The 3rd NSD Family Ministries Conference

The 3rd NSD (Northern Asia-Pacific Division) Family Ministries Conference was held on August 15-19, 2005, at Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea. This is an ongoing program for the FM leadership training. The classes of Interpersonal Relationship, Family, and Mission were given by Ronald and Karen Flowers, General Conference Family Ministries leaders. Twenty two students registered for taking some credits for their school and 24 students for the certificate of the General Conference, totaling 46 students.

It was quite a large class. There were even 9 foreigners in the classes from the Philippines, India, Zimbabwe, and the U.S., including Serene Chong from Chinese Union Mission area and Mariko Ishibashi from Japan. There were also many pastors who are interested in family ministries. All the students were touched by the Holy Spirit during the Flowers' devotion and inspirational lectures.

It was a great opportunity to learn about the philosophy of Adventist family ministries through this program. I feel confident that the NSD will have more qualified and committed FM leaders who can build healthy and happy families after taking whole GC FM certificate courses.

The First Professional Women's Convention

The First Professional Women's Convention was held on August 19-21, 2005, at Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea. Those who are pro-women usually do not join women's ministries and they don't seem to be interested. But since the establishment of the KUC Professional Women's Association in 2004, they have been awakened to do something for the Lord. Professional women as a team can work wonders for the Lord and the church.

There is greater power when they work together and they can work for the church more effectively as a team. Although this was not a big meeting, this convention was a good starting point for them to be encouraged to use their knowledge and wisdom more actively and to be stronger women leaders. There were around 80 pro-women in this convention.

There were five speakers including Karen Flowers, General Conference Family Ministries Associate director, Pastor Stanley Ng from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, Dr. Siriporn Tantipoonvinai, president of Thailand Adventist Mission College.

Karen Flowers emphasized on the role of women in the church in her presentation. Dr. Su Chu Hui, Taiwan Adventist Hospital President and Dr. Chung Ae Soon who is principal of Dasan High School gave us their special testimonies on how they became women administrators. All the speakers' messages highly inspired and encouraged the participants. Dr. Kyung Soon Lee, Professional Women's Association President, spoke on 'Gender Equality' in the afternoon session.

Participants were divided into four groups to discuss on a topic, "How to be effective professional women workers for the church." Their suggestions and opinions were as follows:

1. We can humbly go to the right way when we recognize the power of the Lord. Therefore to be effective pro-women workers depends upon their spiritual life.

2. Pro-women must be good listeners to each individual person.
3. They must be wise time managers.

4. As leaders, they must have specific goals for their works and they should be patient with faith till the accomplishment of the works.

5. Men and women must work in cooperation.

6. Pro-women must think and study how they can use their professional knowledge and skills for the church.

7. They must participate in church activities more positively and constructively.

8. There are some cultural and institutional barriers in church that restricts women workers. They must be confronted and resolved to pave the way for women leaders.

9. All the responsibilities and duties of church administration must be rotated and shared by men and women.

10. Pro-women must work more actively beyond mere church activities and be more involved their community and abroad.

11. Each Union must establish the Department of Women Development.
12. Pro-women must possess the spirit of partnership.

13. The title of woman pastor must be considered. In the case of KUC, women evangelists were never called a pastor even though they have worked as a pastor for a long time. They have always been called an "intern."

14. Women need men supporters. Their mindset must be changed and must have awareness of gender equality.

15. The seminar of gender identity and equality must be led more actively throughout the unions.

16. When we hold women's conventions, we must invite government women leaders and let them know what we are doing and need their support.

17. "What shall we do for the church?" must be the focal question in our life.

As Job said in the Bible, "Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be," it is my sincere wish that our humble beginnings will bear much more fruit and we will have a prosperous future with the Lord's guidance.