Fundraising for My Sisters Keeper

At the Flint Area WMS meeting in October, I asked that we as an Area, collect dimes (and other change) to donate to MSK. In the next couple of months we could potentially raise $5000.

Each local society is also asked to develop a fundraiser for MSK in addition to collecting dimes. Vernon Chapel and Bethel-Saginaw have both had very successful stay-at-home teas. Local presidents were e-mailed "71 Ways to Fundraise for the WMS," from our Conference treasurer, Orletta Caldwell. Remember, all funds collected should be sent to the Area (chairperson or financial secretary) for recording and then we will pass them on.

2nd Vice Presidents (area and Local) will oversee our Global Mission efforts.

Pray without Ceasing for Mary Hatter

An urgent message from Pres. Jackie Robinson:

Our beloved Mary Hatter and her family need our prayers in a mighty way. Sis. Mischa has just sent an e-mail that she is on a respirator and that she is not doing well. Paul tells us to pray for one another and to pray without ceasing. As you go about your day today, when you take a moment to sip some water or a cup of coffee, lift up Mary Hatter. As you stand in line waiting to handle business, lift up Mary Hatter. As you prepare to pick up the phone to make a call, lift up Mary Hatter. Instead of spending 30 minutes watching a television show, take that time and pray for Mary Hatter and the Hatter family. Call others and ask them to pray with you. We know the prayers of the righteous availeth much. Pray in the Spirit....whatever your Spirit leads you to pray for Mary, Pastor Hatter, her children and grandchildren - but pray without ceasing today for Sis. Hatter.

Reminder: 4th District Planning Meeting

The Bishop's 4th District Planning Meeting will be October 23 - 25, 2008 in Rosemont, IL. See the attached flyer.

(You can click on it to print it out.)

Battle Creek Area Meeting Postponed

The Battle Creek Area Meeting scheduled for Sunday, October 12, 2008 has been postponed per Conference president, Sis. Jacqueline Robinson. The meeting will be rescheduled at a later date. Please watch for upcoming details.

12 Hours in the Throne Room

The Flint Area WMS, as well as all other Areas throughout the 4th Episcopal District, will come together for an Area-wide Prayer Vigil. The date will be determined, but the time is set from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Each church is asked to consecrate 3 hours, and every Local, Area, and District officer, 12 hours.

The schedule for the vigil:

6:00 a.m. - The Hour of Doxology: Believers in Praise

7:00 a.m. - The Hour of Repentance: Believers return to God; for personal sin, for sins of the church, for sins of the nation.

8:00 a.m. - Prayers for the Church: Local, denominational, the persecuted church, Bishops, Pastors, leaders

9:00 a.m. - Hymns of Prayer: Led by Ministers of Music

10:00 a.m. - Teaching on Psalms of Prayer

11:00 a.m. - Teaching on the Lord's Prayer

Noon - Holy Communion: Presiding Elders

1:00 p.m. - Altar Call for the Sick: Women in Ministry

2:00 p.m. - Blessing of Children: (birth to 17 years): Local Pastors

3:00 p.m. - Teaching on Spiritual Warfare

4:00 p.m. - Prayer for the Nations

5:00 p.m. - 100 Men in Prayer

More information will be available at the 4th District Planning meeting in Rosemont, IL, October 23-25, 2008.

We Can Do All Things through Christ...

The 4th Episcopal District Women's Missionary Society, led by Rev. Dr. Cecelia Bryant, will strive to reach the following goals this conference year:

I. At the Women's Global Prayer Convocation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada - August 2009 (more info to come):

• 1000 U.S. registrants
• 500 Canadian registrants

II. Short-term Mission initiatives - 12 to 15 days in:

• India
• Haiti
• Liberia

III. Global Focus: Sudan

IV. District Focus: Pembroke, Illinois - Each Conference will send at least one team for 5 days.

V. Development: Church planting in Canada

VI. Eco-initiatives:

• 1000 trees
• 100 wells
• Urban gardens

VII. Mission Vision:

• 4 schools
• 4 clinics

More information will be available at the 4th District Planning Meeting in Rosemont, IL, October 23-25, 2008.

