Joint Congress for Women’s, Children’s and Family Ministries 2019

The next Women’s Ministries Congress of the EUD will take place from September 18 to 22, 2019, in Ligniano Sabbadioro, Italy. It will be a joint convention by Women’s Ministries, Children’s Ministries and Family Ministries. The location is in Lignano Sabbiadoro http://bellaitaliavillage.com/

 

The congress will be called ‘people 7.0 – forward together’. 

Save the Date: September 18-22, 2019
Next year there will be another EUD congress. This time it is a joint venture with the Children’s, Family and Women’s Ministries departments. As women we are involved in all these areas.
This congress under the Motto “people 7.0 – forward together” will inspire, equip and empower you to reach in and out. There will be workshops on vital topics, different kinds of inputs, powerful life stories and presentations by very interesting and powerful speakers from around the world. It will be another great opportunity to enrich your spiritual life, make new friends and learn how to share the good news with your friends and neighbours. You will be touched but also energized.
The Location is in Lignano Sabbadioro/Italy, only one hour east of Venice.  The Place is a Sports village with its own beach, surrounded with a pine forest that gives you really a holiday feeling. There is plenty of space to host such an event. It is also a great place for families. All rooms are handicapped accessible and have attached bathrooms. The weather at this time of the year is still warm and pleasant.
Start saving now! Plan to attend this international event, you won’t regret it.
A special website for registering is being created where you will find more information.

Entrance to the sports and family village:

More information will be coming soon!
Date: September 18-20, 2019
Location: Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
 http://bellaitaliavillage.com/
A joint convention by Women’s Ministries, Children’s Ministries and Family Ministries.

 

 

One of the houses providing accommodation

 

 

 

 

An example of the rooms available

 

 

 

 

A dining room

 

 

 

The private beach

 

 

 

 

 

Recreation areas in the pine forest

Women's Ministries

Heather-Dawn Small

 

 

Heather-Dawn Small presently holds the position of director for Women's Ministries at the General Conference of SDA. Heather-Dawn is the wife of Pastor Joseph Small and the mother of a daughter Dalonne and a son Jerard.
Prior to coming to the General Conference in 2001 she held the position of Children's and Women's Ministries Director for the Caribbean Union Conference located on the twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago for five years.
Heather-Dawn loves air travel, reading, embroidery, scrapbooking, and stamp collecting and she enjoys ministry to women. As she travels the world she has three passions - to see more women involved in evangelism, to encourage women to be involved in ministry to others – especially young women, and to share the joy that God has given her in spite of life's many challenges. Her favorite word is "JOY" and her favorite saying is "Don't let anyone steal your joy."

Raquel Arrais

Raquel Arrais presently holds the position of Associate Director for Women's Ministries at the General Conference of SDA. Raquel Arrais is the wife of Pastor Jonas Arrais who is the Associate Ministerial Secretary at the General Conference and they have two sons, Tiago and Andre, two daughters' in-law, Paula and Natalia and a grandson, Benjamin. Raquel grew up in a pastoral family and is a third generation Seventh-day Adventist.
Prior to coming to the General Conference Raquel was Women's Ministries and Shepherdess associate director for the South American Division (2000-2003) and Children's Ministries director (2004 – 2005).
For 20 years Raquel worked as an educator and administrator in Brazil. In 1997 she received her master's Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University.
Raquel loves reading, walking, playing the piano, and collecting pictures of women's faces. She enjoys spending time with women, ministering to them, and learning from them. She has a desire to see more women accepting God's call and being involved with the mission of the church.
Her favorite word is courage and her favorite Bible text is Joshua 1:9.

