VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/3/14)—“Break Every Yoke: Homelessness,” a virtual mission encounter from May 5-9, 2014, sponsored by American Baptist Women’s Ministries, will inspire and equip women to use their voice on behalf of the homeless and inadequately housed. This virtual mission encounter offers the opportunity for women to explore homelessness from a faith perspective, including how individuals or congregations may most effectively engage in ministries of prevention, support, and advocacy. Each day’s focus will be studied as it has impact upon youth, adults and families, and seniors, with suggestions for advocacy around a range of issues throughout the week.

Special guests include Rev. Francesca Crane, executive director of Bridge of Hope Lancaster & Chester Counties (Pennsylvania); Corenne Smith, American Baptist missionary serving with homeless youth in Brazil; Luz Jurado, an American Baptist woman who ministers with homeless youth in Los Angeles, California; and Rev. Judy Fackenthal, pastor of the Garfield Park Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, which is engaged in ministries with the homeless.

Virtual mission encounters offer the opportunity for women to engage with mission themes in a deep and meaningful way while still being able to care for work, family, and church responsibilities at home. Each virtual mission encounter includes fun, interesting, and thought-provoking activities that can be done within the normal schedule of one’s day. Every evening, participants interact with one another and a special guest on a conference call, and there is a private online discussion tool for participants to share their learnings and observations with one another.

AB Women’s Ministries Executive Director Virginia Holmstrom notes, “AB Women’s Ministries’ virtual mission encounters have proven to be a creative format to successfully bring together women across the country (and the world!) to explore mission topics that challenge women, hear from ministry practitioners, and share ministry models that are working in local churches responding to the issue. The virtual mission encounter on May 5-9 will be a wonderful resourcing opportunity for women interested in doing mission outreach to help break the yoke of homelessness.”

Registration is open now for “Break Every Yoke: Homelessness.” Visit www.abwministries.org/vme for more information, speaker bios, and registration.

The next virtual mission encounter is “A Time of Grace: Aging and Faith,” September 29 through October 3, 2014. Information and registration may also be found at www.abwministries.org/vme.

American Baptist Women’s Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry with a commitment to encourage and empower women and girls to serve God. To learn more visit www.abwministries.org.

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.