Bringing hope to women around the world and across generations
Hope
and
Healing Every day, all around the world, women are silently crying out for someone to hear them; they long for someone to rescue them from behind the walls around them. They hide behind walls built by culture and religion. Some are hiding behind veils. Others are hiding in their homes out of fear of society or even their own families. Still others are hiding inside themselves, beaten down by abuse and neglect. These women live in hopelessness, believing deeply ingrained worldviews that tell them they are worthless. Yet the truth is that Jesus came and gave his life so they could have their identity in him. He came to give hope and bring healing. TWR Women of Hope speaks up for those who are silenced because of culture and religion. We encourage, equip and engage women to pray, listen, learn, grow and give through media, group interaction and leadership development. And we’ve seen God redeem women’s value and dignity; we’ve seen lives transformed as women receive Christ’s life-changing love! We invite you to be part of this mission. Join us, and let’s make a difference together!
Colleen Shoemaker Women’s Ministry Coordinator TWR Canada
What is TWR
Women of Hope? … bringing hope and healing to women around the world and across generations TWR Women of Hope, a ministry of TWR, seeks to point women to Christ for their ultimate fulfillment and equip them to bring that hope to others. Connecting women’s hearts to each other and to God, the ministry has built a global prayer movement and media outreach that address unique physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Women are encouraged, equipped and engaged to: • pray together from a common calendar with more than 50,000 intercessors in 125 countries, • listen to Women of Hope radio broadcasts that reach millions of listeners in 80 countries in over 70 languages, • learn about the plight of women around the world and how the ministry addresses the challenges, • grow through leadership training that embraces leadership influence to reach communities for Christ, and • give of our resources out of a heart of humility and service. TWR Women of Hope meets the needs of the whole woman and lovingly guides her to Jesus Christ, the one who can provide perfect peace, hope and healing.
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)
A Beautiful Story God has a beautiful story for each woman as a unique expression of his grace and love. Women in many parts of the world are marginalized every day, experiencing high levels of poverty, lack of education, oppression and health crises. While social reforms promise empowerment of women and the end of negative family cycles, only a spiritual solution found in Jesus Christ has the power to provide sustainable change and lasting hope. God does not see women as helpless or weak. Instead, God has a beautiful story for each woman as a unique expression of his grace and love. No matter how daunting the challenges appear for women around the world, God has not forgotten any of them and has a good plan for each. This is why TWR Women of Hope is striving to build and equip women to fulfill God’s purposes for them. We follow the best example imaginable – Jesus. Defying the standards of his day, Jesus treated women with dignity and compassion and invited them into his ministry. He commissioned his followers to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, making disciples of all nations. We believe that women are an instrumental part of Jesus’ plan and are committed to helping them find their own beautiful story.
“And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 2 Corinthians 3:3 (ESV)
The Unjust Treatment
of Women
Around the World Statistics tell us that millions of women worldwide face deplorable situations: economic poverty, disease, domestic violence, human trafficking and slavery, prostitution and sexual abuse, spiritual bondage and violation of basic human rights, often in the context of oppressive cultural and religious teachings. Girls are still less likely to be in school than boys. Two out of three illiterate adults are women. Every 90 seconds of every day, a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. Violence against women and girls remains a global pandemic, violating women’s rights and perpetuating harm in every country and community. Child marriage is a widespread practice that can tear girls from school and spur high rates of maternal illness and death. Millions of women and girls face abuse in what should be the sanctuary of their own homes. This physical, spiritual and emotional oppression strips away women’s dignity and worth; they are left in darkness, feeling trapped and hopeless. But God has the power to lift these women above their desperate circumstances, restore their dignity and free them to embrace their inheritance in Christ Jesus. They can be women of hope … this is our message.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV)
TWR Women of Hope Canada
Ministry Overview: Where We Minister In Canada, TWR Women of Hope supports the global prayer movement, as well as translating, producing and airing the Women of Hope broadcasts in Portuguese (Angola, Mozambique), Umbundu (Angola), Makhuwa (Mozambique), French (West Africa), Bambara (Mali), Farsi (the Persian-Speaking world) and Low German (Canada). ____________________________________________ AFRICA (Portuguese, Umbundu, Makhuwa, French, Bambara): Many African women suffer in their daily lives as they deal with issues such as war, poverty, illiteracy, domestic violence, death of children, human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, alcohol and drug abuse, lack of basic health care and sanitation, cultural beliefs such as witchcraft and idolatry and much more. PERSIAN-SPEAKING WORLD (Farsi): Persian-speaking women are difficult to reach because they are hidden from view, but their needs and problems require eternal answers.
CANADA (Low German): The needs of the Low German speaking audience are varied depending on the privileges they have had for education and spiritual training. Many are taught to observe strict external rules to gain salvation and need to learn the truth and grace found in Jesus.
Testimony The Story of Divine Grace Jeanne’s marriage was troubled. She wanted to leave, but then she discovered she was pregnant. She was devastated. Things were already so difficult, and now there was another child to consider. She had three sons and didn’t want another child. Jeanne pleaded with God that she would miscarry her baby, but that didn’t happen. In her desperation, she sought to take matters into her own hands. She visited her cousin, looking for comfort and support. She asked her to pray that God would give her the courage to abort the baby. Her cousin was shaken! She said, “Obviously you cannot sin against the Lord in this situation. God knows your situation; he knows why he has given you this pregnancy, and you need to keep on going.” She left crying. This wasn’t the answer she wanted. Jeanne heard about a TWR Women of Hope prayer meeting and decided to go. She was given a prayer request and was shocked! It was a request to pray for women who were in the same situation as she was. The group members didn’t know her problems, and she saw the Lord’s hand in this; he had brought her to this place. She cried and asked him for forgiveness. The group prayed for her, and seeds of hope began to take root in her life. Her heart and mind were changed. Rather than go through with the abortion, she carried her child full term and also reconciled with her husband. The Lord gave her a love for the baby, and when she was born, Jeanne named her Divine Grace, acknowledging God’s grace. This is the power of prayer! Because of prayer, a little girl’s life was spared, a marriage was saved and a young mom’s life was given new purpose. God’s grace is truly amazing! -From a TWR Women of Hope prayer group member in the Ivory Coast (*not her real name)
Ways to get Involved “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” Psalm 89:14 (ESV) In the Bible, God expresses his love for widows, orphans and the oppressed, and he calls us to biblical justice and mercy on their behalf. We are to “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalm 82:3, ESV). Simply, we are to speak up and take action. TWR Women of Hope is doing just that as we encourage, comfort and introduce women to Jesus through the issues and concerns that matter most to them. Please join us. Pray Join our global prayer movement of more than 50,000 intercessors in over 125 countries. Contact us, and we will send you our monthly prayer calendar by email or postal mail delivered to your home or church. You can also download the monthly prayer calendar directly from our website at www.twr.ca/women. Give TWR Women of Hope receives its funding from generous individuals, churches and organizations who choose to invest in its life-changing work. We receive no government funding. You can partner with us by calling toll-free at 1-888-672-6510, by mailing a gift to the address below or by visiting our website at www.twr.ca/women. Participate Tell your friends about this vital ministry, and get them involved. Include us in your church’s missions prayer, ladies’ Bible study or giving program. TWR Canada PO Box 25324 London, ON N6C 6B1 1.888.672.6510 womenofhope@twr.ca
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www.twr.ca/women