YPD Winter Leadership Training Institute

September 27, 2008

To: Pastors
Members/Officers of the Young People’s and Children’s Division
Members/Officers of the Women’s Missionary Society

Re: WINTER MEETING, Saturday, December 6, 2008
CRUSADE FOR CHRIST, Sunday, December 7, 2008, 4:00 p.m.

The Young People’s and Children’s Division, Michigan Conference will have their Winter Meeting, Saturday, December 6,2008, at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 535 Cathay, Saginaw, Michigan. On Sunday, December 7, 2008, 4:00 p.m., we will have our December Crusade for Christ, at Bethel, Saginaw.

Registration for the Winter Meeting is $ 30.00, which includes lunch, (see registration blank in this post). We are trying to be travel conscience and have arranged for overnight accommodations with the Hampton Inn, Saginaw. Rooms are available for $ 79.00 and include breakfast Sunday morning. You may contact the hotel directly at (989) 792-7666. Please reference Young People’s Division. The deadline for group rate is November 21, 2008.

Please contact your Area Director, Michael Cousin, YPD president, or myself if additional information is needed.

Growing, Glowing and Going for Christ,

Sis. Rosita Brockington, Director
Bro. Michael Cousin, President
Young People’s and Children’s Division

Tentative Schedule:

Saturday, December 6, 2008
10:00 a.m. - Gathering and registration

10:30 a.m. - Devotional Service

11:00 a.m. - Area Diaspora Leaders reports

Missiona and travel directives

1:00 p.m. - Lunch

2:00 p.m. - Workshops

4:00 p.m. - Winter Executive meeting

6:00 p.m. - Adjourn

Sunday, December 7, 2008
10:45 a.m. - Morning Worship @ Bethel - Saginaw
1:30 p.m. - Dinner (a local restaurant will be selected)
4:00 p.m. - Crusade for Christ

YPD's First Crusade for Christ of the Conference Year

The Michigan Conference Young People's and Children's Division invites you to it's first Crusade for Christ of the Conference year. Bro. Stephen Brumfield, former president of the Michigan Conference YPD, will bring the dynamic message.

Date: Sunday, October 12, 2008

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Location: St. Stephen AME Church - Detroit, MI

YPD Events

Sis. Rosita Brockington, Michigan Conference Young People's and Children's Division Director, has confirmed the following dates for the 2008-2009 conference year:

09.27.08 - Conference YPD Officers' Retreat (Greenfield Inn)

10.04.08 - Election of Central Detroit Area YPD Officers (St. Stephen- Detroit @ 1:00 p.m.)

10.11.08 - Election of Flint Area YPD Officers (Quinn Chapel - Flint @ 12 noon)

10.12.08 - Crusade for Christ (St. Stephen - Detroit @ 4:00 p.m.)

10.18.08 - Election of Ann Arbor Area YPD Officers (Campbell Chapel - Whittaker @2:00 p.m.)

10.19.08 - Election of Niles Area YPD Officers (Union Memorial - Benton Harbor @ 3:00 p.m.)

12.06.08 - Conference Leadership Training Institute (thru 12.07.08, Bethel - Saginaw - $30 registration includes lunch)

12.07.08 - Crusade for Christ (Bethel - Saginaw @ 4:00 p.m.)

05.16.08 - Spring Leadership Training Institute and Self-Denial Banquet (thru 05.17.08, Mt. Zion - Battle Creek)

05.17.08 - Crusade for Christ (Mt. Zion - Battle Creek)

Stay posted for additional Crusades for Christ dates.

Prayer List

Mr. Arnold Clarington was memorialized on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at Greater Quinn AMEC in Detroit. Mr. Clarington was the son of the late Rev. Issac Clarington and Mother Louise Clarington and the brother of Rev. Vivian Clarington.

