Live sept oct 2017 pdfv6

live A Baptist resource for women on a mission September - October 2017 ¡ $3.50

Setting up your prayer room for LOVE DAY

(pages 8-15)

live in this issue columns Global Mission

18 » Finding Yourself Halfway Around

the World: One woman’s call to overseas mission 19 » A Window on Africa: World Day of Prayer 2017 Reaching My Nation

16 » God’s Heart for Justice Bible Study

6 » Pay Attention!

Room to Pray

8 » Tips and ideas to help you host a prayer room for LOVE DAY 2017

Using My Gifts 20 » Mutuality and Equality Women’s Ministries 21 » Heritage Connections Being intentionally inclusive 22 » Laura’s Corner 23 » We Remember

features 3 My Lord and My God

Bringing all of your self to the Word

5 The Trouble with Feelings

Cover: Artwork by Sarah Dorweiler

2

Connecting I write this while in countdown mode to my first ever Baptist Women’s short-term mission trip . . . to Les Cayes, Haiti. I never imagined my first “official” mission trip would see me back in the West Indies, being part of ministry in a country whose history I knew very little of prior to this trip.

Haiti never hits Canadian news unless it’s epic: earthquakes, hurricanes, Haitians fleeing the United States to camp out in Montreal.

Outside of that reporting there’s a collective vacuum; a feeling that there’s not much one can do to help Haiti so why bother. (That’s the sense I got from family members as I shared about the trip.)

And so I wonder what I’ll discover in Haiti about the bonds I share with the Haitian women I’ll meet. We are West Indian women of colour. We share the same history of colonialism: In Trinidad, the oil-rich island in the West Indies, and even from a well-off family, I grew up colonialized; classified based on education, accent and skin colour.

We share faith in triune God. I hope they’ll teach me, even a little, about how their faith survives in the face of extreme long-term poverty and geopolitical isolation; about how the Spirit moves them; about how they know (or not) that God wants to use them to transform Haiti.

Spiritual transformation involves understanding your roots; the land on which you took your first steps; your heritage of family and nation. I wonder which aspects of my identity as a West Indian-Canadianevangelical-charismatic-Convention Baptist woman God intends to turn inside out and rearrange because of this trip.

RJ 

live • September - October 2017

VOLUME 90, NUMBER 5 live (formerly The Link & Visitor) began as The Canadian Missionary Link (1878) and Baptist Visitor (1890). Published bi-monthly by Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec 5 International Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 416-620-2954 Fax 416-622-2308 bwoq@baptist.ca www.baptistwomen.com Executive director Diane McBeth Editor and communications director Renée James 416-651-8967 rsejames@gmail.com Art director Donna Lee Pancorvo of GEPM Group Inc. (www.gepmgroup.com) Contributors Linda Ellsworth, Diane McBeth, Sandi Smoker, Casey Wigg, Morgan Wolf Circulation and subscriptions Subscriptions 416-620-2954 bwoq@baptist.ca Subscriptions Individual: $20* (direct or through promoters) US & overseas: $39 All currency in $C unless otherwise noted.

The publication of comments, opinions, or advertising does not necessarily imply CBWOQ agreement or endorsement. All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in print or on websites without permission. Advertising inquiries and freelance submissions should be addressed to the editor.

Member, Canadian Church Press.

ISSN 2293-5096.

Canada Post Customer Number 1008592.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

*includes HST Funded by the Government of Canada

feature article

My Lord and my God Bringing all of your self to the Word

Unsplash.com

by Sandi Smoker Sandi is the former president of Women In Focus (the women’s ministry arm of Canadian Baptists of Western Canada).

She volunteers as a counsellor and course facilitator at South Island Centre for Counselling and Training in Victoria, BC.

One of my favourite scenes in the movie You’ve Got Mail shows shop owner, Kathleen Kelly, reading a story to a gathering of children.

The story is good but the real joy comes through each child’s captivated expression. The children enter the story as if it were real.

Ignatius of Loyola also loved a good story. History tells us this 16th century Spanish soldier, injured in battle, travels to his father’s house to recuperate where he reads and re-reads the two books available to him—books on the life of Christ and His followers. Over many bedridden hours, Ignatius develops a keen imagination for the biblical story. He sees Jesus walking the lakeshore, interacting with children and old women, going off to pray alone, eating fish, teaching on a hillside, healing the leprous. The Gospels draws Ignatius into a new reality, toward conversion and rigorous theological studies. He writes his famous Spiritual Exercises as a means of training others in sensory prayer practice for the purpose of simply enjoying God. I first learned of Ignatius during a time of spiritual discernment. My mentor suggested I pray a simple version of Ignatian Spiritual Exercises over the course of a day and journal whatever emerged. The practice remains a significant part of my devotional life.

For example, my reading today centres on John 20:24-29 where Jesus invites Thomas to see for himself the risen Christ. I read the text aloud and imagine Thomas entering the room where he learns of Jesus’ visit from his friends and responds with skepticism. Then Jesus appears and invites Thomas to feel His hands and side. I hear Thomas respond with reverence. I sit with the telling, aware that the Holy Spirit leads my thoughts and reminds me of all He has taught me in the past.

I read a second time and sense the character of this common-sense man who wants to meet Jesus in the flesh, someone concrete he can count on. I feel Thomas’ frustration and grief. I hear Jesus’ tenderness, His invitation to Thomas to engage with the truth—that Jesus is risen and yet still wounded. I see Thomas reach toward Jesus; the disciples look on. I see him turn his gaze toward Jesus’ face. Such love. “Do not doubt but believe.” And Thomas whispers, “My Lord and my God.” The disciples smile and lift their hands in praise.

