Hello West MI Wesleyan Women

2012-02-19T15:59:00.004-05:00

Hello West MI,

February! Ground Hog's Day-He saw his shadow so we have 6 more weeks of winter!

Valentine's Day-A Hallmark day or day to show/express love to your sweetheart and those you love?

Leap Year-An extra day in the month...or a day of the women take the iniative and ask for a "date" or proposing marriage! (I think women are already doing that today)

We always do all the above at the same time in February. Another traditional event is the Wesleyan Women's Heart of Ministries! A time to focus on the missions and ministries of WW. During this month donations are collected to further the ministries and outreach to others locally and globally.

Please look at the materials and how and where to send your church's donation!
www.wesleyan.org/ww

While you are there take a look at the resources of leadership materials and Bible Studies and activities.

Please let me know how our district may help your ministry. Please let me know about your events before and after so we can post w/pictures them. I am looking to see who are doing spring conferences that we may all share in together or at least in the zone areas.

Our team is working on contacting each church for a contact person for each. We want to communicate with you and it seems to always be a challenge to make the correct contacts. Please help us with this project. We also are selecting a team to be on a "Vision and New Structure Team for West MI WW". You will be hearing more about this. Please pray for us! Looking towards great things from God!

Blessings to All,
Saundra
(Thanks for all your prayers, I am feeling stronger everyday! Thank God!)

Happy New Year West MI

2012-01-16T14:33:00.003-05:00

Oh my goodness. I thought this was shut down. I am so sorry that I have not been using it on our district website. This will change immediately! We will start it up again. In the past we had not many responses or much interaction but let's change that! I will start up again and keep you posted.

First of all I am behind in communicating because of several health issues that were not anticipated in being a problem and I could just keep going as usual. But I was wrong. I am now catching up on sooooo much! Please bear with me and we will be using this site for a lot information to pass on to you. Happy New and have a blessed women's ministry!

Always Hope,
Saundra Lawson

The Ride for Refuge

2010-08-29T23:48:00.000-04:00

The Ride for Refuge

Back Packs for Kids!

2010-08-22T17:50:00.006-04:00

Hello West MI! Time has just flown by this summer. Many of you are doing special activities to help kids get ready for school. This is a great place to post what you are doing. The EDGE Church needs your help in collecting back packs filled with supplies for school kids in Grand Rapids. If several of our Wesleyan Churches would commit to do at least 3 or more back packs we could provide a blessing for several kids. Lets get behind this project and make it happen. I know we can do this!! Please spread the word. For more information about where to deliver them please contact the EDGE at 616-805-4700.

Back Pack Stuffers

These back packs will be given to students of The Edge church

1 Backpack Generic for High School Boy or Girl

4 Notebooks Generic spiral notebooks

4 Folders Generic folders for holding homework

1 package Pens Click style of black or blue

1 package Pencils Mechanical – pack of at least 4

1 Calculator Basic standard calculator

1 Binder Three-ring or similar

1 Pencil case

1 Stapler

1 package markers

Our wish is to provide full backpacks to 30 inner city children. Please pray and consider starting the school year on a positive note for a student that may start off already behind.

Thank you!!!

2010-08-10T23:47:00.003-04:00

Hello!

Is anyone out there? Please let me know there is an audience! I want to hear comments from you and have you comment to each other. We can do this~YES we can!

Just Pacify Me. Let me know you are there.

Love and Blessings,
Saundra

2010-07-07T12:56:00.013-04:00

Hello Everyone!

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. . . " John 1:4

Hope the heat isn't getting to you. Seems like not too long ago we were talking about how much snow we had and how cold it was!! Just gotta love Michigan! My husband and I took a little road trip last month around the west side of our beautiful state and on the coast of Lake MI. We have this thing for lighthouses so we followed around the "pinkie" side of the Michigan mitt and saw 15 lighthouses and break lights. I must tell you I had not done that before. We had visited a spot here and there but not taken the trip to see it all at once. We just got in the car and started driving, it was awesome! The lake was absolutely beautiful and what a joy to see the lighthouses right here in our own state. I was so proud of our MI beauty.