Mr. Ephraim Curry passed last week in Royal Oak, MI. Mr. Curry was the gradfather of Rev. Gerald Cardwell, pastor of St. John in River Rouge.

We pray for peace and comfort of the families.

Dinner Social Hosted by Newman AME Church

The Men's and Women's Day committees of Newman AME Church in Pontiac invite you to a Dinner Social on October 10, 2008. It will be a fun-filled evening of fellowship and dancing.

Please contact Sis. Valerie Bates for more information at (248) 377-0499 or tboogem@comcast.net. Checks made out to Newman AME Church are due by Sunday, October 5, 2008. Thank you so much for your thoughtful participation.

Area Global Mission Responsibilities

Each area in the Michigan Conference (and throughout the 4th District) have taken on the responsibility for developing and generating resources - both financial and in-kind - for their chosen mission opportunity. Michigan Conference Areas have chosen to work with the following organizations:

- Flint Area: My Sister's Keeper (Mission Work in Sudan)

- Central Detroit Area: Doctors Without Borders

- Ann Arbor Area: Development of AME India

- Battle Creek Area: Health Care for Haiti

- Niles Area: The Green Belt Movement (ecology) Kenya

We will have opportunities for education on the Sudan, the war in Darfur, and how our efforts in local communities can help women and children in the region. See the left sidebar of this blog for news on the Sudan.

Mother Mary Williams Day at Bethel - Flint

The Rawls Missionary Society of Bethel AME Church in Flint invites you to come and be a part of their first Mother Mary Williams Day.

Mother Mary Williams' life and work in the church and the community will be celebrated. Mother Williams was a founding member of Bethel - Flint.

Theme: A Great Woman of Mission
Date: Sunday, October 19, 2008
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Bethel AME Church, 773 E Gillespie Ave., Flint, MI

Please share in this day with the missionaries of Bethel. They would appreciate your presence and financial support. Donations can be mailed to:

Bethel AME Church
P.O. Box 311043
Flint, MI 48531

Sis. Thelma Towner, Chairperson
Mother Rose Henry, President, Rawls Missionary Society
Rev. Darren K. Penson, Pastor

For questions or more information, you may e-mail or call Karen A. Davis, Area Chairperson, for contact information.

A Message from our New Michigan Conference President

September 30, 2008

Dear Pastors, WMS and Michigan Conference Officers,

Greetings is the Mighty and Magnificent name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is with the Joy and the abundant Love of Jesus that we, the Women’s Missionary Society and Young People’s Division of the AME Church, send this communication of introduction.

On August 19, 2008, the Elections for the Michigan Conference WMS were held. Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, Supervisor of the 4th Episcopal District, presided. Several new officers were elected on that day. The new President is Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson, a long-time member of St. Matthew AME Church in Detroit where Rev. Gloria J. Clark is Pastor. Jackie has served in the WMS and YPD on the District, Conference, Area and local levels of the WMS and YPD. We thank Almighty God for the return of Rosita Brockington as YPD Director. As many of you know, she is a long-time member of St. Stephen AME in Detroit, where Rev. Michael Cousin is Pastor.

It is with joy that we introduce the new 1st Vice President, Joyce Keys Garrison, First Lady of Vernon Chapel AME in Flint. We are blessed to have Joyce Johnson, First Lady of Bethel AME in Detroit, return as 2nd Vice President. And the 3rd Vice President -- also new -- is Tywanna Johnson, who serves faithfully at Oak Grove AME in Detroit.

The Area Chairpersons appointed for the 2008-09 Conference Year are:
Carolyn Graves (Union Memorial AME) returning as Niles Area Chairperson, Karen Davis (Quinn Chapel AME)returning as Flint Area Chairperson, newly appointed Bonita Cowan-Tucker (Bethel AME), Ann Arbor Area Chairperson; and newly appointed Carol Griffin (Ebenezer AME), Central Detroit Area. The Battle Creek Area Chairperson will be in place on or before Oct. 1.