I read a third time and feel myself standing before Jesus. I raise my eyes and meet His gaze. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet

live • September - October 2017

3

feature article have come to believe.” I say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God.” I sense the great cloud of witnesses surrounding me, offering praise.

My face is wet with tears. I sit in silence before God and He opens my heart to understand that His wounds reach into my life, into my trauma and pain where His compassion heals, atones for my lack of faith and my wanderings.

Jesus is big enough to address my skepticism and does so without condemnation. He isn’t surprised

by Thomas, nor is He surprised by me. He anticipates every eventuality and atones for it all.

Like Thomas, I don’t want a fairy-tale god who expects me to take others’ word for Him. I want Someone who invites me to engage with Him, in His humanity and in His divinity. My Lord and my God understands the earthiness of my fallen existence, my skepticism, the imperfections of my belief—even as I worship among friends. I need His wounds

to reach into mine and grace me with unreasonable redemption.

Practicing the presence of God means employing all our God-given gifts, including our imaginations, and attending to the Incarnate Son, to Scripture and to the faith community where we hear God speak the Gospel story, a story that meets us in our earthy reality and gives us back our humanity. 

MARK THE DATE!

CBWOQ’s April 2018 Women’s Conference

Come Thirsty | Drink Deeply . . . because there’s more

Jesus invites you to drink deeply, because He wants to give you more.

Say yes to His invitation.

Friday April 27 (evening) - Saturday April 28

Mississauga Chinese Baptist Church, Mississauga Speakers: Terry Long (Quiet Pools, Ottawa) and Meghan Matthews (Next Generation Ministries - CBOQ) Worship Leader: Melissa Davis

Full details including a mail-in registration form in the November/December issue of live magazine

4

live • September - October 2017

feature article

The Trouble With Feelings Sometimes God’s presence and attention feel as near as my next breath; every thought and moment experienced as though I was holding onto His hand for whatever comes next. Whether it is to swing from His strong arm for fun like I did with my own dad when I was small, or clinging tightly to make it through something painful or scary, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is with me. Sometimes this dynamic goes on for days or

Sometimes I am living life the way it was meant to be lived weeks on end and I feel as though I am living life the way that it was meant to be lived, sharing the sort of communion with Him that wets your eyes when you start to think about it too much.

But then, there are other times.

I wander into them unaware and suddenly find myself overwhelmed and grasping around for God, who suddenly seems extremely far away or nonexistent. It happened to me the other day.

Flipping through a women’s magazine at the hair salon, an overwhelming sense of my insignificance washed over me.

I had failed at everything I had put my hand to; at relationships; at career. I had failed at building a lovely home. Failed at . . . fill in the blank. The list went on and on, rolling across my thoughts like a never-ending news churn of accusation and self-pity that left me silently caterwauling at God. I was still in the chair after all, and tinfoil crown aside, I didn’t want to fail at looking sane.

I’m learning to pay attention to moments like these when an unforeseen wave of spiritual turmoil knocks me off my feet and sends me gasping to God as I attempt to withstand an onslaught of feelings that seem to have sprouted from nowhere.

My pattern has been to immediately start in with God, begging Him to rescue me, change me, change something because I can’t bear to feel this way a moment longer. It has always struck me as so bizarre that in these most emotional of moments, God is silent and seems gone.

It occurs to me that maybe God doesn’t appreciate being the recipient of such reactionary prayers. While I have been driven to pray; it isn’t a conversation of faith, for faith has no part in it. It is more like a desperate whine, the kind of noise that elicits irritation

rather than compassion.

At the hair salon, I was just jabbering to myself in my tinfoil hat. God wasn’t ignoring me. He just wasn’t about to participate in a conversation whose primary premise was a lie—particularly one about Himself or one of His children—me.

The trouble with feelings, though, is that they feel so real—so powerful— regardless of whether or not they have anything to do with the truth. The Holy Spirit speaks the language of faith, and doubting God and His goodness toward you is a surefire way to wind up talking to yourself and not to Him. It occurs to me that those moments when I experience God the most fully— the most wholeheartedly— are when I believe Him; when I agree with His Word rather than trying to make Him agree with me.

God is never going to agree with a lie regardless of who it is about. Neither will He feel the need to generate solutions for problems that don’t actually exist.  Unsplash.com

by Morgan Wolf Morgan is a writer from Calgary, Alberta. She blogs about her faith and writing at www. anothergratuituousmdash. blogspot.ca

live • September - October 2017

5

Bible study

Pay Attention!

“Ben, I am trying to tell you something VERY IMPORTANT! Now look Grandma in the eyes and pay attention!”

Of course, the moment Ben’s adorable four-yearold face comes into this grandmother’s focus, we both dissolve into uncontrollable giggles. So much for “pay attention.”

Don’t you think the Father is much like that with us, His children? With every breath of life, with each snapshot of His creation or whisper of the Spirit within, with every loving word that proceeds from His mouth, He calls to us: “Come on, child, pay attention. I have something VERY IMPORTANT to tell you.

It is this:”

by Linda Ellsworth Linda is the member care coordinator for Christian Camping International, Canada.

6

I. I AM AT WORK. • My work is Powerful READ Psalm 19 (NIV if possible) Displayed through creation (v. 1-6) Pay attention and describe My incredible work in the heavens.

Especially note the importance of the word “circuit” in verse 6. _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Displayed through My statutes. (v.

