The EBWU Conference in Rabac, Croatia
22-25 May, 2003

Rabac, Croatia
Sing
to the Lord a New Song!
This was the theme of the conference.
About
200 women from over 40 countries of Europe and Middle East attended
this meeting. There were also guests: Audrey Morikawa - president
of BWA Women's Department, Patsy Davis - director of BWA Women's
Department, Judith Chambers - president of NABWU - and Gregorij
Komendant - president of EBF.
From
the very beginning we could sing new song to the Lord because:
-
He
prepared a special place for gathering women from all over
Europe. Croatia is a beautiful country that suffered from
war. Now it is free from violence, it is enjoying peace and
is looking for new life possibilities. The beauty of the Adriatic
coast at Rabac what we could see from the hotel's balcony
filled our hearts with gratitude toward God. The Croatian
women impressed us with the symbolic boat-decorations they
prepared, their hospitality and perfect organisation with
Ksenija Magda as leader. And the delicious Mediterranean food
in spite of abundance did not make our stomach suffer.
-
The
program. The Bible Study introduced by Kathrin Morgan touched
three important practical aspects of our Christian life: 1.
The task of mission; 2. The means of mission; 3. The people
of mission.
-
There
was a wide range of workshops like: Women in ministry (Sheila
Martin); Bible study methods (Linda Shiper); Spiritual growth
(Erika Lange); Singleness (Lina Androvienne); Christian mother
(Amal Khater); Leaders in the church - can they be women?
(Ksenija Magda); Spiritual gifts (Vera Izotova); Time out
for you (Vesna Brezovic); Counseling for domestic violence
(Lauran Bethel); Ethical issues (David Pusey); and Refugee
issues (Graham Lange).
-
The
brief reports (about one minute each), about the most important
events of the ministry of our Women's Union were showing diversity
on the one hand and unity in Christ on the other hand.
-
The
group activities. This new idea allowed all participants to
take part in a very active way. We could also see how creative
and gifted are women from all over Europe.
-
The
Croatian music group inspired us all the time to sing new
song to the Lord
Every
day we started with prayer in groups. We prayed also a lot for
the elections. The delegates of Unions elected the new EBWU Committee.
Let
me add that I am grateful to God for all the predecessors at the
EBWU committee. Through them God traced direction for this huge
ministry in Europe. God used each of them in a special way. I
am grateful to the Lord that I had possibility to learn so much,
especially from our last two presidents: Hilde Sayers and Yona
Pusey. I realize that we can do nothing without God.
So, my prayer
every day is that I serve Him, being totally dependent on Him
and allowing Him to put in life His will for Europe.
Please
pray for us.
Ewa
Gutkowska

Dedication
prayer for the newly elected
EBWU president,
Ewa Gutkowska
back to top