Our Area Chairpersons are excited and on fire for God! We invite you to check out the Flint Area Blog at http://flintwms.blogspot.com and Battle Creek Area Blog at http://battlecreekwms.blogspot.com, where you can receive current information on District, Conference and Area news.

For the first time ever, the Michigan Conference has an elected Web Master, Diana Psalms, who is a member of Quinn Chapel in Flint. She is overseeing a team that includes Shaunese Cable (Greater Quinn AME in Detroit); they will post the Michigan Conference WMS Blog next week and produce a Website shortly thereafter.

We are excited to serve as the Michigan Conference Branch WMS officers for 2008-09. We ask for your prayers as we seek to serve Almighty God, and to serve Him, and only Him, in a More Excellent Way! We know that God can do all things and that if we submit to His will and His power, we can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us.

A more complete and detailed Roster will be sent to you shortly but we have included contact information for the officers.

To God Be the Glory for the things He has done and for the great things He will do!

In His Service,

Jackie Robinson
President, Michigan Conference Branch WMS

(Sis. Jackie included a list of Michigan Conference officers with this letter; I will forward a roster separately and the contact info will be available at our Flint Area meeting. - K.A.D.)

Flint Area YPD: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

The Flint Area Young People's and Children's Division has joined the fight against breast cancer. We are showing our support and making a difference by walking as a team in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The YPD will gather at 8:30 a.m. at Quinn Chapel AME Church in Flint.

Please join the YPD by offering your prayers, physical support by walking with them, and especially by donating funds. You can see the mission of the Flint Area YPD and donate to the cause at the team page (click on the link). If you prefer not to donate online, there is more information on the page as to where to mail in your donation.

Hope starts with one walker and one dollar at a time. Hope starts with our team. And hope can start with you.

Fint Area WMS & YPD Meet October 11th

Dear Flint Area Missionaries:

I feel truly blessed to have been re-appointed Flint Area Chairperson, and I am ready to work – with you by my side! Our first meeting of the Flint Area for the conference year will be Saturday, October 11, 2008 at Quinn Chapel AME Church. We appreciate the Turner Missionary Society for agreeing to host. Sis. Arzetta Johnson is local president and Rev. Stanley U. Sims is Pastor.

8:00 a.m. Area YPD gathers at Quinn Chapel for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk (To donate to the cause go to to donate at http://flintwms.blogspot.com. Please support the YPD in their mission efforts.)


11:00 a.m. Senior Society meeting begins
12:00 noon YPD meeting begins – Sis. Ola McMillian, Flint Area YPD Director

On the Agenda:

· Meet the new Michigan Conference officers. Many of them will be in attendance at our meeting

· The Gospel of John. Please begin to read and study if you have not done so already.

· Global and 4th District Initiatives, including My Sister’s Keeper, the Flint Area’s global mission focus.

· Mission and Outreach Goals

· Area Shares and Creative Funding Sources

· Brainstorming and Goal-setting

· Reading Cluster formation. See the book list on the Area blog.

· Elections. We will follow a similar nominating format as was used at the Michigan Conference Annual Convention. Please see the spiritual gifting outline in the previous post, and encourage members to pray about the role they want to play on the Area level.

· Calendar. Bring your event dates and activities.

We have much to discuss, but we should be finished by 2:00 p.m. Invite non-member
guests to attend this meeting – to listen and take part in our exciting activities. A
continental breakfast will be served and lunch will be served to the YPD after their walk.

Last but not least , big congratualtions to our newly elected Michigan Conference
officers from the Flint Area: Sis. Joyce Keys Garrison, 2nd Vice President (Vernon
Chapel – Flint), Sis. Geraldine Peterson, Flint Area Member-at-Large (Bethel-
Saginaw), and our first-ever Webmaster, Sis. Diana Psalms (Quinn Chapel – Flint).
Please give them your support.

Look forward to seeing your October 11th! As usual, check back here for updates.