7-9) My child, when I use the following words, what do they mean to you, and what am I trying to teach you about Me? (from NIV) • Law _____________________ _________________________ • Statutes __________________ _________________________ • Precepts _________________ _________________________ • Commands _______________ _________________________ • Fear _____________________ _________________________ • Ordinances (judgments) _________________________ What VALUE do I place on the above? (v. 10-11) _________________________ _________________________ How will you RESPOND to what I am teaching you? (v. 12-14) _________________________ _________________________

live • September - October 2017

• My work is Personal READ I Kings 19 Have you ever felt like My servant Elijah when he was on the run from Jezebel? Look at verse 4. In our conversation, he told Me: _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ I even had to have an angel of mine feed him until we could meet! And then, we had one of those “pay attention” conversations.

Describe it again for Me. (v. 9 – 18) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ If I loved Elijah that much, do I not love you that much as well, My child?

READ Ephesians 2:10 • My work is Perpetual READ Deuteronomy 31: 6-8 Remember when My servant Joshua was taking over as the new leader of Israel? What did I promise him then? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Just as a reminder, read again My promises to him in Joshua 1:5-9.

Now READ Matthew 28:16-20 Does this not sound like my promise to Joshua?

Bible study Now READ Acts 1:4-11 What promises did I make to My Son’s followers? Are you not one of them? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ And of course, My work goes on . . .

II . . . IN YOU! • I AM constructively CHANGING you.

READ I Peter 2:4.5.9 Imagine. You are one of My “living stones.” According to these verses, what am I doing in and for you? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ In her devotional Whispers of Hope, author Beth Moore says “. . . Peter referred to believers [using the word] lithos, which can refer to small or large stones.

Interestingly, lithos is also the original term used for the stone rolled away from Christ’s tomb.

Wouldn’t it be something if our lives became living stones exposing the empty tomb—the proof Jesus lives? What if people were convinced we worship a living Saviour simply by watching the effervescent life of the Spirit in us?”* *Beth Moore, Whispers of Hope, LifeWay Press, Nashville, Tennessee, July 2007, p. 30

Do you trust Me as your Master Builder?

READ Ephesians 2:14-22 Tell Me about My blueprints. _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ • I AM constantly FILLING you.

READ John 14:15-21 Are you afraid, My child? Don’t be, for I have promised you . . . _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Do you have days of doubt?

READ Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 4:4-7 I have secured you as . . . _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Having trouble with our conversations?

READ Romans 8:23-27 You can talk with Me any time because . . . _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ • I AM continuously POURING My Spirit in and through you.

READ I Corinthians 3:17,18

By My Spirit, you are being . . . _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ READ Galatians 5:16, 22-25 Walk with Me, child, and My Spirit will produce in you: _________________________

_________________________ _________________________ READ Ephesians 3:14-21 Live in Me and My Spirit will do the most amazing things in and through you! _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Now, My child, look in My eyes, and pay attention. I know what I’m about! 

When God wants to drill a (girl) And thrill a (girl), And skill a (girl), When God wants to mold a (girl) To play the noblest part; When He yearns with all His heart To create so great and bold a (girl) That all the world shall be amazed, Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects Whom He royally elects; How He hammers (her) and hurts (her), And with mighty blows converts (her) Into trial shapes of clay which Only God understands.

While(her) tortured heart is crying, And (she) lifts beseeching hands; How He bends but never breaks, With His good He undertakes; How He uses whom He chooses And with every purpose fuses, By every act induces (her) To try His splendor out; God knows what He’s about!

Author unknown; adapted from ODZ ‘N ENZ; Robert Parsons; Moody Press, 1954 Unsplash.com

live • September - October 2017

7

ROOM TO PRAY – LOVE DAY 2017 As part of its bi-annual theme Come Thirsty | Drink Deeply Baptist Women has focused on prayer and different approaches to prayer throughout 2017.

You’ll find articles in live magazine, blogs and resources at www.baptistwomen.com on the Room To Pray page, the classic Prayer by Ole Hallesby on the theme resources reading list; lots of photos on Baptist Women’s Pinterest account (Baptist Women) and numerous links and ideas posted to Facebook.

Why? Because Baptist Women believes that mission flows out

of an authentic transformative experience of God and that experience is rooted in prayer.

We want to culminate our focus on prayer for 2017 by having Baptist women host interactive prayer rooms in their churches for LOVE DAY – Saturday, November 4.

To offer readers some ideas on how to set up their prayer room for LOVE DAY, Monique Tatsu from First Baptist Church, Chatham, and Renée James, got together to pray and imagine what a LOVE DAY interactive prayer room would look like. In the following pages, they share their process and the prayer stations they created.

To create the prayer stations, Monique and Renée followed the process taught by Hannah Agalawatte, prayer leader with the Greater Ontario House of Prayer. Hannah set up the prayer rooms used at the last two April Baptist Women’s conferences.

She has also trained several Baptist women to set up prayer rooms.

Visit www.baptistwomen.com and the Room To Pray page for: • more LOVE DAY prayer station ideas from Monique and Renée • a podcast featuring Hannah Agalawatte • more How-To tips on setting up a prayer room

“Prayer stations are powerful because you remember them. It’s an experience, an all-body experience.”

“When we talked that first meeting, that was the foundation. It was 90 minutes. The time went so quickly and it built. We were energized; it was not just us—it was the Holy Spirit. We were so in sync.”

“The stations were still very personal as we were building them, even though we were building them for others.”

“It was fun!”

Monique Tatsu on her experience building these LOVE DAY prayer stations.