My husband and I spent time worshipping God on the shores of Lake MI. As the tears rolled down my cheek several times on the trip I couldn't help but think of the old song our family used to sing, Jesus is the Lighthouse! Many of the lighthouses were in ruin but now have been restored, however, it took many determined, steadfast lighthouse believers, that have formed "lighthouse keepers", to not let them be torn down and fall into complete ruins.

I thank God for the Lighthouse, Jesus, that stands upon the shore shining out the Light for a lost struggling soul to rescue and guide to shore. That Light never goes out! I want to be a Lighthouse Keeper for Jesus. I don't want to see the world ignore Him or try to tear Him down. The Lighthouse keeper is responsible for keeping the lighthouse in good repair, but primarily to keep the light shining strong. Join me in being a Lighthouse Keeper for Jesus.

Oh, let me tell you how wonderful our Annual Convention/Mini Retreat was! It was Wonderful! Thank you to all of you who attended, I know you were blessed. The West Berlin Women are amazing!! Thank you for being the perfect host and providing the most delicious "down on the farm lunch". Dr. Steve Edmondon's and Kathy Cox's presentation of their work in Haiti touched our hearts. Thank you to each of you who had a part in making this day a blessing. Thank you to Mark and Sherry Gorveatte for being part of our day, "Make hay while the SON shines!" And a special thank you to our guest, "Legendary Ralph" (Pastor Mark Lipscomb)

Follow Dr. Edmondson's blog address: http://www.cultureandsensitivity.blogspot.com

STANDING AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

2010-06-01T15:22:00.003-04:00

Standing Against Human Trafficking!!!

Everyone is invited to attend!! Especially Pastors, Leaders and Lay Leaders.

West MI District! Save the date and register for the J3 Jesus, Justice, Journey Workshop on June 12, 2010, 8:30-2:30, @ Kentwood Community Church, Grand Rapids MI. Cost is $15, includes lunch. Call Laurie at the Dist. office to register 616-872-9450 or email at lvandyk@westmichigandistrict.com. Make checks out to West MI District.

Taking a stand against human trafficking and modern day slavery

J3, Jesus, Justice, Journey

Guest Speaker: Sandie Morgan, RN, MA
Administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Kentwood Community Church

Sandie Morgan, RN, MA
Sandie is a Registered Nurse and has served on the board
of the International Nurses Association in Athens, Greece
where she lived for ten years. It was there that she first
became aware of human trafficking. She served as a Human
Trafficking Dialogue Facilitator at the National Association
of Evangelicals Global Leaders Forum in Washington D.C. and
was invited to the first Whitehouse Roundtable on Human
Trafficking. Sandie currently is the Administrator of the
Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force and also serves
as Director of Vanguard University’s Global Center for Women
and Justice and is adjunct professor of Family Violence and
Human Trafficking. Her journey in the fight has taken her from
local communities and various churches to the halls of the
US State Department. Changing the way we think about the
forces that drive demand for human trafficking is her goal.
She says, “The modern slave trade is a business fueled by
demand. Consequently, to some degree we are all part of the
problem or part of the solution. “
Please join us to become part of the Solution
to Modern Day Slavery.

Workshops to choose from and Community Organizations to find out more about.

Make Hay While the SON shines!

2010-05-17T11:03:00.005-04:00

Hello Wesleyan Women!

Many wonderful things are going on in West MI this spring and summer that I want to tell you about! But, first let me tell you that the North Central Area Spring Retreat in Shipshewana was absolutely a blessing, fun and refreshing! Susie Shellengberger kept us laughing, but more than that she presented messages that were entrenched with teaching of Holiness living and challenged us in making commitments of fully surrendering ourselves to God. Worship music was provided by some of our own districts, the atmosphere was awesome and beautiful. Of course Shipshewana has great opportunities for the shoppers and browsers. Thank you to all those that had a part in making it a successful weekend. West Michigan was one of the districts that had the most attendance (we had 19). I enjoyed spending time with all of you. I especially had a sweet time having my daughter, Tammy, with me. Three special women did receive a $50 bill to spend as she wished. We look forward to another NCA time in 2012!

