This year, programming, resources and support presented to women in the Greater Sydney Conference by Adventist Women’s Ministry have focused on three areas: IMAGINE, BELIEVE and BREATHE.

IMAGINE has focused on the young women and girls of the conference.  This year, a program called And The Bride Wore White was presented, which linked spirituality and sexual purity.  In the future, Beryl Landers, Adventist Women Director has said she’d like to develop a young women’s retreat, where the young ladies can “come, be blessed and be given a platform to preach and teach.”

BREATHE, which is schedule for the weekend of 26-28 of September, is a Women’s Conference designed for women of all ages to come together in community, get involved in outreach projects and draw closer to God through triumphant stories of women who have overcome situations with unlikely odds.

Recently, an event focused on BELIEVE took place on the afternoon of 26 July.  This program, Women and the Word, aimed to “ignite a passion within the women of the conference for the Word of God.”

Attracting approximately 100 women at Fox Valley Church, the event was a combination of speakers, discussion and a panel.  During the panel, a variety of women shared their experience with studying the Bible along with methodologies that have helped them connect with the Word of God.  One member of the panel shared her love for going home after church, in the quiet of the day, and studying God’s word.  The immense joy she receives from it was evident to all the attendees.

In the end, everyone received a copy of Herb Larsen’s book, Falling in Love with Jesus.  Within the last couple of weeks, Beryl Landers said she’s received several calls from women saying how much the book has impacted them.

The feature speakers, Yvonne Hypolite and Drene Somasundram presented the two sides of the story of Martha and Mary as found in Luke 10:38-42.  Yvonne explored the story from Martha’s perspective with the position that “Someone’s Got to Be Martha.”  As Beryl said, “We sometimes come down on Martha.  Often, this is a woman’s life.  In the story, Martha has to cook, clean and care for everyone, and sometimes we beat her up.”  Yvonne took the perspective that Martha was so confident in her relationship with Jesus, as was expressed at the time of Lazarus’ death.

On the other hand, Drene explored the idea of Mary as expressed in Luke 10: 41 which says, “But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

To find out more about Adventist Women click here.  To learn how to attend the BREATHE Conference, click here.