 

Family Ministries

Willie and Elaine Oliver

 

Willie and Elaine Oliver are directors of the Department of Family Ministries for the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters since June 2010.
An ordained minister, Willie Oliver holds a Ph.D. in Family Sociology; an M.A. in Pastoral Counseling; an M.A. in Sociology; and a BA in Theology. He is an adjunct professor of Family Ministries at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, and of the Adventist University of Africa. Willie Oliver is the former Director of Family Ministries for the North American Division, the Atlantic Union Conference, and the Greater New York Conference. He also served as a lead pastor in New York City.
Elaine Oliver holds an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; an M.A. in Counseling Psychology; an M.A. in Higher and Adult Education; and a BS in business management and accounting. Elaine Oliver is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. She is an adjunct professor of Family Ministries at the Adventist University of Africa. Prior to her current position, she served as a university administrator and as a marriage and family consultant for several organizations.
The Olivers have conducted marriage conferences, retreats, relationship seminars, and leadership training conferences around the world. They are founders of From This Day Forward marriage conferences, Journey Toward Intimacy marriage conferences, authors of the Relationship Rx column in Message magazine, the Real Family Talk column in Adventist World Online. They are editors of the annual Family Ministries Planbook, and authors of two books, Real Family Talk: Answers to Questions About Love, Marriage, and Sex, and Hope for Today’s Families—the world missionary book for 2019. The Olivers also produce and host a weekly family strengthening program on the Hope Channel called Real Family Talk with Willie and Elaine Oliver.
Willie and Elaine Oliver have been married for 34 years and are the parents of two young adults -Jessica and Julian. In their spare time, they enjoy taking long walks, beach vacations, gardening, exotic cuisines, and spending time with family and friends.

Karen Holford

 

Karen Holford is the director of the family ministries department of the Trans-European Division and is committed to growing healthy relationships in families, churches and communities.
Karen Holford loves to help families and children to grow their relationship with God. She has written books, resources, and training materials that teach parents how to nurture their children's spirituality, emotional well-being, and character. Karen lives in the United Kingdom where she works for the Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists as the Family Ministries director. She and her husband have three adult children and two grandchildren.

Gabor Mihalec

Director of Family Ministries at Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hungary, pastor, family and couple therapist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children's Ministry

Linda Koh

 

Linda was born and raised in Singapore. Prior to her appointment to the General Conference Children’s Ministries Department, Linda served for nine years as director of Children’s, Family, and Women’s Ministries of the Southern Asia Pacific Division, based in the Philippines. She obtained her Doctor of Education degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling from Andrews University, Michigan, USA, and has 24 years of teaching experience behind her, ranging from elementary to the college level.
She is happily married to Oliver Koh, former Associate Education Director of the Southern Asia Pacific Division. They have two grown sons, Terrence and Marvin, and five grandchildren. She enjoys working with children and people from all walks of life. She has served as a resource person for the Singapore government, giving talks and conducting seminars on child development, parenting, and family life relationships.
She enjoys writing and has co-authored the book, God Loves Me 28 Ways with Charles Mills. She has also contributed numerous articles for several magazines in Singapore, such as Motherhood, Teens, and Families Today. She also writes for the Adventist Review, Adventist World, Elder’s Digest, Vibrant Life, Kids Ministry Ideas, and other church publications.

Others

Katia Reinert

 

Katia Reinert is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist who practices internal medicine in Hyattsville, MD and serves as the Health Ministries director & Recovery Ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist church in North America. Reinert holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Washington Adventist University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Catholic University of America with focus in public health and the treatment of vulnerable populations, and has her PhD from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She was a NIH/NICHD pre-doctoral research fellow in Interdisciplinary Research On Violence in the Family. Reinert has served in the nursing profession at Washington Adventist Hospital for 15 years as a critical care nurse, occupational health nurse practitioner, Faith Community Nursing coordinator and also as Health Ministry Clinical Supervisor for Adventist HealthCare. She has a special interest in Lifestyle &Preventive Medicine and the wholistic treatment of physical and mental/emotional disorders. She has lectured and published on these topics while also been involved in faith-based partnerships to improve the health of individuals, families and communities. Originally from Brazil, Reinert enjoys bicycling, hiking, traveling and exploring the world's beautiful natural wonders.