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I had the honor of attending and speaking at the Jackson Cascades Wesleyan Women's retreat in April! Let me tell you I have never seen such a bunch of crazy fun-loving women!! I am serious! Thank you ladies for a great day of "Spring Cleaning".

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Coming up in May is the Beth Moore Conference at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, on May 21-7:00pm to 9:30pm and May 22-8:30am to 12:00. Many of our district Wesleyan Women are registered! I think there is still time to get registered on line. www.lifeway.com Hope to see many of you there!! Hotels are filling up fast, though.

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Annual WW Convention/Mini-Retreat
June 26, 2010 is the day for West MI Wesleyan Women Annual Convention/Mini-Retreat. The theme is "Make Hay While the SON Shines", a down on the farm experience, including a Pig Roast for lunch. Our offerings will go to Haiti for their relief. We want the churches to start now collecting funds in your own special made "piggy" bank, to purchase vegetable seeds. Bring your "piggy" to the retreat!

Our Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Steve Edmonson, sharing his trips to Haiti. Also, sharing her trips to Haiti, will be Kathy Cox.

The retreat will be held at West Berlin Wesleyan Church, in Lake Odessa, sign in at 9:00, meeting 9:30-3:00. Register before June 21 for $15 after June 20, call for registration and pay $18 at the door. Call Joyce @ 269.673.6790, mail checks made out to West MI District (WW in memo), to 1938 Homestead Drive, Allegan, MI 49010.

I am looking for groups to prepare a "Joy" Basket for display at our retreat. Put together a basket with a purpose and theme for a ministry to women in your church or community. Share these ideas with us at the retreat. Call Saundra at 517.331.1415.

Come prepared to register your church with the General (World) and District Wesleyan Women and get in the drawing for "Love Books" for your group.

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West MI Wesleyan Church District-

The West MI district Conference is, Fri. July 30 at Battle Creek First Wesleyan Church.

Watch for God's Blessings,
Saundra
Night is coming when no one works. John 9:4b

What's Goin' On?

2010-02-25T14:07:00.008-05:00

Hello Again West Michigan,

Here are some things going on near and dear to my heart lately. At this very moment the Olympics is on my TV, as it has been from the very beginning ceremonies! I find if I sit for a moment to watch then I'm glued there for quite awhile! Tragedy and victory all at the same time!

We still have a bundle of snow on the ground and thankful for a very kind neighbor for shoveling us out! There are days I love it, when I have no place to go and I smell the coffee and fresh baked cookies...yum! But more often I have to go out in the freezing cold and tromp through it all.

I am still recovering from a broken arm, that happened the first week in December, when I fell in my home. Broke my arm at the wrist and at the elbow, which has almost healed completely but the Doctor thinks I have a tear in my rotator cuff, because I have been in so much shoulder and upper arm pain. So now I am doing some physical therapy. Workin' it into an already packed schedule is so hard! It hurts to do physical therapy but it hurts more later. I know I'm whining waaawaaawaaa!

I visited Faith Church Women of Faith's Winter Retreat on Fri., Feb 19 and was so blessed! As usual they did a fantastic job of planning and had a wonderful speaker, Lucy Wingerd, from southern California. The question was "Why did God create Woman?"

Our WW of West MI is in the midst of making plans for our annual convention/mini retreat, June 26, 2010 and will be held at West Berlin Wesleyan Church, Lake Odessa. Start now helping to collect donations to assist our Haitian brothers and sisters. We will be purchasing, also, farm animals from World Hope, Int. to help those in need. We suggest you have a piggy bank set out now for collections and make it a fun "dressed up" pig. Then bring your pig and donations to the convention for a pig contest. We are doing a pig roast.