8

live • September - October 2017

ROOM TO PRAY – The Process

1

Reading and praying through Scripture Monique and Renée agreed that they would read aloud the LOVE DAY verse and the entire passage of Scripture in which that verse is found (Jeremiah 29:2-14).

They also agreed that as they read aloud, they would listen for how God would speak to them about the room: If words or phrases from the passage resonated with them, they would write them down.

For at least 35 minutes, they read the passage four times, pausing between each reading. They decided to take turns reading aloud so the other could just listen.

2

Discerning themes for prayer stations After their prayer time, Monique and Renée shared their respective lists. They BOTH had the following words on their lists: build, seek, pray.

Other words and phrases resonated separately.

After comparing lists, they prayed again, asking God to confirm which words and phrases from their lists would be the ones on which the prayer room would be built.

3

Brainstorming ideas for prayer stations After praying and listening, the ladies whittled down the list of words and phrases to six key phrases. They then brainstormed ideas for prayer stations based on those phrases.

4

Building the stations They gathered materials, wrote out instruction sheets and pulled together the stations you see on the following pages.

Some helpful hints on setting up the room • Create a space for each station. The station will dictate what sort of space is required, but normally a table on which visitors will find the instructions and materials will be sufficient.

• Spread the stations out around your room so that participants will be able to move freely between them.

• Include space around your room for participants to simply sit and worship.

• Spend some time designing your stations with material, candles and other elements that seem appropriate.

• Print the instructions for each station and place them where they can be seen easily.

• Place the materials on each station.

• Have seating at each station (chairs, cushions or prayer mats).

• Consider creating one station where lemon or orange essential oils are diffused.

• Play some soft music while people are engaged with the stations to cut down on distractions and help keep people focused. Or have music at one prayer station.

• Provide hand sanitizer or wipes if the stations involve touching things or getting hands dirty.

• Prior to the room opening, create a list and ask people to sign up to pray for one hour in the prayer room. Try to fill as many slots during the time that the prayer room is open.

• Decide whether you will offer prayer to people who visit the prayer room. Get teams organized to offer this ministry if needed. (These could be the same people as the one-hour pray-ers.)

live • September - October 2017

9

I AM THE POTTER, YOU ARE THE CLAY (”build”) You’ll need • several pieces of clay (playdough can be used) • wipes and hand sanitizer • container in which to throw used wipes

Instructions for visitors “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) In Isaiah 64:8, the prophet calls God the potter and us—clay, the work of God’s hands.

God has made us AND He’s also equipped us.

In our LOVE DAY theme passage of Jeremiah 29:4-14, we read that God has chosen us to accomplish His plans. He asks us to pray, settle down and build. He calls us to be His hands.

This station reminds us of these words.

Take a piece of clay (or playdough) and knead it in your fingers.

As you do: • Thank God for moulding you.

• Ask God to show you what He wants you to build or build upon in your own life.

• Ask God to show you where He wants to use you in your home, work and community.

• Thank God for giving us the tools we need to be His hands in our communities.

10

live • September - October 2017

FINGER WALK YOUR CITY (”seek”) Instructions for visitors “And seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for if it prospers, you will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:7 (NLT)

You’ll need • a large map of your town/city taped/glued to a sturdy piece of cardboard

Why do we LOVE our communities on LOVE DAY? Because God wants us to.

Jeremiah 29:7 tells us that we love our cities and towns when we pray for their peace, prosperity and welfare.

Take your finger, choose a street on the map and trace (walk) the street. As you do: • Praise the Lord that He is a God who knows the name of the street you’re tracing.

• As you trace, be reminded that the earth is the Lord’s and everything on it.

• Pray for peace and prosperity and wholeness for every person who lives or works on that street.

• Ask the Lord to show you how He wants you to seek the peace and prosperity of your city/ town.

(You may want to trace the route you take to work or to church. You may want to trace the streets in your neighbourhood or streets you wouldn’t walk alone at night.)

live • September - October 2017

11

RIBBON TYING (”I will listen”)

You’ll need • netting or material through which visitors can tie pieces of ribbon • 5 jars with different coloured ribbons in each jar and labelled as follows: green = thanksgiving blue = prayers for the world pink = adoration and praise red = prayers for others (family, friends—for health, their salvation, etc.) yellow = confession and forgiveness

Instructions for visitors God declares through Jeremiah that He’s a God who listens. (Jeremiah 29:12) Take a ribbon from any of the labelled jars below and tie the ribbon to the wire. As you tie the ribbon, pray according to the colour you’ve picked: • green = thanksgiving • blue = prayers for the world • pink = adoration and praise • red = prayers for others (family, friends—for health, their salvation, etc.)

• yellow = confession and forgiveness Once you’ve tied your ribbon(s), take a moment to pray over the ribbons already attached.

12

live • September - October 2017

I SPY! (”I will be found by You”)

You’ll need • a Word Search book OR a Where’s Waldo book (or both) • a magnifying glass

Instructions for visitors “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU,” declared the Lord.” Jeremiah 29: 13-14 (emphasis ours) What an amazing promise God makes to us!

In this passage, God declares that He will be found by you when you seek Him. In times of deep trouble, it may seem like He has forgotten you, but God may be preparing you just as He did the exiled Jewish elders and priests in Babylon.

You find God. And God finds you.

Try to find Waldo on any page of the Where’s Waldo book or find a word from any Word Search puzzle. Use the magnifying glass to get a closer look.

Now close your eyes and imagine that when you pray, God finds you . . . out of all the people in the world. Isn’t that amazing? You are special and loved by your Heavenly Father. He will always be found by you!

