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You are invited to join us this fall in Cambridge, Ohio, for a special weekend getaway of learning, laughter and love. The "Women of Purpose" Conference will feature guest speaker and author, Katie Brazelton, of Pathway to Purpose Ministries. Plus, the Duffields will be our guest musicians for the weekend. Check out the "conference highlights" link above or visit their webpage at www.duffieldtrio.com

Spread the word to your friends and ladies at your church. Registration details and more information will be coming in the next month or so. We're getting so excited about our weekend get-away with you!

Ministering Together

Learning from those active in ministry is also a great way to get a breath of fresh air in your local ministry. Have you taken the time to prayerfully consider where God wants you to minister this year? Have you talked with others in your church that may have a similar passion? Have you sought out others who are actively involved in ministry to women? If not, we encourage you to seek God's will for your life as you seek to reach out to the women around you in practical ways.

No two Women's Ministries will look the same because no two communities or churches are the same. A little bit of creativity, a heart for the lost and a passion to watch individuals grow closer to God are the key ingredients. From there - the sky's the limit for how we can effectively reach out to other's with the Gospel message.

Is it lonely in ministry? Yes, it can be, but that doesn't change its potential effectiveness. Is it exhiliarating in ministry? Yes, it sure can be and so rewarding when you truly see someone growing in the faith. Don't let the "enemy" steal away your desire and drive to minister by the reality of loneliness that can be felt in ministry. If we truly seek God's will and continue to follow that path, God will give us the strength to continue...and maybe even partners to come along besides us along the way.

If you need a listening ear, we're here for you. If you just need a sounding board, we're here for you. If you need prayer, we're here for you. ...and even if we don't have the chance to speak or meet in the days ahead, may you know that we care, that our Heavenly Father sees your needs and cares and is preparing the way before you. May you find His path in the days ahead as you reach out to others with the saving message of Christ's love and grace!

What Is My Purpose?

I blinked. I don't know how it happened but I blinked, and my baby turned 18! In fact, my baby is going to graduate from High School this year and launch me into an 'empty nest' after 25 years of being 100% Mom. How does this happen so quickly? And, my goodness, what is my purpose now?

I can hear my Mom saying, 'Oh Kathy, you never stop being a Mom.' And I hope that's true. But on a day-to-day basis no one, except maybe my husband, is depending upon me to do their laundry, cook their meals, band-aid their cuts or help them with their spelling words. Actually, Bob is a pretty good speller!

Some of the ladies on the Women's Ministry team would warn me that kids grow up and marry and bring home this wonderful thing called 'grandchildren' to fill that void. Those are the same ladies who make me look at bald-headed baby pictures and say how adorable they are - picture after picture after picture! Now, I'm not bitter that my married kids don't want children yet. Really! Well, sort of. Not really. Okay, I can't wait to be a grandma! However...until that time, what is a mother to do?

Now, don't tell my kids this but there actually is a part of me that is pretty excited about this new open time slot in life! In fact, I've started praying about and researching what new thing the Lord might have for me to do! I came across a pretty neat verse in Isaiah 58:10 that made me really stop and think. The verse says, "...if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Spend yourself. How do I spend myself?

Quite frankly, I am a really busy person. I spend a lot of myself at my job. I spend some of myself at church leading a Bible Study, a Discipleship group and keeping our church library in order. I spend myself at home cleaning, exercising, organizing, planning, reading as well as hanging out with friends, kids and family - and sometimes, I even spend time watching TV. There isn't any time at all where I am bored or staring at the ceiling. But, am I spending myself the way God wants me to? That is the question.

Our women's conference this September is called, Women of Purpose. We are going to ask the Lord to use this weekend to help each lady fine tune, adjust, and zero in on what His purpose is for you and me, so that we can clear out the invaders and zoom in on the places where God would have us spend our time....wisely. Will you come join us as we seek His purpose for our lives at the women's conference this fall? I'd love to see you. And, I'll even look at pictures of your kids or grandkids if you'd like!

Spending for Him,

Kathy

If you would like to contact Kathy or the team about Women's Ministry issues, please email her at ubwomen@ub.org. We'd love to connect.

Great Memories!

What a tremendous weekend we enjoyed together in Shipshewana, Indiana, in September of 2006. Boy, has the time flown by! The women who joined us at our last Women's Conference represented 6 states, 1 canadian province and 22 United Brethren in Christ Churches. Over 175 women were in attendance for this awesome time of friendship, learning and fun! Below you will see a picture of the "passing of the pig/cow" - and I've heard rumor we might just see this "trophy" at our next Women's Conference this fall. Hmmmm.... or rather, Moooooooo!