One thousand and four participants attended the 3rd Bi-Division Women Ministries Convention at the Twin Towers Hotel from July 9-13, 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand. The numbers far exceeded our expectations judging by the first two bi-division conventions. Participants came from as far away as the United States; almost all the countries of the Asia-Pacific region were represented. For the first time, we had a group of 16 Mongolians attend a convention like this. Dr Sally Phoon, NSD WM Director and Mrs. Helen Gulfan, SSD WM Director, spent hundreds of hours planning for this momentous event.
The convention began on the evening of July 9 with a devotional from Dr Ella Simmons, the VP of the General Conference. Working on the convention theme of “Avenues of God’s Touch,” she began with how the Lord touches us through His Holy Spirit. In her devotionals which culminated in the sermon, she reminded the women of the way that God touches us with His love, His grace and His forgiveness.
Breakout sessions provided further inspiration for learning about how to find partnerships in mission, how to care for the elderly, how to achieve success Christ’s way. Speakers came from the General Conference, the Inter-American and North American Divisions, AIIAS and Sahmyook University.
On Sabbath, the worship service attracted another 200 or so people from the Bangkok area, most of them Filipinos as they re-connected with their friends from home. Mission College made a short presentation and offerings collected that day went towards two scholarships for women enrolled there. In addition, another offering collected on Sabbath will go towards helping with the evangelistic effort planned for 2009 by the Women’s Ministries Department of Thailand Mission.
Three awards were given for the best Women’s Ministries reports from among the 14 unions/fields. The first prize of US$500 went to the tri-union report from the Philippines; the second of US$300 was awarded to the Korean Union Conference. Bangladesh Union Mission walked away with the third prize of US$200. It was heartwarming to learn of women fully engaged in their communities, meeting needs just as Christ would have done.
This event was a foretaste of heaven. Women from all cultures and walks of life gathered together to worship God and to learn of Him. Besides being a spiritual inspiration it was a visual feast. Participants were dressed in rich, brightly colored silks and chiffons, leathers and rayon’s, some with headdress and some without. As diverse as the colors on an artists’ palette, from the most delicate violet to the brightest pinks, as spectacular as the richest hues in nature, so diverse were the women that gathered at this convention to raise their hearts and voices in praise to our Creator.