Take some quiet time and thank God for His promise.

live • September - October 2017

13

HEALING AND PROMISE (”I will bring you back”) You’ll need • a cross • Band-Aids (in a pile on the table) • markers and/or Sharpies • candles or some soft lighting

Instructions for visitors “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future . . . I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity.’” Jeremiah 29:11,14 (NIV) God knows the future and His plans for us are good and full of promise.

We can have boundless hope because God’s the master builder and planner who builds us and uses us for His service and mission.

Yes, we will know pain, suffering, hardships and death. But God holds our hands and sees us through to a glorious ending.

Take a Band-Aid from the pile and write a word, phrase or name on it. Then stick the Band-Aid on the cross.

• Pray for that person or situation.

• Pray that God will heal, reveal His promises and bring deliverance.

“Lord, enlighten what’s dark.

Strengthen what’s weak.

Mend what’s broken.

Bind what’s bruised.

Heal what’s sick and Revive the peace and love that have died.”

14

live • September - October 2017

PROMISE JAR (” . . . declares the Lord”) You’ll need • a container or mason jar with a wide neck (easy for hands to reach into) • strips of paper on which declarations or promises from God the Father and God the Son are printed If you’d like some declarations, visit the Room To Pray page at www. baptistwomen.com. Monique and Renée have created a list to get you started.

GOD NEVER BREAKS HIS PROMISES

Instructions for visitors In Jeremiah’s letter to the remaining elders and priests in exile he writes: “declares the Lord” no less than seven times. (Jeremiah 29:2-23) We understand Jeremiah’s need to get the message across!

However, we often forget that God does declare words of promise and words of caution to us.

He uses Scripture. He uses our pastors, Sunday school teachers, family, friends, bosses and mentors. And sometimes, He just speaks directly to us.

Take a strip of paper from the promise jar and read it. Then: • Praise the Lord that He is a God who declares good things over you.

• Be reminded of the Lord’s presence with you every minute of every day.

• Pray God’s declaration over yourself (make it personal).

• Pray God’s declaration over your community.

• Pray that people in your community will experience the reality and sweetness of the Lord’s declaration—His promise—for them.

• Thank the Lord for this specific declaration.

You may keep the declaration or return it to the jar.

live • September - October 2017

15

reaching my nation

God’s Heart for Justice When you hear the stories of horrendous suffering, particularly in the area of human trafficking you might get all revved up, wondering how you could make a huge impact in the world.

Or you may shrink back, because really . . . what can one woman do?

GraphicStock.com

by Casey Wigg Casey is the founder of SOS Student Justice Mission, a 12-month spiritual formation and justice mission opportunity.

SOS equips high school students and young adults to articulate their faith while supporting a transitional house for trafficked survivors and raising awareness of human trafficking in Toronto.

She presented the material in this article at Baptist Women’s Day of Prayer conference in November 2016.

16

Before you charge ahead, or shrink, I’d like us all to pause.

I am in the first group that wants to charge full steam ahead.

For years, millions of Syrians have been displaced and their plight unnoticed. Then a photograph of a boy’s body on a beach stirred the hearts of people around the world. Suddenly everyone was raising funds, sponsoring a Syrian family. It is so good, so important that we reach out to the many refugees needing support. But it has the risk of becoming a badge to wear that slowly fades.

Justice work has the potential of becoming another disposable trend among Christians. For this not to be so, justice work must be anchored in a foundation of theology, Scripture and communion with God. “Seeking justice does not begin at the door of a brothel. Seeking justice begins with seeking the God of justice.” (Hoang, Bethany.

Deepening the Soul for Justice, Westmont, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2012.)

God loves justice (Isaiah 61:8). In fact Isaiah says that the Lord was displeased when He saw there was no justice. (Isaiah 59:15,16).

Some New Testament translations do not use the word justice. This is because the original Greek word used was dikaiosune, a word which includes both justice and righteousness (Strongs Lexicon 1343) but is almost always

live • September - October 2017

translated as righteousness.

If we plugged the word justice in these familiar NIV passages where diokaiosune was used they would read like this: • Matthew 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and justice, and all these things will be given to you as well.

• 1 Peter 2:24: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness and justice; by his wounds you have been healed Maybe I have not allowed myself to see it before. The cost of discipleship, the cost of obedience felt too high, but now I am reading Scripture, really looking for God’s heart for justice.

In doing so, I am falling in love, really falling in love all over again with who Jesus is and what He truly said and did. We need to go back and look to how Christ lived and the instructions we were given. Read John 13:34-35 and 1 Peter 4:8-11. We are called to love one another, to practice hospitality, to use our gifts to serve others.

Imagine a world where the Church—all 2.18 billion Christians (one-third of the world’s total population)—sought justice without rest, breaking the yoke of the oppressor, caring for the widow and the orphan, dispersing wealth, confronting racial discrimination. This is Good

reaching my nation News! This would beg attention from the world.

My personal faith has never felt so vibrant, so passionate, so in love with Jesus. Justice is our worship in action and it draws us closer to Jesus’ heart.

In Deepening the Soul for Justice, Bethany Hoang writes: “Everyday we have the opportunity to respond to the injustice we see in the world. And every day we will be tempted to figure it out on our own, whether that means charging ahead with blind ambition or shrinking back in frustrated resignation.

“Sometimes, when faced with enormous need in our world today, we ask, What can I do? And as Christians, often what we are really thinking is, What can I do . . . besides just pray? But usually when we ask this question it is not because we have grown to a place of satiation in our prayer life, but rather we are at a place of exasperation, thinking to ourselves, I hardly even know where to begin when praying, and I’m not sure how it can possibly be as effective as doing something other than praying.”

