With the belief for “Women's more efficiency in Ministries, the Women Leadership Conference with the theme “More efficiency in Ministries” was held at The Salvation Army Christian Retreat and Recreation Centre, Surrenden, Coonoor; Tamil Nadu state during 16th to 20th October 2017.
The Chief Guest and Chief Resource Person, Commissioner Marieke Venter, ZSWM, South Asia Zone, IHQ and Commissioner Nemkhanching (Nu-i), TPWM, IET and Major Vanlaltluanga Pachuau, Contact Person for Anti-Human Trafficking in India, National Secretariat and the eighteen delegates from the six Indian Territories arrived in time and in good shape.
Commissioner Marieke Venter, right from the 'Keynote Address in the inaugural to the very closing of the conference equipped the women officers in different angles which is sure to bring good harvest for the women officers in their future ministries. The subjects covered may be summed as:
Doing Ministry Well; Doing Ministry Better; Doing Ministry the Best Way; The Whole world mobilizing 'Community'- Community in early churches, Community in the new heaven and the new earth, Building a bridge; International Justice Commission and the final message – Importance of equipping oneself with spiritual food, stand and be available for the ministry with obedience was a challenge and a call which all the women accepted and responded.
The different subjects covered by Commissioner Nemkhanching (Nu-i) were also just what the women officers needed, it may be briefed as:
Women Empowerment - Roles of leaders and individuals in women Empowerment; Role and responsibilities of married women (Indian Context) they were the very much needed armour for the women officers who understand the importance for applying them in the ministry.
Major Vanlaltluanga shared the topic 'Human Trafficking' – forced labour, forced marriages, sexual slavery, extraction of organs or tissues, trafficking of children, the danger which could fall upon anyone and explained what Salvation Army has been doing to eradicate the problem.
Craft class was conducted by Major Rebek Lalrohnuni, Secretary for Women Advisory Council of India. She explained about relating obtaining skill which could be put into good use in fellowship in the ministry. All delegates learned to make 'bunny' curtain holder. Major Ramropuinghaki, DYS, IET too helped in teaching the delegates the art of making different craft works with the use of chart and tissue papers. On the last day, all the resource persons and delegates were taken for an outing which everyone enjoyed.
The aim of the Conference being equipment of women officers to be more efficient in ministries; the participants were very much inspired by the things they've learnt through the faculties - they are hoped to bear positive results in the days to come. They have also gained hand skill which could be transferred to others – this will unite the women, benefitted the corps/societies and make the fellowship more alive – thus benefiting in the fulfilment of The Salvation Army Mission.
I thank God for all the wonderful things he has done .
Reported by Major Rebek Lalrohnuni, Secretary for Women Advisory Council of India
