18 March 2019 | Belgrade, Serbia [Marija Trajkovska]
What is my worth in God’s eyes? That is the serious question addressed by Raquel Arrais during a Women’s Ministries weekend in Belgrade, Serbia.
As Women’s Ministries Associate Director for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church, she visited the South-East European Union (SEEUC), to take part in a weekend of meetings starting on Friday, 8 March at the Belgrade Theological Seminary. Representatives came from across the SEEUC: Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.
Through songs, Bible texts and ‘Daughters of Promise’ monologues, female students shared their value in God`s eyes. Giving voices to Jemimiah, Achsah, Sheerah, Ahlai, and Tirzah they showed that it is possible to live a blessed life even in difficult times.
Arrais further emphasised that thought in her inspiring sermon, ‘Don`t Lose Your Song’, pointing out that disappointment, pain, or people should not be allowed to take away our life song – a song of praise and gratitude to God, because ‘better days are coming’.
Sabbath services moved to the main Belgrade church. During Sabbath School, Conference WM directors shared inspiring reports on creative initiatives and activities that reach women from the local communities for Christ. The programme continued with teenage girls reciting Bible verses demonstrating our value in God`s eyes, followed by ladies who shared monologues focused on Bible women transformed by the power of the eternal Gospel.
The participants remembered Lydia, the Canaanite woman, the woman with a blood issue, the Samaritan woman, and the women caught in adultery who were able to ‘Move the Chair’; to transform their perspectives and attitudes in the ‘In between’ time and make their lives meaningful and purposeful again, just as Arrais pointed out in her motivating mission sermon.
Music was inspirational – as evidenced during the worship service where a solo, children`s and youth choirs uplifted hearts into the atmosphere of praise and gratitude. Arrais`s sermon ‘Access Factor’ dealt with the assurance of salvation through our Saviour Jesus Christ and His interceding role in our favour in the Heavenly Sanctuary. That led to an afternoon thought on how life can flourish when we are rooted in Christ and powered by the enabling work of the Holy Spirit.
The venue switched to Novi Sad in the North Conference for the final, Sunday morning meeting. Once again it was time to nurture, empower and motivate women to reach out towards women in need around them. Through songs, poems and a monologue on the deaconess Phoebe, they were reminded to keep serving faithfully and diligently.
In two inspiring seminars, ‘Women Can’ and ‘One Thing’, Raquel reminded women of Ellen White`s words that “women can take their place at this crisis and He will work through them.” Women can learn, serve, teach, proclaim, and lead if they are willing to trust God and allow Him to guide and use them. That will be possible if they stick to one thing – meditating on God`s Word day and night. But also growing in passion for Jesus, people and His soon return. That will give their lives calling, purpose and destiny.
In her book Christian Education, Ellen White points out that we are changed depending on where we focus our attention. For Marija Trajkovska, SEEUC WM director, what women were contemplating on this weekend changed their perspective and attitude for service. Knowing that victorious life is a series of new beginnings, many of them decided to turn a new page in their Christian life and service and live more committedly and gratefully.
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojković, associate editor
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