March 16, 2004	Back to Articles Listing

 School of Women's Ministries Winding Down...

After nearly two years of periodic classes and challenging studies, the first Mideast Baptist Conference School of Women's Ministries will meet for their final time on May 1, 2004. Fifty ladies will complete the course and expect to graduate with another seven women having audited the course.

Each graduate will have completed six, eight hour classes with a heavy load of homework that has included reading, material analysis, hands-on projects and a nine month internship project. Each one will use their knowledge to expand and enhance women's ministries across the MBC or start new ministries in their home churches.

Classes were a mix of poignancy and extreme fun. Becky Wehr, local director of the school reported that the most recent class, held on 2/21/04, was one of extreme fun as Pastor Mark Van der Hulst spoke in the morning on "Studying Truth: Bible Study Methods". The opportunity dealt with students learning how to use study tools such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, Greek-English work study books, along with the principles of doing inductive vs. topical and other types of Bible studies. Wehr said, "He was VERY fun and funny."

"In the afternoon, Roberta Thomas spoke on "Teaching and Speaking," giving us very helpful guidelines about how to write our own materials to speak when we are working to develop that ability," Wehr said. "She had us doing all kinds of fun things to drive home her points. (I wonder how many other ladies still have the "John Brown" tune running through their head?!). She had us standing and marching and was full of creative ideas for us. She also had us practicing practical applications as well."

"The school has been a wonderful experience, one that we hope to repeat for more women across the MBC in the future," Wehr concluded.

To learn more about the School of Women's Ministries, email Wehr at becky@bgcmideast.com.