VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 3/3/23)—A fundraising campaign by American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) Alumnae is helping to spread the word about lifelong learning opportunities for women seeking to be inspired, encouraged, and equipped for Christian service. The campaign will run from January 2023 to December 2023.
ABWM Alumnae are a vital part of ABWM, as they encourage and equip women to examine their gifts. Through fellowship and spiritual growth opportunities, Alumnae help women and girls build a community and grow in their faith. Their year-long fundraising campaign will primarily fund webinar opportunities that help women learn more about God’s Word and its application to daily living.
Alumnae Coordinator Joanne Strauss noted in January, the Alumnae voted to support two of the many invaluable ABWM projects. The Alumnae agreed to raise $10,000 in 2023 to fully fund the next series of webinars (Fall 2023 and Winter 2024). Any donations exceeding $10,000 will be used for scholarships for events, programs, resources, and leadership training for women and girls across ABWM’s 33 regions in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. The last national project that the Alumnae funded was 2016-2018, and it exceeded the goal set by more than $3,000. Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain, ABWM executive director, shared, “we are blessed by the Alumnae’s affirmation for online opportunities to learn and fellowship together and for their willingness to undertake this ambitious goal to support the webinars as well as scholarships for women and girls.”
“Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said that life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” Funding webinars can reach many A.B. women as well as those who are not connected to ABWM.” Strauss further noted, “Our webinars are informative, uplifting, encouraging, and challenging. All monies raised will provide many opportunities for women and girls, giving each a voice, regardless of location, social status, ethnicity, or age. They will meet people they might never have known, to listen, to engage in long-lasting friendships, to develop leadership skills, and to grow spiritually. Our prayer is that this project will develop that spirit of service, commitment, and leadership to ensure the ministries of ABWM continues and grows.”
American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) is a diverse community of American Baptist women and girls serving in ministry in Christ’s name in the US, including Puerto Rico. With local, area, region/state, and national levels of ministry, American Baptist Women’s Ministries creates and sustains communities of passionately faithful, mission-minded women and girls engaged in worship, leadership, service, friendship. Our ministries include domestic violence and sex trafficking prevention and education, building beloved community, advocacy, and developing leaders. To learn more about American Baptist Women’s Ministries, visit www.abwomensministries.org.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.