Reading the chapter headings of Hoang’s book gives us an outline of what we need to do to sustain our justice journeys and stay in the fight for the long haul. We need to stop, see, open, choose, ask, proclaim and remember. The spiritual disciplines of prayer, Sabbath keeping and reading Scripture are what must form, inform and even transform our actions. 

Praying for those involved in sex trafficking For those who work in the sex industry, and for those who are being exploited Pray for women who work in sex industries: for safety, support, protection, and caring individuals to walk through life with them.

Pray for women who are internationally trafficked through Toronto and other major cities, that those working in services such as border control, customs, transportation and hotels would recognize them and offer them a way out.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to move in the lives of women, children, gays and transgendered individuals working in the sex industry . . . that Christ be revealed to them.

For those forced into prostitution; for those who are dependent on this industry to feed their families or to continue addictions, pray for safety and opportunities to know the healing and restoration found in Christ.

For the ‘johns’ Pray for those who purchase sex to be convicted of their actions and how they degrade the dignity of others. Pray thay they find ways of being open and honest with others about their struggles. Pray for supportive individuals to walk through the process of change with them so that they too can experience dignity.

For the traffickers Pray for those who exploit others, many of whom are affiliated with gangs and organized crime. Pray that the chains that bind them to these negative connections would be broken.

Pray for organizations to rise up to support these individuals in finding more meaningful ways of living, and to teach them about the power of Christ to change their lives.

For those working on the frontlines Pray for the law enforcement agencies that aim to protect victims of exploitation, and charge those who exploit and traffic others. Pray that God would lead them in finding victims through their investigations online, on the streets, in homes and in hotels.

Pray for the charges they lay on pimps and traffickers to be turned into convictions, in order to stop exploiters from continuing their business.

Pray for the staff working in programs that seek to assist individuals who are involved in the sex trade. Pray that staff would be given measures of patience, endurance, compassion, strength, wisdom and clarity in their approaches to working with these individuals.

Pray for collaboration between organizations (many of whom have opposing views on Bill C-36) so that a network of safety will be created in order to provide the maximum support possible to women in these situations. Pray for these organizations to be able to move beyond these disagreements and work together to provide holistic support to those in the sex industry.

Prayers by Casey Wigg

live • September - October 2017

17

global mission

Finding YourSelf Halfway Around the World One woman’s call to overseas mission Kallie Hutton and her husband Tim are global field staff in Bolivia with Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM). She talks about her call to overseas mission.

Describe your call.

I cannot point to an exact moment in my life when I felt a definite call to overseas ministry, but God gave me two passions that have always guided me.

The first is a desire to help those around me; I always knew this was something I wanted to dedicate my life to. The second is a passion for other cultures; I love learning about the way the world is experienced by others. Those two passions made overseas ministry a natural draw for me and as God had me pursue them, Kallie and Tim Hutton

18

He prepared me for this work.

What do you do?

My role as global field staff with CBM is not easy to describe because it is multifaceted and ever-changing. I focus on building and strengthening relationships with our partners in Bolivia and together with my husband Tim, I accompany the development project that CBM supports.

These initiatives include foci such as vulnerable kids (abused, living in prison, and children of prostitutes) healthcare initiatives, food security, and responsible environmental practices.

Together with our partners, we strive to work through local churches to empower them to serve their own communities.

On any given day I might be travelling across the country to coordinate violence-againstwomen workshops, teaching a seminary course on integral mission, undertaking strategic planning with project staff, or driving down a river bed to visit the work of one of our rural projects. I don’t often have an average day in the office!

live • September - October 2017

How did God equip and prepare you?

I went to a Bible college that offered a degree in global ministries, training me in both theology as well as the development practices needed for this kind of work. I sought after international experiences and travelled to over 20 different countries. This pushed me out of my comfort zone and into other cultures.

God blessed me with work experience that strengthened my interests and allowed me to put them into practice. Before committing to international missions, I worked as a youth pastor in a multicultural, innercity church in Montreal and as a fundraising consultant for various major non-governmental organizations. These experiences helped me understand the daily reality of walking with those who suffer different forms of poverty and taught me to interact with different cultures and worldviews. They also exposed me to the various approaches to international work that different development agencies took.

Even though God had been preparing me for overseas work through all of these experiences, the thought of actually leaving Canada to serve in another country seemed so surreal. In 2013, when Tim and I moved to Bolivia as volunteers, we did not expect to stay beyond our one-year commitment. However, the more we engaged with the work of CBM and the culture of

global mission Bolivia, the more we realized that we were exactly where God wanted us. In 2015 we became official field staff with CBM and what started out as one year of

volunteering has turned into a career in overseas ministry.

For me, entering missions was never a giant leap of faith but rather a series of small steps in

faith. After years of putting one foot in front of the other, I looked up and found myself halfway around the world. 

A WINDOW on Africa World Day of Prayer written by the Baptist Women’s Union of Africa (BWUA)—our prayer partners As members of the North American Baptist Women’s Union (NABWU), Baptist Women partners in prayer with the BWUA. We’ve highlighted prayer requests from the BWUA and our Canadian Baptist global field staff in every issue of live magazine or shared news and statistics as an invitation to prayer.

Women of the BWUA wrote 2017’s World Day of Prayer program and guide and on November 6, you will have the opportunity to join Baptist women from around the world in praying for each other, continent by continent. If you’ve set up an interactive prayer room for LOVE DAY on Saturday, November 4, you may want to have a prayer station centered around global women’s issues. Have the Day of Prayer guide as part of the prayer station so visitors may pray through these issues using the guide.

