insulated from even knowing how much was being charged for their services, and actual time spent with patients is minimal. Dr. Sue felt led to begin a cash-basis medical practice in a rural area, serving many uninsured or underinsured individuals. “My colleagues thought I was crazy!” she quipped.

Reading from Romans 12, she shared that the body of Christ has many parts. “I don’t have the gift of street corner evangelism… but God has given me skills in medicine.” And so she stepped out in faith, trusting God. She mused, “He’ll push you to the edge, though, and teach you. He provides much better than I can envision. But there’s a price to be paid, and not just financial. It can be isolating.” She spoke of negative reactions from peers that can hurt. “Unlike Carol, I did think I could change the world! In retrospect, just my corner of it. Or maybe it was just about changing me. You absolutely have to trust that your reward is in heaven. But sometimes he gives a glimpse of what he is doing.”

Dr. Sue shared one of those glimpses of a patient recognizing Christ in her, and then challenged us: “God can use any skill. The main thing is that your heart is his. I’m sure he has given you some kind of ability or skill. He wants you to use it for him. If you talk to him with an open mind he’ll show you what he wants you to do with that. It will cost you something. Maybe everything.” It was clear, that for Dr. Sue, the cost was well worth it!

Shirley Cook (Calgary, Alberta). The third “Inside Out Spotlight,” Ministry to Children, was presented via a DVD featuring an interview by Shirley’s daughter, Janet Thomson, and quick cuts from people in Shirley’s 20-year-long Kids Klub ministry. “Miss Shirley shines from the inside out!” was the message we saw and heard from kids and co-workers. Watching her, we were encouraged to show unconditional love to others, and to be passionate about Jesus.

Lori Christopherson (Everett, Washington) shared her Ministry to Young Adults, the fourth “Spotlight,” as I interviewed her. Lori doesn’t feel hospitality is her natural gift, but she saw a need, and God has used her willingness to serve. Now for the past two years, she has been hosting dinner for up to twenty young adults each week in her home, and leading or facilitating Bible studies for them. Lori encouraged us to step out in faith for whatever God is leading us to do. She has seen him supply whatever is necessary to do it!

The day called for response:

• We raised our voices and spirits in praise to God, led by Karla Thurmer (Cape Coral, Florida), Joann Martinson (Rolette, North Dakota), and Carol Folden (Fergus Falls, Minnesota).
• We responded with prayer as missionary Linda Bengtson (Japan) and church planter Heather Olsen (Florida) brought greetings and updates from their ministries.
• We gratefully re-elected Janet Spencer as Chairman of Women’s Ministries.
• We corporately prayed in small groups for our missionaries as seminary graduate Annalise Nordtvedt guided us.
• We participated in “afternoon ministry huddles” led by women whom God is using in various ways: Grief Ministry by Tess (Rangen) Soholt, Children’s Ministries by Christine Lawson, Bible Study Leadership by Mary Thompson, Health Care by Dr. Sue Wasson, Hospitality by Lori Christopherson and JoAnn Gundersen, and The Pastor’s Wife by Ruth Vallevik.
• We listened to a more-in-depth afternoon Keynote Presentation by our speaker, Carol Anderson, and were challenged to love as Jesus did – extravagantly, even scandalously (the Samaritan woman, adulterous woman, sinful woman) because he has a plan for their lives as well as ours.

And now that the day is past, we reflect:

• We examine our hearts to see if our theme verse applies to us: Does the love of Christ truly compel me? Do I no longer live for myself, but for him who died for me?
• We look forward to making our Mission Projects possible through our contributions. 
• We make plans for Women’s Ministries Conference, Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Tuscarora Inn, Pennsylvania.

Cheryl Olsen is Information Coordinator for Women’s Ministries of the CLB (www.wmclb.com).

2010-2011 Women's Ministry Projects

North American Mission: $4000 to provide funds for the training/ministry planning retreats for Regional Pastors and wives, and preliminary expenses for the next Youth Convention.

Training Mission: $4000 to fund the Fall 2010 SWEET Retreat, scholarships for seminary women, Bible study books for seminary women's weekly study and childcare.

International Mission: $4000 to assist Rachel Venberg (Chad) and Kris Larsen (Taiwan) to focus on language learning, by providing adequate child care and schooling for their children.

Hillcrest: $1000 to provide training for the women's dorm staff with Greg and Janet Anderson at Inspiration Point through a Purity and Holiness Retreat.

National Women's Ministry Team Projects: $2000 for "The Theology Project" – a user friendly tool for evaluating Bible Study material and other curriculum; and "Heart to Heart" – for Ruth Vallevik to travel more extensively to connect with local groups.

Ongoing Projects: H.E.L.P. (Household Equipment Linen Project); Digital StoryBook; General Mills Box-Tops for Education; Crisis Care Fund; Lending Library.

More photos from the Convention

Women's Ministries National Team

Sue Olson, Joy Mathiesen and Linda Bengtson

Annalise Nordtvedt, Lindsay Natale, Ashley Krog

By Cheryl Olsen

Cheryl Olsen (pictured with her husband Stan) serves as the secretary of Women's Ministries of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. (www.wmclb.com)

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