Love and Peace,

Karen
Flint Area Chairperson

The Gifting

For the Election of Flint Area WMS Officers – A Leadership Self-Concept Interview

(Prepared by Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant)

Many women posses more than one leadership strength. The focus of this self-interview
is to identify the one dominant gift in your life experience. There is no right or wrong
category. All gifts are equal in kingdom value.

The Gifting:

A. I am an Intercessor for Change (Worship Leader – will execute the Area-wide prayer vigil)
My prayer life is central. I seek God’s will for the church and the world. My desire is for nations of souls to be led into the kingdom.

B. I generate resources for change (Treasurer and 1st Vice President)
I believe that with creativity and ingenuity, skills can be developed to create fresh streams of income for missions.

C. I empower/ equip/ educate for change (PME Director and 2nd Vice President)
I have the insight of a life coach, the gifting of a teacher and the compassion of a servant of the Lord. I can motivate women to grasp and embrace change!

D. I make change happen (President/Chairperson and YPD Director)
I can carry out an implement an idea. I don’t see problems; I see solutions. I know how to create maximum participation for maximum impact. I can motive women to work together for change. (Not to be elected; these offices are appointed to the Area level)

E. I can use technology to facilitate change (Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary)
I can effectively and efficiently utilize technology to generate resources, provide research and provide optimum communications. I can equip the Area and Conference to maintain ties with the 4th District, the Connection and the world.

F. I mobilize for change (3rd Vice President)
I relate well and communicate well with women from multiple sectors. I have the enthusiasm to expand our circle.

My Sister's Keeper

Women-led Humanitarian Action

"I understand that each day as I wake up on this side of freedom, I have a gift that comes with a responsibility."

My Sister's Keeper is a women-led, women-focused, humanitarian action group. They are a faith-inspired, multi-racial, collective of women who work together to lend sisterly assistance to communities of women in various locations throughout the World. At present, they are focused on supporting the aspirations of women in the African country of Sudan. It is their hope that their way of working together will inspire other small groups of women to form sisterhoods that support the hopes of women who dare dream in the face of dire socioeconomic conditions.

Vision
My Sister's Keeper envisions a world where women all across the globe can imagine, create and sustain vibrant and joyous communities.

Mission
Today, they are focused on assisting, protecting and advocating for the women of southern Sudan who live in Gogrial County. They befriend the women, listen to their stories, learn about their needs and support their aspirations for economic, educational and physical vitality. My Sister's Keeper aims to catalyze other women across the globe: to gather in sisterhood and harness human, financial and information resources to the women and communities they choose to serve.

Values
My Sister's Keeper carries out this vision and mission with humility and with joy. They have been empowered by God, and in return, respond to God's call to sisterhood and to service.

The Flint Area Women's Missionary Society (Michigan Conference, African Methodist Episcopal Church) has chosen to work with My Sister's Keeper, helping the women of the Sudan reach their goals for a better life.

For more information and to read more about their projects, see the My Sister's Keeper website.

About the Sudan and the War in Darfur

THE SUDAN

جمهورية السودان

"Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān"

Republic of Sudan

Capital: Khartoum
Largest City: Omdurman
Official Languages: Arabic & English
Government: Dictatorship, Military
President: Omar Hassan al-Bashir (1989)
Independence from Egypt & United Kingdom: Jan. 1, 1956

Area: 967,495 square miles (total)

Ethnicity/Race: Black-52%, Arab-39%, Beja-6%, Foreigners-2%, Other-1%

Religions: Islam (Sunni)-70% in north, Indigenous-25%, Christian-5% (mostly south and Khartoum)

Population, 2007 est.: 42,292,929

Birth rate: 33.9/1,000
Infant mortality rate: 59.6/1,000
Life expectancy: 59.3 years
Literacy rate (2003 est.): 61%
Gross Domestic Product: $80.71 billion, per capita: $2,200

For more facts and to compare with the United States, go to InfoPlease.com

THE WAR IN DARFUR

Darfur is a region about the size of France located in Western Sudan. A little over half of the six million people who live there are black Africans while the rest are Arab. It is a region that has faced severe underdevelopment and neglect from the central government.

