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by Janet FierbachHAVE YOU NOTICED ….. ?
As I dropped my 7 year old daughter at school today, I greeted several moms. One was from Taiwan, another from India, still others from Peru, Fiji, Russia, Malaysia, Korea and of course several born and raised in Canada! I love the cosmopolitan character of my city.
The cultural diversity enriches our community and keeps my heart open to God’s heart, He who so loves the world that He gave His only Son. He, who said, “Go and make disciples of all nations …
And so the question on my heart as I see these women is, “Do they know Jesus yet?”
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
Around the world March 8 has been designated as International Women’s day, a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women. What a fantastic opportunity to encourage women with the news that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives!
This March 2002, why not consider hosting an event to mark International Women’s Day in your community or neighborhood? You can help provide a place in your city where the women God has brought from all around world can be affirmed in their value as they hear the life-changing message of God’s love and forgiveness.
YOU CAN DO IT BY FOLLOWING THESE SIX STEPS
1. Pray!
a) For eyes to see the women from around the world in your community.
b) That God will give you His heart for the lost.
c) That God will give you His wisdom and direction to organize and host the most effective gathering possible.
2. Choose a team and share the vision!
a) Ask God to bring women to you who have a heart to reach people from other countries.
b) Choose women with strengths you do not have. You will need women who are strong in prayer, in ideas, in promotion, in getting the job done, in administration, in relationship skills. Remember, no one is good at everything. We need each other!
c) From the beginning, encourage the team to be filled with His Spirit and to commit to work together in prayer, love and unity.
3. Determine the character of your event.
a) Be determined to make your event evangelistic! Your task is to provide an environment where the Holy Spirit can draw these women to Jesus!
b) Determine the size of your event. It can be intimate – held in a home with neighbors or community wide – held in a hotel or hall.
4. Identify your potential audience.
a) Find out about the people from other countries who live in your community. Seek to learn the answers to some of these questions:
· What countries do they come from?
· What are their needs? Interests?
· Who are the leaders or “who’s who” in the different ethnic groups or in the international community?
· Where do they gather?
· Are there ethnic churches that you can work with?
· What other Christian or service groups are working with the international community?
b) Host a focus group with women from other countries to find out what they would like to see in a gathering for international women.
5. Identify your resources.
a) Women from other countries will become your best promoters and your cultural guides so that you do not offend others inadvertently.
b) Best location: Some important considerations -
· Is it easy to get to by public transport?
· Is it neutral? Because you want women from other faiths to feel comfortable to attend, a church is often not the best venue.
· Can it be decorated to be appealing within your budget?
· Will it accommodate your program and the number of guest you are hoping to have?
c) Funds: Because the women you are seeking to reach may not have a lot of funds, it is often necessary to raise money to subsidize the cost of the event so that more people can attend.
6. Make it happen!
a) Date: The week in which March 8 falls is designated as International Women’s Week so any day that week works for this event. Friday evening often works well because many international women have fewer classes or other commitments that day.
b) Time: What you decide to include in your program will dictate the length of your event, but usually two and a half to three hours is adequate to accommodate a time of eating, entertainment and sharing the gospel.
c) Program: The most valuable input I have received from international women about the program is that they want to hear from other international women, not from “experts” from the host country.
To design your program:
· Choose a theme that will encourage women.
· Find one or more speakers who can address the theme.
· Find one speaker who can clearly share the gospel in a way that relates to the theme.
· Find groups or individuals who can provide entertainment from a variety of countries to give the program a multicultural flavor.
d) Promotion: In order to have a high percentage of non-believers attend this event:
· Be clear when promoting in churches that Christians should attend only if they are bringing a non-Christian guest.
· State clearly on the invitation that it is a multicultural celebration for women, and that the topic of faith in a loving God will be addressed. Include two or three components of the evening that will make the women want to come. Eg. Door prizes, a well-known entertainer, a particular topic.
· Invite women from political and multicultural circles, from ethnic associations, from ESL classes, from university and high school student groups.
e) Budget: After choosing your venue and doing some preliminary planning on program and promotion, determine your budget so that you can set your ticket price and develop any additional funds you will need to cover all your costs.
IDEAS THAT HAVE WORKED
Theme #1: Women Around the World – Journeys of Hope
Invitation wording:
Celebrate the diversity of women as we share food and music from our unique cultures.
Discover our similarities as we share our joys and our pain.
Receive encouragement from women as they share the hope and strength they have found through faith in a loving God.
Theme #2: International Women’s Week - come celebrate with women around the world – our passions, purpose and power to change!
Invitation wording:
Come join us for a multicultural evening of desserts, music and inspiration. Ignite your passions, clarify your purpose in life and discover how you can have the power to change through faith in a loving God. Meet us at: [specific details]
Come in your national dress if you wish.
IT’S THE GREAT COMMISSION!
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations… and lo, I am with you always!” The nations are coming to us. Let us reach out to them with the love of Christ and watch what God will do.
Women Today Wants to Help You ....
Women Today specializes in training and teaching how to host evangelistic events. If you have any further questions please email Judy at our Events Department
If you are hosting an outreach event of this nature, please email Judy at Women Today so that we can pray for your event.