Also, for the convention/mini retreat we are looking for churches to help us promote "Joy Basket" ministries. Be creative as to how to fix up a basket to use as ministry to someone, such as a meal in a basket (foods already to prepare easily and partly prepared), a devotional basket (a quiet time of prayer and thought, chocolates, note cards, candle, Bible...etc.), a Tea Time Basket (take a service for 2 w/Tea Pot and cookies, to share with a shut in or anyone new to church but don't leave your Tea set because you will need to keep doing this with others), A new mom basket, welcome to neighborhood basket, a just because basket, and whatever else you think of. We would like to display these at the convention and pick out a couple to talk about. Let me know what your church would like to do. I will be calling some of you.

North Central Area Spring Retreat!!!! Get registered if you haven't done so and reserve your room! This will be an awesome time. I have an extra room reserved if someone needs it, at the Farmstead Inn. See the following link for more information.

This month has been our Wesleyan Women's Heart of Ministries! Please order more flyers if you need to from our headquarters, www.wesleyan.org/ww You can still promote this even in March. Wesleyan Women do so much for so many and we need to pull our resources together and accomplish more. Also while you on that website take a look around at all of the resources available to you. You don't have to do ministry alone! We have great ways to reach women in your church, community and around the world!! Join Us Now!

One more thing! Those of us who love Beth Moore, she will be in Grand Rapids, MI, May 21-22, at Van Andel Arena. I have been asked to please have our women be in pray and help promote this event. You can get tickets and flyers online @ www.lifeway.com (click on women) I know many of our Wesleyan Churches are attending this event. But I have found out the hotel rooms are getting hard to find, so if you plan on going get you remove fast.

My schedule for March is working on our West MI convention retreat, moving forward with my human trafficking Project Liberty Task Force (should hear soon about our 501 (c) 3 status) and MI Hands of Hope (our WW Human Trafficking Awareness), attending the Spring Retreat in Shipshewana in April, speaking at Cascades Wesleyan Ladies of Faith Retreat April 17, attending the Beth Moore Retreat in May, speaking at the American Baptist Women's Conference June 5th, West MI WW Convention Retreat June 26th. Plus, I'm sure, more will fill in.

Let me know how your life is going! You are most likely as busy as the rest of us. Let's encourage each other.

EXCTING NEWS!!!!!REGISTER NOW FOR SPRING RETREAT! REGISTER BY JAN. 15, 2010.$75 plus your hotel. Please click on link for printing brochure and registrationwww.indiananorth.com scroll down Wesleyan WomenPLAN ON ATTENDING APRIL 9-11, 2010SHIPSHEWANA, IN, IS THE FUN PLACEA TIME TO GET TOGETHER WITH FIVE STATES OF WESLEYAN WOMEN!!AN OPEN HEART AND COMFY SHOES ARE REQUIRED!Our West MI district is giving a refund of a $50 bill to 3 women attending through three drawings on Friday night dessert time and special recognition to the church that has the most attending. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

Love and Blessings to each of you,
Saundra

2009-12-08T19:40:00.010-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It always seems too early to start saying that, because it seems that Christmas has come faster than the year before! My Mom always said the older we get the faster time goes! Wow, was she ever right! For the first time ever, I put up our tree before Thanksgiving, so we could enjoy our Thanksgiving weekend and not have to worry with all the mess I usually make when decorating the weekend after. I must admit at first it felt a little strange, but then we loved it. I wanted to focus on the "reason for the season" and I'm trying not to get all bogged down with things to do. You know what I mean! I know you do.

When our children (we have 4) were all at home we used to sing as a family and traveled to churches and community events. We especially would do this at Christmas time. We had a favorite song we would sing and it was popular at that time by "Evvie" called, Come On Ring Those Bells, and it is still played today. Our littlest was 4 yrs old and would ring the jingle bells during the song and would sing her heart out with the rest of us. People just loved it and we enjoyed that time very much. The phrase, "it's the greatest celebration of them all", has always stayed with me. It is the greatest celebration of them all-it is the reason for the season!

