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July 2014
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GraceTouch
Facilitating global impact
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What's important to you? Whether it's how women contribute to the identity of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, celebrating milestones, or disciplining children, we would love to hear what you think. Your input helps make us who we are.
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What do you think?
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By Viki Rife
It's a question sure to spark discussion: How do women contribute to the identity of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches? As FGBC leaders wrestle with questions about our identity as Grace Brethren, they have made a special point of inviting women to participate in the discussions, and especially a forum that will be held in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, July 20, at 3 p.m. in the Omni Shoreham hotel. We asked several of these leaders what they perceived was the value of women's participation in the Identity Initiative talks.
FGBC coordinator Tom Avey explained, "When talking about the identity of a movement, perspective is everything. Everyone approaches the discussion with a certain set of backgrounds, skills, successes, failures and values that greatly impact how the discussion advances. The Identity Initiative is a global discussion intentionally designed to bring many perspectives to the table. The discussion will be strengthened by the perspectives of the many incredible women of the FGBC."
Bartley Sawatsky, teaching pastor at Grace Community Church in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and Executive Director of the FGBC, shared, "Women make up at least half of our FGBC membership and have been equal participants with the men in making our fellowship what it is today, even when those roles have been behind the scenes. We absolutely need the perspective of our women as we clarify our identity moving forward. Anything less would be half-brained, no? (continue)
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Are You Going to FellowShift?
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Are you going to Fellowshift in Washington, D.C.? Don't miss these opportunities:
Friday:
9:30 am General session-Premier of the new Women of Grace USA video
11:15 am Workshop-Daring to Hope overview by the author, Melissa Spoelstra
2:30 pm Women's Celebration-75th anniversary festivities and vision for the future
Sunday:
3:00 pm Identity Initiative discussion
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| Diamond Jubilee Sponsor |
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Would you like to help sponsor the diamond jubilee? Our 75th anniversary celebration at FellowShift Conference will be extraordinarily special. In addition, we're preparing a video about WGUSA to be shown to the entire conference. But these things mean extra expense. If you would like to contribute toward the celebration, click here. And thanks for being a part of the excitement.
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| Quiet Leadership |
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Janet Minnix has guided Women of Grace USA with a quiet dignity for the last 17 years. Read the Summer issue of GraceConnect to learn more about this unassuming leader, as she retires as president of the FGBC women's organization. The magazine is available online here.
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| Are you a Minister of Reconciliation? |
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 If you've ever wondered how to handle relational conflicts in your life, the newest issue of Women's Spectrum is for you. On its pages you will meet up with other women and learn their stories and answers to conflict situations such as: Should I disown my father? How do I deal with my husband's affair with my best friend? What do I do when I offend unintentionally? These and other stories will inspire and encourage you as you seek to be a minister of reconciliation for God. Order online here.
This year we are also offering a twelve-lesson Bible study, A Call to All, to go with the Ministers of Reconciliation theme of the Women's Spectrum. The 48-page PDF is available to download for $10 here.
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| PrayerWatch -- Standing in adversity |
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from Sharon MacMillan 
"Yes, Lord, I hear you! You want me to learn this!" Effective praying involves learning what to pray for.
Everywhere I went last week (on a plane or in a class) and everything I read (emails, Facebook groups and newsletters) presented one unifying message: "Listen to your African brothers on how to stand in adversity. Pray for those standing in adversity!"
Why is this on Prayer Watch? Because Dr. Francois Ngoumape came to the women at the Women's Leadership Studies Training class at Grace to ask the "mamas" to pray for his family as they obey the Lord and return to CAR to face hardships. They have lost their belongings four times, their older daughters are in hiding, their younger daughters are facing fears as they re-enter this situation. Pray, mamas, for a place to call home, pray for the message of reconciliation and forgiveness to be heard. Pray for a harvest of souls to be won throughout Sudan, Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, and CAR and beyond.
Dr. Ngoumape shared precious jewels he has mined from his adversities:
Three reasons to hold on to God when you suffer from ungodly people:
1. God is sovereign (Genesis 50)
2. God's will for humanity (humans have caused suffering ever since Genesis)
3. God acts according to His character: His holiness, His justice, and His love.
Three responses when people cause you suffering
1. Trust God (I Peter 5:7)
2. Persevere (James 1:2-4)
3. Forgive (Genesis 50:17)
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| Cambodia Ministry Team |
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 There is still room on the team that will be ministering through teaching English and encouraging women in Cambodia in November. Applications are due September 1.
For more information and application forms click here.
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| Musings for Moms |
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I have had a few good friends through the years that I've really enjoyed getting together with from time to time. We've had great conversation, confided in one another, and enjoyed many laughs together. Having motherhood in common, a lot of our get-togethers have been playdates, and knowing our kids love playing with each other makes us more eager to meet. It's fun and games but, kids are kids, and inevitably some kind of fight breaks loose.
Now I'm all in favor of letting the kids work it out. However depending on their ages and the situation, a lot of times the parents need to step in. Maybe one child took a toy from another. Maybe a child hit or pushed another one. Maybe one child is simply just not following rules or playing fairly. Whatever the situation, these scenarios all require some form of discipline, and I'll say or do what I believe is appropriate in the situation to teach my kids how I believe they should act and how to make good decisions.
Many times, however, I've left these situations displeased at the response of the other parent. I've dished out what I thought was a good dose of some hard discipline to find that my friend did little or nothing to discipline her own child. Many times this has led to the situation reoccurring because her child was able to get away with the offense. It's left me with negative feelings about her, her kid, and getting together again. (continue)
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| Gods at War by Kyle Idleman |
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Review by Christy Carmean
 In "gods at war," kyle idleman, bestselling author of "not a fan," helps every believer recognize there are false gods at war within each of us, and they battle for the place of glory and control in our lives. What keeps us from truly following Jesus is that our hearts are pursuing something or someone else. Behind the sin you're struggling with, the discouragement you're dealing with, the lack of purpose you're living with, is a false god that is winning the war for your heart.
According to Idleman, idolatry isn't an issue - it is THE issue.
By asking insightful questions, Idleman reveals which false god each of us is allowing on the throne of our life. What do you sacrifice for? What makes you mad? What do you worry about? Whose applause do you long for? We are all wired for worship, but we often end up valuing and honoring the idols of money, sex, food, romance, success, and many others that keep us from the intimate relationship with God that we desire.
Using powerful and honest testimonies of those who have struggles in each area, "gods of war" illustrates a clear path away from the heartache of our twenty-first century idolatry back to the heart of God - enabling us to truly be completely committed followers of Jesus. (read more)
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| Mark your calendar |
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Opportunities coming up:
Fellowshift, Women of Grace 75th Celebration, July 18, Washington, DC More
WLS - Women in Scripture, September 19-20, Winona Lake, IN
Ohio Leadership Summit, October 17-19, Columbus, OH Details
Cambodia GO Team, November 11-24 More
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| What's going on? |
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with Women of Grace USA
Check our Facebook page to see some of what God's been doing among women through Women of Grace USA.
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| Help a friend |
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