VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 7/3/13)—On Friday, June 21, 2013, 260 women from all over the United States gathered to learn and worship together on Women’s Day, hosted by American Baptist Women’s Ministries.

Bible study led by Rev. Karen Selig challenged participants to personally engage the day’s theme, “A Time to Serve,” while mission speakers Marcia Binkley and Htoo May highlighted a circle of ministry extending from the 1800s voyage of Ann and Adoniram Judson to Burma to the work of women of Burma now living in the U.S. and attending our churches today. Their message concluded with the performance of the Karen Women’s Choir of Grace Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. The AB GIRLS of Central Region shared their perspective on ministries with girls and brought an important message of the importance of history and heritage while moving forward into the future together.  Holly Balch, Mary Etta Copeland, and Karen Wall led music and singing throughout the day.

“How exhilarating it was to have a sell-out crowd at Women’s Day!” noted AB Women’s Ministries Executive Director Virginia Holmstrom. “Attendees expressed deep appreciation for the event. Hearing encouragement during the Bible study to serve God as an act of worship, and then to realize the full circle of mission to and from Burma within a 200 year timeframe was particularly poignant. God sends us to serve in ever-changing times; the Burma diaspora calls for our attention and participation.”

Recordings of portions of Women’s Day, including the Bible study, mission speakers, and AB GIRLS presentation, may be purchased through Dove Cassettes LLC, at http://www.dovecassettes.com/conferences/abc/abc13bien.html.

For more information about events sponsored by American Baptist Women’s Ministries, including the upcoming concurrent National Women’s Conference, National Young Adult Women’s Conference, and National Gathering for Girls July 27-August 1, 2013, in Phoenix, Arizona, and the virtual mission encounter, “Garlands instead of Ashes: Domestic Violence,”  September 23-27, 2013, visit the AB Women’s Ministries website at www.abwministries.org.

American Baptist Women’s Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry with a commitment to encourage and empower women and girls to serve God.

 American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.