Take time to reflect on the reason God sent His One and Only Son to Earth veiled in flesh to walk among us, showing the Love of God and one day free us from sin! The reason for the season!

Come on Ring Those Bells! Merry Christmas and Love to All!
Saundra

EXCTING NEWS!!!!!
REGISTER NOW FOR SPRING RETREAT! REGISTER BY JAN. 15, 2010.
$75 plus your hotel. Please click on link for printing brochure and registration
www.indiananorth.com scroll down Wesleyan Women

PLAN ON ATTENDING APRIL 9-11, 2010
SHIPSHEWANA, IN, IS THE FUN PLACE
A TIME TO GET TOGETHER WITH FIVE STATES OF WESLEYAN WOMEN!!
AN OPEN HEART AND COMFY SHOES ARE REQUIRED!

Our West MI district is giving a refund of a $50 bill to 3 women attending through three drawings on Friday night dessert time and special recognition to the church that has the most attending. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!

We will be making arrangements for sharing travel or hotels soon. Please comment here if you would like to be included.

Two are better than one... Ecclesiastes 4:9

2009-07-16T13:05:00.026-04:00

Wooo Hooo! What a great convention/retreat we had on June 27th! We were blessed and challenged to make a difference! Human Trafficking is happening all over the the world, even in our own "backyard". Thank you to Sandie Morgan for her love and passion in serving the Lord and sharing her heart and messages with us that day. Also, many thanks to all those that helped make the day a wonderful success; the music/media, kitchen crew, decorating, promotions, guests, pastors, speakers, set-up and clean-up crews and I know many more... THANK YOU- Lansing Faith Church!

This was a day of worship and sharing-coming together to be a part of the "bigger picture"-Hand in Hand -Making a Difference! We can do so much more together than apart. Wesleyan Women are women "Connecting to God and Each Other" through our Women's Ministries, Churches, Communities, Families and Friends...Globally! We are out to make a difference in this world for God.

Combat Human Trafficking Together

I want to encourage each of our district churches to be more aware of the problem of human trafficking in your Community, Michigan, America, and World Wide. The West MI WW want to help be a solution and support ministries and projects that are moving forward in combating this evil.

You may contact Project Liberty at http://www.4projectliberty.webs.com/

You may contact Women at Risk at http://www.warinternational.org

We welcome to our 2009-10 Executive Committee- Director: Saundra Lawson; Assist. Dir.: Sandra Smith-Kennell; Secretary: Ann Roth; Treasurer: Joyce Merrill; Outreach Coordinator: Doris Wonser; WKFM Coordinator: Virginia Gastin. Our North Central Area Representative, Cheryl Mansell, administered the installation with a prayer of blessing.

New Resource Materials

We are excited about our new Resource Materials for suggested teachings, meetings, events...They are wonderful. Those churches that have registered your church for a chapter, you will receive your packet as soon as the materials are complete. Thank you for being a part of this World Wide Dynamic Ministry. If your church has not registered, YET, you may do so by going on line to www.wesleyan.org/women and http://www.westmichigandistrict.com/ (click on Wesleyan Women).

Hands of Hope

Join us at Hands of Hope Training. Learn more about human trafficking and how we as Christians and the Church can understand more about the victims and fight against the crimes,-stopping the demand! There is a forum on Wed. evening, Sept. 9 at Heartland Church, then the training Sept. 10-12, 2009 at Wesleyan Headquarter, Fisher, Indiana. You may register on line for the training at www.wesleyan.org/women We are making travel arrangements. Let Saundra know you are registered and need a ride or will offer a ride, also, if you would like to share a hotel room.

Spring Retreat!

Start planning, NOW, for the spring retreat in Shipshawana, IN, April 9-11, 2010! This will be a FUN weekend. Wearing comfy shoes is required! More info to come!

Please send your comments to this blog. Let all start communicating here. We are not able to do that on our district website. This will be fun!

Women and Pastors!

2009-06-01T11:01:00.008-04:00

Women you are all invited for a day of Worship, Fellowship, Inspiration and Fun!

