First TWOS Fellowship Update

Thank God for the 13 sisters (3 from Youth/English service) who came for our 1st TWOS fellowship on 11 Aug 07 (Sat).

The order of event:

Del (Chairperson) - Introduction and welcome
Tresa (Worship Leader) & Deborah (Musician) - Worship with 2 songs
Ps Mark (Speaker) - Message on the importance of sisters' role in the "hurting" ministry
Irene (Programme Coordinator) - Ice breaking game on "fire, tree, wind" and also "paper that represents my feeling now"
Irene (Programme Coordinator) - facilitated discussion on "Myself, Programme, What we can Teach, and What ladies need"
Del (Refreshment Chief) - encouraged sisters to have fellowship and refreshment


Gist of Ps Mark's Message:
TWOS is a ministry to hurting women. Some examples of hurting women are:

• women who can't conceive
• widowed women
• single ladies
• single mothers
• women who had abortion
• women with unfaithful husbands
• women going through menopause

Wives of husbands in ministries need help, for what affects the wives affects the husbands and their ministries.

Sisters in TWOS need to learn how to identify "hurting" women. They need to:

• Train their spiritual eyes - to detect women with depression, have been spouse abused, with troubled marriage, experiencing menopause mood swing, etc.
• Educate themselves - by reading more on hurting women issues
• Organize support group - for each unique women's problems
• Organize Workshop - by special speakers
• Counsel Women - some e.g.
  - Titus 2, Women2women
  - Shepherd Women, befriend a hurting women, walk through life with her
  - Wounded Healer, helping another woman in crisis after we have personally recovered from a similar crisis
  - Practical Helpers, e.g. hospital visits, demonstrate how to care for new born, etc
  

Discussion on what sisters want out of TWOS:

For Myself - what each sister wants for themselves

• learn how to help other sisters
• to train my spiritual eyes to identify troubled women
• to grow in godly wisdom
• mutual encouragement
• counselling skills
• learn to sing, keep fit, how to find right mate (for the singles), how to keep marriages
• learn skills in cooking, handicraft, paperwork, home & interior decoration, props making

The Programme - the activities each sister like to participate

• Workshop by good speakers
• 1 to 1 discipleship/bible study
• evangelism
• mission trip
• community works
• visitation
• lessons on cooking, grooming
• outdoor together, e.g. movies, walks, spa, Hi-tea
  

What I can teach - some of the things sisters can teach each other at TWOS

• Mrs Alan - baking/cooking
• Sharon - languages
• Betty - blogging
• Betsy - magic show
• Maryaan - keep fit
• Janet - singing, stewardship of money
• Tresa - personal grooming
  

People in need of help - list people we know who needs help


My Reflection:

I felt very encouraged, especially by the young sisters and also a few sisters who came, though I thought they would not have come. Some sisters who were supposed to come didn't show up though... I guess they may have some last minute commitments. I hope they can make it for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship on 1 Sep 07.

Personally, I feel that our 1st TWO Fellowship is a success even though the number who came wasn't a big crowd. It was a time for me to get to know some sisters a little bit more on their gifts, strengths and struggles as we worship the Lord and play together. Yes, we literally played together and it reminded me of my younger days. :D Some sisters were very transparent in sharing their feelings and struggles. That helps me to know what to pray for them.

I look forward to a even more fruitful time for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship. I hope more sisters will come together to make TWOS their 'hiding place' from all their cares of life. TWOS Fellowship exists because of YOU, ladies! :)