Spring rally season.

BY ANNE PRESTENG

If you follow our WMF Facebook page, you may have seen invitations to spring rallies across our districts. It is an encouragement to meet with other women, hear the Word of God, pray, and fellowship together. Here are a few updates from district rallies this spring.

Pacific Northwest

At the Pacific Northwest rally, district president Sherri Scavo welcomed about 40 ladies to Stillwater Free Lutheran in Kalispell, Mont. Karen Floan and Anne Presteng shared about Jesus bringing light to the world using the theme verse, John 8:12.

Minneapolis

President Cheri Anenson greeted about 40 women at Christ the King in Wilson, Wis., at the Minneapolis District rally. The theme verse was Isaiah 43:18–19: “Remember not the former thing, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I’m doing a new thing, now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Linda Hensrud shared a message of hope, and Shelby Greven gave an update on her time as a short-term missionary assistant in Paraguay and Brazil.

Eastern North Dakota

“Living to Serve” was the theme of the Eastern ND rally. Forty-seven women enjoyed delicious food and fellowship thanks to the ladies at Zion Free Lutheran, rural Valley City. President Kya Schroeder led in devotions, and guest speaker Vicki Johnson creatively illustrated the theme verse Matthew 20:28: “... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Northern Minnesota

At the rally in Northern Minnesota, Judy and Elizabeth Jore spoke on mentoring and women’s ministry in the local church. Lucy, a woman in her 80s who drove two hours one way to attend, shared with Elizabeth her heart for spiritual mentoring.

The acronym WMF has sometimes been thought of as “Women Ministering Faithfully.” We minister to encourage each other but also to build up the body of Christ. Our rallies are a time of fellowship along with remembering our missionaries and church-wide projects. It is good to remind ourselves of the sisterhood we share in Christ.

Our purpose.

The purpose of the WMF is to awaken and deepen interest in and love for the kingdom of God, at home and abroad, thus sharing in the great missionary enterprise of the Christian Church.

• Website: aflc.org/women

Presteng, Grafton, N.D., is the first vice president of the WMF.