Pastors are invited to a “Pastors Only” presentation with Sandie @ 9:30-10:30! Join us for the morning & lunch-no cost!

With great pleasure we welcome Sandie Morgan back with us as a dynamic guest speaker for our Convention/Mini Retreat, June 27, 2009, @ Faith Church, Lansing, MI 48912
“Hand In Hand-Making A Difference”

Sandie Morgan is Administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force where she is working to build a team that will educate and enlist our local community against the modern slave trade. Sandie is a Registered Nurse and has served on the board of the International Nurses Association in Athens, Greece where she lived for ten years. It was there that she discovered human trafficking while doing a story for Lydia Living magazine. She recently served as Coordinator for Vanguard University’s Center for Women’s Studies and continues to serve as Director of the Lydia Today Foundation. (lydiatoday.com)

Sandie also served as a Human Trafficking Dialogue Facilitator at the National Association of Evangelicals Global Leaders Forum in Washington D.C. and was invited to the first Whitehouse Roundtable on Human Trafficking. Recently, she hosted the Senior Director for Global Projects from the US State Department for the first Economic Roundtable on Human Trafficking. As an advocate for victims of human trafficking, Sandie guest lectures in universities, community groups, and churches. Since accepting the leadership of the OC Human Trafficking Task Force, Sandie has been interviewed by the LA Times http://articles.latimes.com/2008/01/10/metro/me-parsons10 and the OC METRO Business Magazine http://www.ocmetro.com/NEW_SITE/metro031308/women.php.

The first 100 women attending will get a free copy of the following magazine issue!

Sandie was interviewed for the featured article “Not In My Town” in Nov./Dec. 08 of Today’s Christian Woman.

We also welcome back the Faith Church Praise and Worship Team and Special Guest. You will enjoy the display tables of books and gifts from Winding Creek Bookstore, Hephzibah, Lydia Today, WKFM, Project Liberty (anti human trafficking), Women at Risk Store (Items made by survivors of human trafficking), Lynn Mc Monigal-a new author from Cascades Wesleyan, Other District Wesleyan Women’s Ministries and more. This will be a great day of worship, spiritual encouragement, being with friends and sharing with others-

Hand In Hand-Making a Difference. “Two are better than one” Ecclesiastes 4:9.

FREE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FOR YOUR CHURCH!

Register your church’s women’s ministry at the Convention/Mini Retreat for the new year, 2009-2010, to be a WW chapter with Wesleyan Women-$75 and for West MI District-$25 and get into the drawing to receive your $75 WW chapter membership free! All registered chapters receive a certificate at the end of the year.

Come and Enjoy the Day! Only $15 Per Person!
9 am Sign-In (Coffee/Juice/Muffins
9:30 to 3:15 Includes a Buffet Lunch @ 12:15
Register by June 15, 2009/Any Questions Call 517-331-1415
Or email to register your group at sl4faith@gmail.com

Anti Human Trafficking Training At Wesleyan Headquarters September 10-12.

Hands of Hope- Training to understand and care for victims of the Horrors of Human Trafficking

We have a group going and if you would like to make travel arrangements please email me at, sl4faith@gmail.com also you may get more information and register on line at www.wesleyan.org/women

HOW LONG TILL SPRING?

2009-02-09T23:10:00.008-05:00

- Hello Ministry Leaders!

During the month of February I'm reminded daily of the "Great Love of GOD"!

I'm hearing wonderful things from you and your churches. This past Sunday, Feb. 8, I was a guest speaker for their "Missions" weekend, at Cascade Wesleyan Church, Jackson, MI. It was a wonderful event and I was blessed to be a part of it! Thank you again, Ladies of Faith, for inviting me.

Also, on January 27, I spoke at the women's Tues. morning Bible Study at Lansing Faith Church, about the horrific evil of human trafficking and awareness. We had a wonderful meeting! Thank you ladies for all your love and listening to my heart.

Have you checked out the list of links in the left margin? They will lead to some great stuff!

