By Esther Varah, Assistant Director, Women’s Ministry
On March 5, 2022, AIU women had the opportunity to participate in the International Women’s Day of Prayer on the theme “Praying in the Last Days”. The event began with a prayer session on early Sabbath morning with Mrs. Mirma Naag sharing a devotional thought and leading us with the prayer session. This was then followed by a second session of reflection, testimony sharing, and prayer in the afternoon which was led by Mrs. Tantip Kitjaroonchai and Mrs. Pattraporn Keller for the Thai audience; and Ms. Rojean Marcia and Mrs. Esther Hungyo for the English-speaking audience.
The highlight of the event was the Sabbath worship service in between the two prayer sessions. The Sabbath School service began with a welcome remark, a prayer, and a singspiration by Mrs. Hungyo. Thereafter, Ms. Marcia, the AIU Women Ministry coordinator spoke about the Women’s Day of Prayer which was followed by Mrs. Daranee Phetcharapun sharing her testimony. In her testimony, Mrs. Phetcharapun recalled asking God what she could do to serve Him, and how she was given a community to reach out to. Not knowing how she would do the God-given mission, she surrendered her life to the Lord in prayer and began the mission work. She emphasized the importance of prayer as one of the most effective tools in reaching people for God.
The Sabbath School service was followed by the Divine Worship. Mrs. Ritha Lampadan gave a warm welcome and offered a solemn prayer of invocation. Selected AIU women led the song service. The Marinquiz sisters, Dr. Josephine Katenga, Ms. Rojean Marcia, and the Yonathans rendered beautiful songs which set the tone for the sermon. A call for offerings was
given by the church head deaconess Mrs. Arlyn Agustin followed by a children’s story by Mrs. Hazel Gara. Mrs. Marvel Thawda read the scripture reading from two passages in Hebrews 12:2 and Luke 11:1.
The sermon for the Divine Service was divided into two sub-topics, and they were delivered by Mrs. Nola Tudu and Dr. Bienvisa Nebres. Mrs. Tudu, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities spoke on the topic “Look to Jesus and Live”. She opened her message with a passage from Hebrews 12:2 and stressed the importance of prayer, the reading of God’s word, and the need to look to Jesus to live during these last days of our earth’s history
Then, Dr. Nebres, AIU Prayer Ministry Coordinator, continued the sermonette on the topic “Teach Me to Pray” based on Luke 11:1. Even as the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, we need guidance as well. “The most important thing in life” said Dr. Nebres, “is praying for the spiritual needs. We are to pray that one would walk worthily in the Lord and please the Lord in all that we do.”
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Matthew 21:22
