The first class of the third SWM was held October 25, 2008 at The Triumphant Church in Hyattsville, MD (where all classes for the third school will be held). The members of The Triumphant Church pulled out all the stops to provide a quality day, all around, and were exemplary in the area of true servanthood! I don't believe a single detail was overlooked.

Fifty ladies are registered for the current school. These women are a wonderful representation of our district and beyond. Twelve Converge MidAtlantic churches and an additional six to seven non-Converge churches are represented.

Topics included in the course work are:

• Women in Church History
• The foundations of Women’s Ministries
• Leadership Qualifications and Qualities
• Designing Ministries to meet Women’s Needs
• Understanding Today’s Women
• Organizational Principles and Practices
• Spiritual Giftings
• What Christians Believe
• Sharing Truth with Secular People
• Studying Truth: Bible Study Methods
• Teaching and Speaking

During the class held on Oct. 25, 2008 students enjoyed meeting several of those who serve on our district Women's Ministries Leadership Team, as well as in hearing excellent lectures by Dr. Leland Eliason (Provost of Bethel Seminary) and Pamela Heim (previous District Director of Converge Worlwide Women's Ministries who now presents these excellent classes independently). Pamela shared a wealth of information on "Women in Church History" and "The Foundations of Women's Ministries" in the morning, and Dr. Eliason presented valuable information on "Leadership Qualifications and Qualities" and how to avoid "train wrecks" in our own ministry lives.

For our Feb. 21, 2009 class, we will have Dr. Sherry Mortenson with us from Bethel College. Professor Mortenson will lead our morning session on "Understanding Today's Women" and Pamela Heim will round out our afternoon on "Designing Ministries to Meet Women's Needs". The third class to be held on May 2, 2009 will bring Mrs. Belynda Gentry into our midst, to speak on "Organizational Principles & Practices". Mrs. Gentry is the head of "Go Ye Ministries" and will share foundational ideas to undergird successful ministry today. Pamela Heim will round out that afternoon by presenting on "Doing Ministry in Teams" and "Spiritual Giftings; Building a Volunteer Ministry", and we anxiously anticipate what all present will learn!

Click here to view pictures from first DC-area class