Opening Wide the Umbrella
What began as an auxiliary to the Department of World Missions has now broadened into a multifaceted organization with numerous special projects and chapters in some 60 percent of U.S. FM churches — each one unique in the way it seeks out and meets the needs of the women in its community and beyond. As an auxiliary, WMI still raises awareness and funds for World Missions programs and people, but WMI itself receives no funds from the general church budget, instead "employing" an all-volunteer slate of officers to oversee its programs and raising what it needs through member dues and fundraising events developed and conducted by individual chapters. Over the past five years, WMI has raised an average of $832,000 annually, with nearly all of the money going directly into ministry support at home and abroad.

Special projects include co-sponsorship (with Men's Ministries International) of Project Barnabas, a ministry that ships much-needed supplies to disenfranchised peoples around the world, many of them in Africa. WMI also sends donations through Kare Kontainer, an FM ministry headquartered in the state of Washington.
Other special projects have included the sponsorship of a Congolese woman working on her bachelor's degree in order to better serve her church in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the funding and teaching of literacy and sewing classes in Nigeria; working with refugees in camps in Tanzania through missionary Barb Stillman; supporting a literacy program in India; and helping underwrite a solar cooking project to improve lives and the environment in Haiti. For heartwarming stories from each of these areas — and others — visit WMI's Web site at www.freemethodistchurch.org/wmi.

Women to Women
A fine example of WMI's involvement in women's lives has been their support for an association of widows in Rwanda called "Udakorantakarye" (which literally means "Whoever doesn't work shall not eat" — from 2 Thessalonians 3:10). Unfortunately, due to the current geopolitical situation in Rwanda, WMI will not be able to continue to send funds to this group, but their story clearly demonstrates the eternal value of women helping women, sister to sister a world apart.

The ministry to the widows in Rwanda began as a result of house-to-house evangelism conducted by Pastor Elie Ndanuhutse in an area called Gikondo. Here he discovered widows and orphans living in huts and small, old houses with cracked walls — some having holes stuffed with torn clothing to keep out the cold and damp. All the widows suffered a great deal when it rained. Some wore old, patched clothing while others didn't even have clothing to speak of; some managed to have one meal a day while others had no food at all.

This very great need was shared with WMI, which accepted the challenge to raise funds for these destitute women. The first help given was to repair and put roofs on four of the widows' houses. Next, a piece of land was purchased where they could start raising vegetables — for their own needs and to sell. Finally the Gikondo WMI group purchased chicks for the widows to raise so they could sell eggs and begin a small business to give themselves a means of support. This initial group now has 12 widow-members and three more widows' associations have begun in other Rwandan locations as a result of the ministry's success.

The Association of Butamwa, Rwanda, has 22 widows working together, with their main focus on farming. When their labors are complete, they meet together for Bible study, prayer and encouragement. Last year their valley was flooded and they harvested only about one quarter of their crop — but, undaunted, they planned to plant again during the dry season. The Association of Nyamirambo, Rwanda, has 20 widows who do tailoring. Five sewing machines were purchased for them so they could sew clothes for their children and themselves — they plan to sew school uniforms as a means of income, but they still need patterns and thread.

The widows' association in Rutonde, Rwanda, has 16 widow-members and has just started making bricks from clay to sell to builders for churches and schools. Donated funds from WMI enabled them to buy hoes and forms for the bricks, and to pay the rental fee for the site where they dig the clay.

The women in all four widows' associations work very hard and are quite pleased to have these various means to support their own children along with the many orphan children for whom they care. The women of WMI are rejoicing and praying for the continued success of these dear ones.

On the Home Front
One of WMI's significant accomplishments here at home over the years has been the establishment, development and deployment of those involved in Parish Nursing: A Congregational Health Team Ministry, Inc. Through parish nursing programs, congregational and community wholeness is promoted and encouraged as parish nurses employ their skills and expertise in conjunction with other healthcare providers, caregivers and ministerial staff — using Jesus as a model (see sidebar).

WMI aims to see every woman involved in ministry, sharing her faith through the use of her spiritual gift(s), developing a global consciousness and acquiring knowledge of Free Methodist missions. Through WMI, Free Methodist women are mobilizing to confront the social concerns of the day, modeling lifestyles consistent with Christ's teaching and expressing global concern through prayer and programs aimed at reaching out, touching and changing lives.

Women interested in getting involved with WMI are encouraged to contact WMI at the World Ministries Center (800-342-5531 or WMI@fmcna.org) to get a start-up kit. "And from the very beginning it's important to obtain pastoral and board-level support," advises Webb. "Then pray. Pray for guidance: What kind of group does your church really need? …for moms? …singles? …widows? What burden is the Lord laying on your hearts at this time?" There aren't any "pat" answers, Webb says. Each group is unique and those who take time up-front to pray through the issues will then be ready to develop and implement a specific plan that will bear fruit in their church, neighborhood, city and beyond.

WMI provides a wide variety of materials to women who want to be a part of this exciting women-to-women ministry. Among the most popular is a resource book, developed annually, that assists local WMI groups with planning and programming, and suggests a theme for the year. WMI also offers witnessing tools and an array of promotional items that correlate with the yearly theme.

September is Women's Ministries International Awareness Month, with the second Sunday of the month designated as WMI Sunday. This provides an excellent time to kick off new activities and programs by and for women. Those who begin praying and planning today may well have some exciting news for their congregations come this fall.

The bottom line in everything WMI does is connecting women with Christ. For it is only in and through Him that women can truly realize their potential and impact their world for good. Maybe this is your year to join the team!