In early 2003, two loosely allied rebel groups began a rebellion in Darfur, calling for the redress of social and economic grievances and demanding greater political power. Sudanese authorities saw the rebellion as a threat to the viability of the entire country, fearing other neglected regions would similarly rise up and demand larger degrees of autonomy. Thus, the government decided to respond by carrying out a deliberate policy of extermination against the African tribal peoples of Darfur from which the rebels are drawn.

Janjaweed, a large Arab militia, has been the main group employed by the government to implement this policy of genocide in Sudan. They are armed by the government and sent into various African villages where they proceed to kill civilians of all ages, burn down houses, destroy crops and livestock, carry out mass executions, target vital infrastructure, and commit wide-scale rape. Reports coming out of the region speak regularly of such brutal acts as men being chained together and thrown into burning huts, women being raped in front of their loved ones, and children being kidnapped from their families. To date, over 400,000 people have died as a result of the Sudan genocide campaign and 2.5 million have been internally displaced.

Despite the denial of involvement with such crimes by the Sudanese government, the facts show that high ranking officials are coordinating the Sudan genocide. Sudanese intelligence forces are known to be in close communication with the militias and air force planes regularly conduct bombing raids on villages and fleeing civilians prior to Janjaweed invasions. In July of 2004, Human Rights Watch released a report revealing internal government documents showing that the central government both armed and coordinated the Janjaweed to carry out the Sudan genocide. In addition, the government has gone to great lengths to make sure that no news reporters or humanitarian personnel are allowed into the villages being targeted in Darfur.

The United States has already officially labeled the crisis in Darfur “genocide” and the United Nations has called it “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.”

For more information, see the United Human Rights Council

Global Mission Opportunities for the 4th District WMS

Missionaries of the 4th District will spread the love of Christ globally by by assisting the following orgainzations and causes:

1. My Sister's Keeper (mission work in Sudan) - adopted by the Flint Area WMS
2. 11 Basic (Primary) schools in Jamaica
3. Doctors without Borders
4. Tsepong Orphanage for Children with AIDS (Lesotho)
5. The Children's Defense Fund
6. Development of AME India
7. Health Care for Haiti (see the Battle Creek Area WMS blog)
8. Bryant Seminary in Liberia
9. Reorientation of child soldiers in Sierra Leone
10. The Green Belt Movement (ecology) Kenya

4th District WMS Required Reading 2008-2009

Read, Research, Reflect, Respond!

The following reading list is suggested by Rev. C to guide us on our missionary journey this year. Rev. C says, "The nine books on this list help us to begin to inform ourselves as we pray to become effective Missionaries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

She suggests creating Reading Clusters/Circles of 5 people with whom you can dialogue and gain fresh perspective and discussing specific writings at each local, area, conference, and district meeting.

- A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture by Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor
- Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf, Larry Spears & Stephen R. Covey
- Ten Poems to Change Your Life Again and Again by Roger Housden
- The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission by Lesslie Newbigin
- Come Away My Beloved, Devotional Classic by Frances J. Roberts
- Authority in Prayer: Praying with Power and Purpose by Dutch Sheets
- Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century - Alex Steffen, editor
- What Matters Most: Ten Lessons in Living Passionately from the Song of Solomon by Renita J. Weems
- Living Water by Brother Yun

Dr. C further advises, "Make Missions meaningful through enlightenment. Enjoy the journey. Let the Holy Spirit guide you. You will know where you should begin. Some may be read together; others a chapter at a time; and then others you will have to read and come back to. Don't have time? Turn off the television, your cell phone or unnecessary chatter. Fifteen minutes here and there will lead to hours of inspiration. 'Trust the process.'"

