Dear Women,

There is a charge for unity that we must acknowledge as trailblazers of this Second Century Church of God by Faith.  We need our mothers to school us on the turns of life and they need our ingenuity to execute the vision. There is a great fortitude that exists in this polity because of the skilled women that carry our church.  It is our desire that we band together with love and acceptance, nurturing one another as only women can, to empower every woman to take on the tasks before her.  After all, it is our duty to see that our mothers, sisters and daughters are well and thriving in what God has entailed for our lives.

Here are some excerpts from the hearts of our young women:

Section 1: Written by Michelle Fletcher, Northwestern New York District

For everything that I am, I have to thank my grandmother, Mother Ruth Rourk for being a wonderful example.  As a little girl, her hats and all the frilly things that little girls enjoy fascinated me.  As I matured, I was surprised because of how much those outfits cost!

My sweet grandmother, a woman who devoted her life to God, her family and the church deserved the world. As her granddaughter, I was saddened to see how her faithfulness took such a toll on her.  I think we often forget that our families not only see the blessings of God but also, all of the inevitable hardships when doing service for the Kingdom. (Pictured left to right: Karen Fletcher, Mother Ruth Rourk and Michelle Fletcher.

I admire my grandmother and all of the leading ladies who have made great sacrifices to help support this great church.  Moving forward, I pray that we can do a better job of balancing the responsibilities of the church with our overall wellness. 

For this reason, I believe we must be intentional about creating a space for our women to be a priority.  In fact, a way to pay homage to our older women is to use the knowledge, experience and networks of the younger women to promote self-care.

Let’s preserve our gems of wisdom by making sure that they are well in spirit, body, and mind. And to my sisters, let’s continue the great legacy of the Church of God by Faith that our mothers have left while enjoying healthy lives.

Let’s send a message to our daughters that the blessings of the Lord are rich and have no sorrow.

Section 2: Written by Brittany Rudolph, Alabama District

When did there become such a divide in the old generation of women and the new generation of women in the church? We find so many times that the young women list influential women, such as, Michelle Obama as their role model rather than influential women in their church body. Now is the time that we bridge the gap between the two generations.

Titus 2:3 states, "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teach what is good." It was mandated by God for the older women to reach the younger women. Furthermore, there are several young women that need spiritual guidance from the older women.

We must recognize that there is a significant age difference, as well as, number of years of servitude in the body of Christ but there are ways in which we are similar. Even though there is an age difference,   our experiences in our spiritual and natural lives may be similar. Yes, times have changed but God's word has not changed. Teaching young women how to live a holy life is still the same even in this present age.

As a young adult woman, I feel it is an honor when a seasoned woman of God takes the time to invest in me. For example, I expect a "church mother" to check me if I'm dressed inappropriately. It shows me that someone cares about my appearance other than myself. We need the seasoned women to teach us that holiness is still required. We need the Pastor's wives to teach us how to be godly women in the natural a well as in the spirit.  The message I'm conveying is that WE NEED YOU! Let's bridge the gap and become a mighty force for the Lord and the Church of God by Faith.

First, you have to be transparent. Young women today love when older women can relate to us. Be real about your past experiences and struggles. None of us are perfect. Get on our level. Share your testimony. As young women, we appreciate the advice and will hold it close to our hearts when you are simply transparent.

Second, create programming in which the old generation of women and new generation of women can be involved together.  A nice retreat in which both generations can come together and get to know each other, have fun, and relax.

Third, simply build trust. In order for both generations to build a successful relationship, we have to build trust. If we build strong relationships, we can do great things. All in all, we must bridge the gap between both generations. I am the daughter of a mom who is powerful evangelist and a dad who is a progressive Bishop.  I was raised in the fear of the Lord. I strayed away from the ways of the Lord in college.

I found Church of God by Faith and my life was transformed back to the way I was raised in the Lord. Lady Lyndy Griggs and Dr. Trellis Smith invested in me. They made sure I came to church and kept me busy for the Lord. I would not be where I am today if I did not have strong relationships with older women in ministry.  I pay homage to Lady Mary D. Smith, Alabama District Elect Lady, Elect Lady Sandra "Precious" Turner, Lady Dineatha Jordan, and Lady Shenae Wiley for taking me under their wings and helping me become the woman of God that I am today in the COGBF. As a result of their teaching, I am thriving and serving in ministry. Women of Church of God by Faith we need you.  Pictured left to right: Lady Precious Turner and Brittany Rudolph.                                          

Section 3: Written by Domonique Brunson, Northeastern New York District

I just want to take a moment to applaud all of you seasoned women of the Church of God by Faith, Inc. for a life well-lived in the Lord! I was born and raised in this church and for as long as I can remember, I have been blessed to sit under the tutelage of some of the greatest examples of women I have ever known who have totally dedicated and devoted their lives to living holy.

From viewing my mother and my grandmothers here with me to witnessing the lives of the national leading ladies at the conventions, there has never been a question in my mind as to how to live right because so many examples have been right in front of me.

As a part of Second Century ByFaith, I want to thank you all for seasoning us with your grace because it teaches us to be a leading lady in our own right at all times.

Thank you for seasoning us with hope because it teaches us to never give up on what God has promised us. Thank you for seasoning us with an unwavering faith in God of which we will never let go.

Thank you for seasoning us with wisdom because we would never know how to use and apply our knowledge of the Word to our daily lives.

Thank you, most of all, for seasoning us with your awesome example because it has laid out a “pattern of good works” for us to measure our lives against. We honor and salute you all!

I encourage all of us who are a part of Second Century ByFaith to take note as we continue to follow the lives of the generation of ByFaith Women before us.

I encourage us to remain submissive to their gentle direction and guidance and take hold of their encouragement to continue to move forward. Lastly, I encourage us to strive to live lives that will reflect their Godly influence and that will continue to be living epistles to this lost and dying world. Picturerd left to right: Mother W.D. Livingston and Minister Domonique Brunson.

 

 

 

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