Joina hlula, president of the BWUA invites us all to rise and

shine because when we rise up, we transform communities. Here are extracts from her Day of Prayer greeting to all of us.

“Shalom and greetings to all my dearly beloved Baptist women of the Lord! It is indeed an honour and wonderful privilege to be involved in prayer and intercession for the world as children of God. I hope and pray we are all going to experience the presence of the Lord as we humbly seek His face. God’s call is for women to stand in the gap and cry to the Lord of the harvest who has answers for all challenges the world faces today.

“In Luke 19:10, the Lord Jesus Christ plainly highlights His mission on earth which in turn becomes our core business and responsibility in the communities in which we live when He says: “ . . . for the Son of Man has come to seek and to serve that which was lost.”

“The word transformation means a complete or major change. People who pray to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are regenerated

or born again by God’s Spirit as they become children of God. . . . The Spirit in them yearns to transform them into the image of Christ. To remain transformed, one has to feed daily on the Word of God and be brave enough to stand up and do what the Spirit urges and to change according to the image of His Son. The transformation that happens does not end with one transformed individual. We are witnesses that when women are brave enough to listen to God’s Spirit of transformation, families change and whole communities are transformed to better reflect God’s life. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of true and deep change that is so much needed in our world. Therefore, sisters, let us arise, because, when we arise, God shines through us and transforms communities.”

Your sister in Christ, Joina hlula, president of the BWUA Download the 2017 Day of Prayer program and guide along with CBWOQ remittance forms at www.baptistwomen. com/resources or visit www.bwawd.org.

live • September - October 2017

RJ 

19

USING USINGMY GIFTS MY GIFTS

When we consider gender and ministry, eventually we come to the thorny issue of power and control. Egalitarianism says that the Bible teaches mutuality and equality in marriage and church relationships. The goal is not to exchange men dominating women with women controlling men, but to promote healthy inter-relationship.

We need to be so careful about how we interpret the household codes in the Bible. Many devout Christians in South Africa believed the Bible supported apartheid and that those who protested it were sinning by rebelling against government authority. In North America, the same passages were used to justify slavery. Even when extreme abuses were obvious, they were attributed to individual sin rather than recognized as evidence against the system itself.

Egalitarians assert that the New Testament teaches equality in the church.

The New Testament says that all have spiritual gifts “for the common good” (1 Corinthians

by Diane McBeth Diane is the executive director of Baptist Women

20

12:7); everyone has a contribution to make (1 Peter 4:10-11, Romans 12:6-8). The foundational principle is Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Paul spent a lifetime trying to get the church to act on “neither Jew nor Gentile.” It took another 1,800 years for the church to affirm “neither slave nor free” (though it still exists in far too many places). We are still debating “nor male and female.”

• Jesus opposed domineering.

He told His disciples that even though society’s pattern was to “rule” and “lord it over” each other, they were to be emphatically different (Matthew 20:25-26). Jesus modelled it Himself. He said “No longer do I call you servants but friends” (John 15:15).

• Jesus taught against prestige and privilege. He rejected the Pharisees’ desire for recognition and told His disciples to stop vying for greatness (Matthew 23:7-11).

Egalitarians contend that the New Testament teaches mutuality in marriage.

Paul tells both husbands and

live • September - October 2017

wives to submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21) and then individually tells both how to do that (verses 22–29). Both are members of Christ’s body (verse 30), and the goal is to become truly united (verse 31). He ends the passage by repeating that both are to honour the other (verse 33).

The reference to husbands being the “head” has caused some to think marriage is a hierarchy. Some have used 1 Corinthians 11:3 to argue all women should be under all men.

That verse says: “But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” However, if we use headship to argue for hierarchy of men (or husbands) over women, then we are saying there is a hierarchy in the Trinity.

Some people do that but it is not orthodox theology according to the Nicene Creed.

However, Greek scholars tell us the word kephale (head or authority) often means source rather than boss. If we understand the word this way, then the rest of I Corinthians 11 makes sense as Paul goes on to discuss woman coming from man (at creation) and man coming from woman

BigStockPhoto.com

Mutuality and Equality

women’s ministries women’s ministries

Heritage Connections Being intentionally inclusive Good Christian fellowship is rooted in a shared love for the Lord Jesus and a desire to faithfully follow His leading. As we continue to develop one-on-one relationships with those who are either shut-ins in their own home, or resident in a care facility, we seek to encourage and nurture both practical abilities and the spiritual walk of the person being visited.

Where do we start?

Sharing the common enjoyment of a practical skill can be very rewarding for both the visitor and the person being visited. Discover which groups and/or ministries she participated in in the past, then seek creative ways to involve her in that ministry in the present.

For example; if she was active in a group that knitted toques, mitts and scarves for children in First Nations communities, and if the church continues that ministry, on your next visit bring pictures of the knitting group, the results of their knitting, and possibly, pictures of the children wearing the gifts. Include prayer for the group participants and the children as part of your visit.

If she is still able to knit, provide her with needles, patterns and wool (remember to let her choose the colour), so that she can actively participate.

If she is not able to knit any more, encourage her to write notes to be included with the gifts that will be sent, or even record a message from her on your cellphone. Responses will be particularly welcomed.

If she was part of a Bible study or home group, consider holding a meeting in her home.