4th District Planning Meeting - October 23rd-25th

Crowne Plaza Hotel - Rosemont, Illinois
Room rate: $99 (Deadline for reservations, October 8, 2008)
Parking: $5 per day for hotel guests only

Thursday
Noon WMS Cabinet Luncheon (Conference Presidents, Treasurers, District Officers, Area Chairs, Connectional Officers)

2:00 p.m. Opening Plenary

7:00 p.m. Opening Worship Service

Friday

9:00 a.m. Prayer Riot

9:30 a.m. Bible Study: Gospel of John

10:30 a.m. Tai Chi

11:00 a.m. Team Building for Prayer Convocation

Noon Hour of Power

3:00 p.m. Covenant Vision, Covenant Leadership
a. Election of District Officers
b. Adoption of District Budget

7:00 p.m. Worship Service

Saturday

Plenary Service

Quinn Chapel - Flint is sponsoring a bus that will leave Thursday morning. Contact the church office at (810) 238-5636.

We are Equipped for Success

God has equipped us with everything we need to carry out the work of missions. We are prepared when we study His word and carry it with us daily, hourly, every minute and every second.

At the 4th District Christian Education Congress this past July in Lisle, IL, during a working session with Dr. Cecelia Bryant, we determined who we are as defined by God's word. Missionaries of the 4th Epsicopal Distrct will memorize the following verses by the 4th District Planning meeting this October:

We are:

• Patient: Hebrews 12:1 & Romans 15:5


• Understanding: Philippians 4:7


• Truthful: Proverbs 12:19


• Compassionate: Matthew 9:36


• Cohesive: Psalms 133:1


• Loyal: Ruth 1:16-18


• Sincere: 1 Peter 2: 1-2


• Committed: Psalm 37:5


• Focused: Psalm 119:37


• Open-minded: Galatians 3:28


• Prayerful: I Thessalonians, James 5:15 & Ephesians 3:14-16


• Self-Caring: Romans 12:1 and Ephesians 6:11


• Resourceful: Philippians 4:19


• Loving: I Corinthians 13:1

In addition, during this Conference Year we will study the Gospel of John.

Let's prepare ourselves for the work of missions!

Hello Again

Missionary Sisters and Brothers,

It is my pleasure to have been re-appointed Chairperson of the Flint Area Women's Missionary Society. I enjoyed serving last year, and it was quite a learning experience.

As most of you know, we have new leadership on the District and Conference Branch Levels: we have dynamic Episcopal leadership in Bishop John and Rev. Dr. Cecelia Bryant; and my good sister-friend, Jacqueline Mitchell Robinson, is our energetic new president of the Michigan Conference.

Get ready for positive change! Our Episcopal Supervisor, Rev. Cecelia (or Rev. C) has a lot in store for us. She is truly a woman of God and a woman of vision. She has given us our assignements and we must prepare ourselves for the work of missions.

Bookmark and check this blog (http://flintwms.blogspot.com/) for information and activities of the Women's Missionary Society. You may also e-mail me with your local activities, and I will share them here on the blog. The following resources and activities will be outlined in subsequent posts:

Take up your sword! We have a wealth of Bible verses that prove to us that we are already equipped for success. Read them, learn them, and hide them in your heart.

Read to lead! We have a list of nine books that will help us in our mission work. We can create Reading Clusters and discuss the writings at our Area meetings.

On the Move! Stay posted for an on-line calendar of WMS and AME Church activities. The 4th District Planning Meeting will be October 23 - 25, 2008 in Rosemont, IL.

My Sister's Keeper! Each Area of the 4th District chose a global mission focus, and Missionaires from the Flint Area chose the Sudan. In particular, we will be working with My Sister's Keeper, an organization that assists women and girls in the Sudan, advocating for their health, education and work life.

We are responsible for the earth! We'll be planting trees, digging wells and doing other things to make this world better.

12 Hours in the Throne Room! We will hold an Area-wide Prayer Vigil that will include every church.

As you can see, we will be busy, and we know we can do all things through Christ who stregthens us!

Love and Peace,

Karen