Books by This Author

• Share Facts with Hope and Positive Choices
• Health Ministries Resources
• Focus on a Spirit-Led Revival
• Our Journey to Wholenesshttp://healthministries.com/articles/health-connection-editorial/rest-soul
• Rest for the Soul

 

Eliza Spătărelu

 Eliza Spătărelu is wife and mother of three children, two of whom are adults. She holds a bachelor's degree in Theology and one in Pedagogy at Adventus University, a Master in Education Sciences at the University of Montemorelos and a Doctorate in Education Sciences at the University of Bucharest. She served in the Youth Department at the Muntenia Conference and the Romanian Union and in the Women's Ministries Department at the Muntenia Conference. At present, she is lecturer and director of the Department of Theology - Social Assistance - Education Sciences at Adventus University in Romania.

Frauke Gyuroka

 

Sonja Kalmbach

Sonja grew up in Freudenstadt, Germany, and studied at the University of Tübingen. She has lived in Sweden since 2001, where she has worked as a teacher and editor and now as a pastor. She studied Theology at Newbold College in England. In addition to her pastoral duties Sonja is also Women’s Ministries Director and member of the media bord for the Swedish Union Conference. She has a burning desire to share the Kingdom of God in a language that is understood today. Sonja loves the outdoors and everything creative. If she had to pick two activities it would be knitting and kayaking.

 

 

Marjukka Ostrovljanovic

 

Marjukka grew up in Finland, surrounded by lakes and forests. Her teenage years were rough, and she struggled with drugs, alcohol and anxiety. All of it led her to a point where she had to choose between life and death, and choosing life meant also choosing God. He guided her through years of struggle, rooted her in His Church and led her to study Theology in order to know Him better. During her Theology Studies she discovered a deep passion for the Biblical Hebrew language and the Old Testament Narratives. Translating and studying the Old Testament in Hebrew became her way of learning more about God, His plan and His will. Through this intensive study of the Word grew also the wish to share her journey of discovering the strange, uplifting, encouraging, puzzling and life-changing texts of the Bible. That’s how their Vlog, The Treasure Hunt, came into existence. Currently she is working as a pastor in Bavaria, South Germany.

 

 

 

For each special day you can download prepared materials.
Also available in other languages. Please contact the Women's Ministries Director of your country or send us an e-mail.

First Sabbath in March: International Day of Prayer 2019

"Walking with jesus" BY Cordell liebrandt

Material packet pdf
Material packet word
Sermon Powerpoint

 

Seminar "Can we Turst God when He Says, "Follow Me!"?

Seminar "Can we Trust God when He Says, "Follow Me"?

 

 

Seminar "Discover the Love of your Life" by Heather-Dawn Small

Seminar Booklet
Seminar Powerpoint

 

 

 
Additional Material

Additional Material

 

 

 

 

Also available:
International Day of Prayer Leader's packet
Archives of all past material

 

2nd Sabbath in June: Women's Ministries Emphasis Day 2018

Blessed to be a Blessing by dinorah rivera

Blessed to be a Blessing packet word

Blessed to be a Blessing packet pdf

Blessed to be a Blessing Sermon Powerpoint

Eight Blessings to Share Activity

 

Jars of Fragrance Seminar

 

 

Sing to the Lord a new Song Seminar

Sing to the Lord a new Song Handout
Sing to the Lord a new Song Script

 

 

4th Sabbath in August: enditnow Day 2018 

Words That Wound: The Trauma of Emotional Abuse, by Dr. Katia G. Reinert, Associate Director of GC Health Ministries

 

Material packet

The four-level leadership program has come about because we realize  great need for women to develop skills that will enable them to serve in all areas and on all levels of our church organization.

E.G.White reminds us, "There is a higher purpose for women, a grander destiny. She should develop and cultivate her powers, for God can employ them in the great work of saving sould from eternal ruin." Evangelism p.465
Developing and cultivating the abilities of women is one task of this department, and one to which we are committed.

The curriculum for this program has been divided into eight subject areas. They are:
1. History and Philosophy
2. Biblical Studies
3. People Skills/Personal Growth
4. Speaking Skills
5. Leadership Skills
6. Writing Skills
7. Nurture Projects
8. Outreach Projects

 More information about the Leadership Certification Program.

See a video about the Leadership Certification Seminars (in German)

Read more

New Flyer in German