One of the worst consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is the escalation of domestic violence that’s occurred due to the lockdowns and isolation measures introduced to stop the spread of virus. The lockdowns meant that the abusers were now in physical proximity to their victims for extended periods of time, with the victims unable to leave the home for some respite. There have also been additional stressors in the home environment—chil-dren were also house bound, many people lost their jobs or were worried about losing their jobs, and alcohol consumption increased.

The SPD Women’s Ministries department encouraged support for this year’s EndItNow cam-paign by providing graphics and information to share on social media. In addition, sever-al SPD presidents and former departmental leaders added their voices to the campaign through heart-felt video messages that engaged communities.

THANK YOU to all who by words, deeds and personal example show what families should be like, pointing to the God of love who is against any form of violence at home and in soci-ety. Thank you to all who supported the EndItNow campaign and will continue to speak out.

Let’s uphold the stance of the Division Executive Committee who declared on November 13-15, 2012 that “we will never commit, excuse, or remain silent about any abuse or violence within our homes, churches, institutions or communities.”

End It Now Campaign BY DANIJELA SCHUBERT

ADVENTIST WOMEN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

EDITION 20/9SEPTEMBER 2020

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE POWER OF PRAYERby Dianne Pelap

My first experience of the power of prayer was when my mum was very sick. I received a phone call to immedi-ately fly home as she was in a critical state in hospital.

Before catching my flight I prayed and asked God to spare her life. As soon as I arrived at the airport, I was taken straight to the hospital to see my mum.

As I was entering her room, several things happened. My mum says she saw a bright light shining over the door. Someone took off her blanket and told her to sit up and greet me. When she sat up she asked me, “Who was the person I saw?” I joyfully replied, “It was Jesus who visited you and healed you.”

I believe Jesus was right beside her and instantly healed her. The next day my mum was discharged from the hospital.

My mum lived for another ten years. After that first encounter with God’s power my faith and commitment to God grew and I was closely connected with Him through much prayer.

Women are, and always have been, the heartbeat of living faith.

— Diana Butler Bass & Graham Joseph Hill.

SOS DONATIONSThe Women’s Ministry Scholarship Program is a global initiative designed to equip women as leaders in their fields of service by assisting with the cost of tertiary education. Our goal is to build up the church globally by empowering and equipping women.

Find out more: https://women.adventistchurch.com/scholarships/

Donate Now: https://scholarshipping-our-sisters.raisely.com/

EVENTS CALENDAR

2020

SEPTEMBER• 4-5 September

'Hope in Uncertainty' Virtual Women's Retreat - VIC

OCTOBER• 2-3 October

'Breathe' Online Conference - SYD

NOVEMBER• 30 Oct - 1 Nov

New Caledonia WM Retreat

https://women.adventistchurch.com/scholarships/https://women.adventistchurch.com/scholarships/https://scholarshipping-our-sisters.raisely.com/https://scholarshipping-our-sisters.raisely.com/

My name is Ms Dianne Pelap, I come from a Catholic background and I am the fourth born in a family of 12: six girls, one deceased, and six boys. The people in my village are mostly Catholic and I am the only Sev-enth-day Adventist. I was a very committed Catholic but my faith in God and some experiences in my personal journey led me to the Seventh-day Adventist church.

After reading a book titled The New World Order, I per-sisted with God and prayed earnestly to lead me to the right church. Suddenly I heard a voice talking to me: “Find a SDA bookshop.” When I finished praying, I visit-ed the Boroko Adventist Book Centre. As I entered the doorway, I was surprised. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit welcoming me into the bookshop. While standing there I started crying and I felt totally lost.

An ABC assistant came to talk with me. “How do you know of this place?” he asked. After my explanation of how the Holy Spirit led me to find them, he invited me to attend Korobosea SDA Church in Port Moresby.

As I sat in the church that first Sabbath, I could feel a different atmosphere; the blessing, sanctification, and holiness of this special day. I never felt that way before. It was totally different, and I could clearly hear the voice of God speaking to me: “This is the right church.”

But that was only the beginning of God’s plans for me.

My prayers continued for my family and my fifth-born sister got baptised in 2007 just two years after my bap-tism in 2005. My third-born sister and her five kids are now also worshipping on Sabbath in a home church created after the COVID-19 lockdown ceased. Further prayers continued and God has opened the door of my ninth-born brother and wife with the Discovery Bible Reading program. It is a joy for me and praise to God to see how He is leading my family into this wonderful and remnant church of God.