Don't forget about the Heart of Ministries offering!! If you are not sure what it is all about please go to www.wesleyan.org/women and then click on the Heart of Ministries. Hopefully you have received the bulletin inserts and offering envelopes for your convenience. Some of you are doing FUNdraising for the offerings. Contact me and let me know how you are raising funds for this project. This is a very important offering and encourage you to promote it at your church or in your group. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you out.

Please email me your email address so I can add you to our Sisterhood Newletter!

2009 WW Convention/Mini-Retreat
Sandie Morgan of Lydia Today, our speaker at last summer’s convention/mini-retreat, will again be with us this summer, June 27, 2009 for another great convention/mini-retreat, held at Lansing Faith Church. More information will follow soon.

Heart of Ministries
By now your church has received the Heart Ministries information. Prayerfully consider this offering that is usually collected yearly in February, but there is no time limit. Be creative in having a FUNdraiser! The offering this year will go towards the training classes on special understanding and ministering to the victims/survivors of Human Trafficking through World Hope Int. and “Hands That Heal”. Also, money will go towards how to protect our children in a dark world especially internet and media. Offerings will also be given to our Wesleyan Hospital in Haiti which is in desperate need. Send your offerings to our West Michigan District; write on the check memo Heart of Ministries.

Training At WW Headquarters:
With the Lord’s help, we are making plans to hold an anti-trafficking training, September 10-12, 2009

North Central Area Retreat
Plans are being made for a North Central Area wide weekend retreat to be held in Shipshewana, April 9-11, 2010. Start making your plans now.

Hephzibah Trip
I regret to inform you that the district spring trip to Hephzibah will need to be postponed. Our team has gone through a lot of serious family illnesses and due to the current economy we feel that the timing is difficult for us and many of you. We will continue to pray for the right time and keep in touch with plans.

West Michigan Wesleyan Women are women who make difference! Please share with our team and other churches what God is doing in your group! As always, contact me for anything at Saundra@willowcommunity.org or leave a comment on this blog site.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T16:19:00.004-05:00

I'm always amazed at the thought of having a brand new year! Here we are at 2009. I was remembering midnight 2000 and how we were all wondering if all the computers were going to blow up and cause a chain reaction and our very survival was at stake. We were told to be prepared for the worst. I didn't want to get caught up in all the hype but I must admit, I did. I had a survival kit for my husband and me, had extra water and food, and made specific plans with our adult children, all for just in case!

What does 2009 have in store for each of us? I have heard many comments lately (and even made some comments of my own) about what's this world coming to. I'll have to admit, at times, I get so overwhelmed with the things going on; all the economy failures and "bailouts", financial disasters and chain reactions from Wall St. to our own backyards. The unstable job and housing markets, the run away medical expenses and college funds, and the insecure social security. But you certainly don't need me to remind you of all that we have going on in this world and how we are ushering in the new year. We are facing many new challenges in all areas of our lives. I am so grateful that we do not have to face them alone-God is with us.

I pray that my faith in God will be strong and that I will seek to be correctly informed in all areas of my life through His Word and Holy Spirit and will strive to make wise godly decisions, and live my life graciously and responsibly with what God has given me, trusting Him completely. I face 2009 with great anticipation! My husband, Bill, and I faced quite a lot in 2008 and God proved himself faithful so bring on 2009. I love serving Him through Wesleyan Women and women's ministries and look forward to the challenges put before me. I believe we can make a difference! I pray we unite ourselves together as women of God and make ourselves available for the Master's use. My love to all of you and, yes, Happy New Year!

Connecting Women to God and Others,
Saundra

Move Me Closer

2008-12-07T11:30:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas West Michigan!

The Lawsons have come through a rough year. Many of you know that my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. He then had lung surgery and chemo treatments and then many bouts in the hospital with pneumonia and lung infections and so on... Today, he is doing better!
All of his test came back good and no sign of cancer. We are so thankful and praise God. Thank you for all you prayers and special notes and thoughts. We love you all.

