WOMEN leaders from aross The Salvation Army's South Asia Zone gathered in Sri Lanka for a conference led by Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women's Ministries) and Commissioner Nemkhanching (Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries). The conference started with vibrant worship and prayer, laying a solid foundation for a God-glorifying time of deliberation, reflection and sharing.
The South Asia Zone comprises The Salvation Army's six Indian territories (Central, Eastern, Northern, South Eastern, South Western and Western), with the Pakistan Territory, Sri Lanka Territory, Bangladesh Command and Middle East Region.
In her opening message, Commissioner Cox focused on 1 Peter 2:9: 'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light' (New International Version). The verse would be a recurring theme throughout the event.
One of the main topics of the first day was the vital issue of human trafficking. Captain Andrews Christian from the India Western Territory provided education, information and inspiration to take action.
The second day of the conference was marked by inspiring worship, thought-provoking Bible teaching and open discussion on relevant topics. The issue of domestic abuse and violence against women was highlighted by Colonel Marieke Venter (Territorial President of Women's Ministries, Sri Lanka), and focused specifically on the roots and symptoms of the issue in South Asia. Commissioner Cox provided up-to-date teaching on the potential dangers to be found online, and valuable training on Internet technology was provided by Buddhika Adikari (IT consultant for the South Asia Zone).
The conference concluded with a devotional time during which delegates were invited to give thanks for their experiences. Responses included: 'Thank you for fellowship'; 'Thank you for friendship'; 'Thank you for what we learned and shared'; 'Thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit.'
Report by Colonel Marieke Venter
Territorial President of Women's Ministries, Sri Lanka Territory