What else did God have in mind?

He provided work for me in the Church – first as a receptionist, then as administration assis-tant and for the past five years as Women’s and Children’s Min-istries Director for the New Brit-ain New Ireland Mission. It was a great challenge but I took up the call and prayed that God would empower me. I have a deep conviction that when God calls, He equips.

I’m determined to keep doing His will and sharing the changing power of grace which has elevated me from strength to strength. I have seen the challenges in women’s and children’s lives. Despite family problems they are still committed to disciple-making and attend-ing church. This has given me the courage to keep en-couraging and praying for all our women and children to be committed to God.

All the while, I am an elder in Baliora SDA Church. We are entering a Catholic-dominated village with the pow-er of the Holy Spirit through drug abuse health evan-gelism, followed by children’s Discovery Bible Reading, which is currently in progress. The Parish Priest and his catechist stopped children from attending our Discov-ery Bible Reading group, but through prayer God sent in more children. I need your prayers! Hopefully by the end of this year we will have an Adventist church built in this area.

God has led me in the past through difficulties and I believe He will still lead me into the future. I believe it is a special call to be His servant, so here I am in this office serving God.

I WAS A VERY COMMITTED CATHOLIC...BUT GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR ME by Dianne Pelap (WM & CM Director)

Korobosea SDA Church in Port Moresby https://discipleship.adventistchurch.com/framework/dis-coverybiblereading/

https://discipleship.adventistchurch.com/framework/discoverybiblereading/https://discipleship.adventistchurch.com/framework/discoverybiblereading/

We are here to help women reach their potential!

Discipleship Ministries - WomenSouth Pacific DivisionLocked Bag 2014Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia

Postal AddressLocked Bag 2014Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia

General Conference Womens' Websitewomen.adventist.orgSouth Pacific Division Women's Websitewomen.adventistchurch.com

ContactDanijela Schubertdanijelaschubert@adventist.org.au

Shaylee Walshshayleewalsh@adventist.org.au

SPD Womenspdwomen@adventist.org.au

RESOURCESADVENTIST BIBLES FOR ALL AGESDid you know that there are Bibles available for all ages, developed by the General Conference Youth Department? If only I had such a Bible when I was growing up!

There is The Adventurer Club Bible with 24 prelimi-nary pages with specific resources for Adventurers: a list of awards, the pledge, the law and the objectives of the club, the Adventurer song, the tracking signs, the knots, and much more.

Likewise, there is a Bible for Pathfinders with 48 pages with specific resources for Pathfinders: full list of hon-ours, Pathfinders’ aim, pledge, motto, law, Pathfinder Club philosophy and history, list of tracking signs, knots, etc. There are also 72 pages in the Bible text with special biblical tools, resources and curiosities as well as 28 pages of outstanding Bible-related charts, objects and people.

Then, there is the Young Scholar Study Bible with more than 200 Spirit of Prophecy quotes specific to this edition, Bible study chain of verses highlighting our major beliefs, over 60 Prayer Promises for Kids, special articles for children, including the 2,300-day prophecy, sanctuary message, Pathfinder pledge, Adventurer pledge, etc.

And finally, the Youth Bible with 12 preliminary pages with specific tools for youth: How to study the Bible, How the Canon was formed, History of the Bible, the Apocrypha, special Bible marking plan. There are more than 160 biblical texts highlighted with distinc-tive calligraphy and the challenge of memorising them. More than 350 articles address relevant issues to life, QR codes take you to more than 150 articles, pages and pages of resources on what is a World Changer, charts and maps on various themes.

You can obtain the Bibles from an Adventist Book Cen-tre: https://adventistbookcentre.com.au/bibles/type/childrens-youth.html

https://women.adventist.org/https://women.adventistchurch.com/mailto:danijelaschubert%40adventist.org.au?subject=mailto:shayleewalsh%40adventist.org.au%0D?subject=mailto:spdwomen%40adventist.org.au?subject=https://adventistbookcentre.com.au/bibles/type/childrens-youth.htmlhttps://adventistbookcentre.com.au/bibles/type/childrens-youth.html