One of my favorite songs at Christmas is Move Me Closer by Evie. It's about watching the manger setting in her home and one of the shepherds suddenly comes to life and speaks, "Move me closer to the little child". I want to move closer to the Child of Christmas, Jesus Christ, the one whose birth we celebrate. I want to see Him, I want to hear Him, I want to touch Him, I want to be in His presence-worship Him.

I can not view my manger setting the same anymore without the echo of those words in my heart. On a quiet night with all the tinsel, lights and presents, I watch my manger setting and ponder on how the shepherds must have felt that blessed night and how it must have felt to be there in the presence of the "the new born King". Yes, move me closer to the child!

Sisterhood News

2008-11-03T23:00:00.008-05:00

Hello West Michigan, by Director Saundra Lawson

I say this every year, “Fall is my favorite season”. I get a little nostalgic and remember my kids going back to school, the smells of a smoky fire of leaves burning, apples and pumpkin pie. My husband, Bill, and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in October and we always take a color tour and enjoy the beauty of the Lord. But the one thing I look forward to most is a women’s Bible study. For 13 years I taught a neighborhood Bible study, most of the time in my living room, then teaching a fall women’s Bible study another 11 years at my church. I get so excited about getting together with women and sharing lessons from the Word. At this time I am attending a Bible study by Beth Moore (I love her); it is “The Patriarchs”. I pray that you find the joy of Women’s Bible Studies, too.

Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Exodus 15:20 NIV

What is in your Hand?
Use it to lead women to God!

Miriam had just walked the dry path between giant walls of water! She had just witnessed a miracle of God-the parting of the Red Sea and the drowning of their hostile pursuing enemy, Pharaoh’s army. Millions of people had walked across and were saved from the enemy. They were free from the bondage of Egypt. Imagine the sound of the roaring water, the sound of all their animals, the cries of little children, the clanking of their belongings carried on the backs of animals, the shouts of the people in amazement, the pounding of millions of feet heading for the other side of that shore. Miriam’s heart must have been pounding just as loud.

Miriam was a prophetess of God. She was a voice that spoke to the people words from God. I love that about her. She was called out to speak God’s word to the Hebrew people. There was no doubt on that day of the joy and excitement that was in her heart and she could not contain it. But what she did before she spoke was an awesome act.

She picked up a tambourine! Something she was very familiar. She had played it many times, it was second nature to her, and it was almost an extension of her own hand. On that day she led by example! She picked up that which was so familiar to her. She used what was in her hand to draw women to God. It is estimated that at least a million women followed her that day. Now, that’s a women’s ministry! They were focused and their minds were clear as they, too, picked up tambourines, followed her and worshipped God together.

What is in your hand? Use what is familiar to you to lead others to God. Are we so excited about what God has done in our lives that we can’t contain it? What is the most familiar thing in your hand-your Spiritual tambourine?

It could be a cell phone-call someone and tell them what God has done for you and that He can do the same for them. Pray over the phone.

It could be coffee cup-invite women to have a cup of coffee with you and get to know them better and be friend.

It could be a baby bottle- offer to sit with a child and encourage a worn out, tired mom to have some time to herself.

It could be your Bible- step out and hold a women’s Bible Study. Share the Gospel.

It could be your computer-use it to make contacts and send emails for events and prayer request, help others get started using a computer. Offer to do some research for women’s issues, help design flyers….

It could be your stove and potholders-you may be an excellent cook. Prepare meals for families in need. (Someone sick, just had a baby, death in family, just moved, lost a job…)

It could even be a broom-clean someone’s home.

It could be your voice or instrument-draw women into worship with your music.

It could be a file folder-you may be the greatest organizer. Help organize a women’s ministry.

It could be your heart to reach out to women-Start or help lead a Women’s Ministry.

Whatever is your Spiritual Tambourine, whatever is in your hand; play it with all your heart.

I have picked up my tambourine and I’m playing it with all my heart and I’m praying for some (Wesleyan) women followers to worship God together.

Love to All,
Saundra Lawson, Director, WW West MI