Stanley Scism

“Women’s Ministries:  An Introduction”  by Gwyn Oakes, Ladies Ministries President, United Pentecostal Church of the USA and Canada, at Scism Christian Institute—New Delhi, India.
 
Proverbs 31:10  “Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her price is far above rubies.”  The Bible is the same worldwide, and culture doesn’t make a difference that prevents God’s Word.  Culture should be maintained as long as it doesn’t contradict the Bible.  In the Bible we see many women used by God and given freedom in God’s work.
 
Proverbs 31:23  “Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.”  A virtuous woman does not embarrass her husband or leaders.  If her husband wants his wife to treat him like a king, he must treat her like a queen.  Women are very important and must be given power—nbot more than the man, but just under the man.  A virtuous woman will never try to take the place of a man.  When she is filled with the Spirit, He will let her know her place.  A woman deserves praise when she does well.  She is not a lower creature.
 
Proverbs 31:31  “and let her own works praise her in the gates.”  She will receive praise through her works.  Sixty per cent of the church is women.  If they are left idle, the work of the Kingdom will be hindered.  You must allow them to be leaders in some capacities.  The Ladies Auxiliary Department in the USA started 1955.  In the first year, they raised $4,000.  Forty years later, in 1995, they raised $20 million.  If you took that much money out of the church, it would suffer.  Your women work, also.  They need freedom and encouragement to continue.  For one project in Adur, Rs. 11,000 was raised.  In Shillong, Rs. 50,000 was raised for the Bible college.  Also, the handful of rice project has been very successful.  Make sure your women are involved with the LAD.  Never say, “I’m only one, and they’ll never notice.”  God sees and He is the one who’s important.  Let your ladies give money to God.

Matthew 10:8  “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils.”  This is exciting.  This we all want to do.  But that verse goes on to say, “freely you have received, freely give.”  Sometiems we want to see all these miracles, but we don’t want to give.  LAD programs benefit ministries around the world.  The Great Commission applies to everyone and each individual has responsibility for it.  Working with the LAD helps to do that..  Never think your church is too small.  Never think, “When we get going well, then we will give.”  Start giving as soon as He starts giving to you.  He said, “You have robbed me through not giving tithes and offerings,” so not only are your tithes important, but also your offerings.  Women can do things that sometimes men don’t have time to do.  Women can be trained to work with people who are praying, to teach children and younger women, to direct music programs.  When you start a church, you need to go to your district LAD director and get your new church involved in the LAD.  We are the UNITED Pentecostal Church.  We must work together.  “United we stand, but divided we fall.”  If you isolate yourself, you will not have the strength and support of the church.  Also, your people will feel cheated.  Never say, “My little bit doesn’t count.”  It does.  It’s very important to have women’s meetings and regular women’s prayer meetings.  Women want to help and work for God’s Kingdom.  Ministers must let them.”

“And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:  she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:22-23).

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat….Unto the woman he said;, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee…. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the motheer of all living” (Genesis 3:6,12,16,20).

DISCIPLINING CHILDREN:  “Discipline” is “behavior that results from training that corrects or molds, perfects mental faculties or moral character, and brings obedience to authority or rules.”  Discipline is not simply punishment.  Breakdowns in discipline have these results:

a.If you don’t communicate understandingly, and when children don’t know what you expect, you’ll lose control and the children’s growth in developing self-discipline will suffer.  Be sure to explain reasons properly before asking for certain actions or results to take place.

b.Once you establish guidelines and boundaries, enforce them impartially and consistently, and promptly address anyone not meeting them or who is challenging them.

c.Since “foolishness is bound in the heart of a child” (Proverbs 22:15), children are immature and personality conflicts rise.  Then address the problem straight on, firmly so it won’t happen again.  Resolve it before it grows.

Conclusion:  explain your expectations or the situation well before putting things into action; set impartial and consistent boundaries and immediately correct anyone transgressing them; address all problems as they occur (by Margot Jones, “The Dangers and Causes of Discipline, Reflections March-April, 2002, p19).