Igniting Spiritual Bonds: Celebrating International Women's Day Through Prayer and Community
Throughout March, the world comes together to honour and acknowledge the remarkable achievements and invaluable contributions of women across different sectors and countries, culminating in the observance of International Women's Day on March 8th. Over the years, numerous groundbreaking resolutions have emerged from the concerted efforts of movements in various nations. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has placed an emphasis on prayer for women to encourage, strengthen, and learn about each other by observing the first Sabbath in March as a time to give thanks to God.
The 2024 resource packet for the International Women's Day of Prayer, titled "Ignite Your Prayer Life," has been authored by Linda Mei Lin Koh, Ed.D., who retired as the director of General Conference Children's Ministries in 2022 after more than 50 years of service in education and church leadership. This comprehensive packet contained a sermon titled "Ignite Your Prayer Life," accompanied by a children's story, a seminar on "Five Spiritual Benefits of Prayer," and an engaging activity titled "Women of the Bible Prayer Walks."
Church families around the world celebrated using the resources, including Wainadoi English SDA in Fiji. Women’s Ministries leader Mrs. Repeka Uluilakeba said that the resources and content were timely and uplifting. As an experienced professional in industries such as education, business, and health, Mrs. Uluilakeba says, “I’m inspired by the opportunity to strengthen our spiritual bonds and humbled to share this journey with my sisters.”
Wainadoi celebrated on the 2nd of March with music ministry group Mega Life and guest speaker, Mrs. Jane Gibson-Opetaia, General Secretary of the Trans Pacific Union Mission. Mrs. Gibson-Opetaia reflected, “Today has been touching to see our church community give such loving support for women, and we pray for more opportunities like this to mirror God’s love in our relationships with each other.”