If she is in a residential facility, connect with the activities director/ manager or chaplain about holding a Bible study or service led by her fellowship group. As much as possible encourage and enable her to actively participate; possibly by reading Scripture or offering prayer, certainly by offering response in liturgy or saying the Lord’s Prayer aloud.

Make sure that leaders know to speak slowly and clearly. With hearing aids, words spoken too quickly or mumbled will sound garbled.

What ideas to build bridges that include our heritage connectors have worked for you and your church? Let us know. 

by Rev. Andrea Cambridge Andrea is Baptist Women’s volunteer associate – heritage connections

live • September - October 2017

21

GraphicStock.com

(through birth since the Fall).

Note that even in that passage Paul affirms mutuality. “In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman” (verse 11). The standard is healthy interdependence.

When I was young I was taught Ephesians 5:22 as if it read, “Wives submit to your husbands, as if he is the Lord.” Women were taught not to interfere if their husbands bankrupted the family with foolish business ventures or treated their children harshly.

Women were often caught in a double bind. They believed their husbands were going outside God’s will and to go along with it was sin; but they also believed failing to submit was sin.

What that verse actually says is “. . . as to the Lord” or as the NIV 2011 translates it, “Wives, submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.” My submission to my husband comes under the lordship of Christ. Christ is my only Lord. I seek Him first. I serve Him first. The apostles believed in submitting to government authority, but when they were told to stop preaching they responded, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Two is not better than one if only one person is actually making the decisions. I think God links us to other people because we need them. Our biases, blind spots, and basic human nature create tension—but that is precisely why we need each other. 

women’s ministries

Laura’s Corner

iStock.com

Too many options!

Helping youth figure out God’s calling for their lives

Youth are faced with many options and spend much of their energy wading through distractions, expectations, and false ideas about success. How can we help them to find their calling in Jesus?

Here are three things I have practiced in my own youth ministry:

by Laura Matthews Laura is Baptist Women’s program coordinator and administrator.

22

1

Name and claim them as God does In Rick Lawrence’s book, Jesus Centered Youth Ministry, there is a tool for mentors called the Sherlock Holmes Profile. It asks questions like: What are three things I’ve noticed this person loves. It gives a directive that says: Stop now and pray this—God, who do you say this person is? Write it down. This is my favourite directive: Consistently use the “positive labels” you’ve heard God speak to you and name them. For example, “Eesha, you’re so loyal and I love the person God has made you to be.”

When we name youth as God does, we help them catch a glimpse of their true identity as beloved child and knowing one’s identity in Jesus can become the compass for all other decisions in life. Help youth to know their belovedness by pointing out and reinforcing the things you hear God speaking to you about them—their strengths, their positive labels, their interests. This provides youth with a deeper knowing of themselves and will increase their confidence in God’s love for them when they face decisions. Being rooted in truth is the best place to begin sifting through all of life’s options.

2

Be the example We too need to sift through distraction and expectation to hear God’s continual call in our lives. How do we set the example for hearing God? And what do our own practices of waiting on God for clarity look like? Figure this out and model it.

live • September - October 2017

women’s ministries Youth crave authenticity and are often open to hearing about your own tactics in seeking wisdom.

Bernice’s Picks . . .

3

Start the fall with Bible studies on:

Pray with them Make space to pray with/ for a youth on a regular basis. Help them to understand prayer as their lifeline to hearing God’s will for their lives and cultivate that practice with them. (Philippians 4:6-7) 

• The Emotionally Healthy Woman | Eight things you have to quit to change your life, by Gerri Scazzerro. Study Guide $12.50/DVD $33.50 • The Broken Way | a daring path into the abundant life, by Ann Voskamp/$12.50/ DVD $33.50

We REMEMBER These gifts in memory or in honour of family, friends and others you value will continue to bring good from their lives. Thank you.

In Memory of Lucille Brown, Tillsonburg Molly Nichols, Tillsonburg Doreen Wherry, Dunnville Doreen Girven, Norwood Amy Whiteside, Stratford Phyllis Kindy, Hastings Jean Phillips, Waterloo Ilene Rhodes, Collingwood Jean (Betty) Elizabeth Trewin, Strathroy Nick Homorodean, Strathroy Winnifred Palmer, Peterborough IN HONOUR OF Marge Pogson, Whitby (100th birthday) Erla Wilson, Whitby (90th birthday) John and Mildred Edwards, Ingersoll (60th anniversary) “The work of CBWOQ continues to encourage and excite me. To help ensure the work of Baptist Women into the future, purchasing a life insurance policy seemed like a good way for me to contribute.”

Rev. Nancy Webb, former executive director, CBWOQ

All titles available from ReadOn Bookstore 5 International Blvd.

Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 Tel: 416-620-2934 Fax: 416-234-8840 E-mail: books@readon.ca www.readon.ca

What’s new on our website?

Events: • Podcast interview with Hannah Agalawatte on how to set up a prayer room.

Resources: • 2017 Day of Prayer program and guide • Room to Pray resources Please bookmark our home page and check in regularly for updates

For over 135 years you have given so generously.

Thank you! For more information on ways to give, please contact Diane McBeth at 416-620-2954.

Dive in and get connected!

www.baptistwomen.com

live • September - October 2017

23

“Baptist Women facilitates authentic experience of God and fosters intimate connection with mission.”

Has your address changed?

Send your old mailing label and your new address to: live Magazine Circulation Dept., 5 International Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER 40007159 REGISTRATION NUMBER R9703 RETURN UNDEliverABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: live MAGAZINE CIRCULATION DEPT. 5 INTERNATIONAL BLVD ETOBICOKE, ON M9W 6H3 bwoq@baptist.ca