06/05/2022
Focus on AG Womens' Ministries
Assemblies of God was only 11 years old when the first Women’s Ministries group was formed in America. In 1925, Mrs. Eitta Calhoun organized the group in Houston, Texas with Pastor William Morwood’s approval. The women met first for intercessory prayer for missionaries, but soon they found practical ways to help the missionaries as well. Mrs. Calhoun felt strongly that “as long as our work is done in the Spirit and for the love of God, God can, and will bless it The Women’s Ministries motto, “We minister as unto Christ”, had its roots in this early emphasis on the spiritual motivation for service.
Women’s groups were started by the missionaries early in the I940s in the Assemblies of God churches in various areas. There was a group in Yendi and Saboba in northern Ghana. The main purpose was for prayer but also to give advice on Christian character and child care. These groups grew and it then became necessary for the Church to embrace these groups as a department. In the early 1960s, the Woman’s Ministries became a department of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, and the ministry is patterned after the Women’s Ministries in the United States but is more adaptable to our country.
The Women’s Ministries is the organized group of women of Assemblies of God, Ghana, and is responsible for uniting the women to the Assemblies of God, Ghana fellowship, and Christian service according to the principles and doctrines of the church. Women’s Ministries meet together in the various local churches to study the word of God and to pray. They also help the needy in the church and neighborhood, as well as visit the sick. They also undertake personal evangelism and take the word of God into homes in the community.
Some of the activities and programmes are undertaken by the Women’s Ministries include training seminars, promotional rallies, retreats, and other activities. Members of the Women’s Ministries meet at least once a week and activities are financed from offerings and dues contributed by members. The leadership of the Women’s Ministries comprises the National Director elected at General Council and supported by Regional Women’s Ministries Directors elected at their respective Regional Council meetings.
The Women’s Ministries also have three auxiliary groups, namely:
Joy Fellowship- A ministry to bring working women together in evangelism and fellowship.
Young women in Action (“Y’s” for young single ladies)
The need for Christian counseling and guidance for the single young woman is the reason why the Women’s Ministries developed this Y’s programme. “Y’s” or Young Women in Action is organized for single young women. The official name “Young Women in Action” is shortened to Y’s for practical purposes. This group includes young women, aged between 16 and 30 years, to meet their physical, social, and spiritual needs. As an auxiliary of the Women’s Ministries, Y’s is sponsored by the national, regional, district, and local WM organizations.
Missionettes
This unique outreach of Women’s Ministries is designed to attract young girls from 3 to 20 years, to preach to them the word of God, and to teach them how to live a Christian life. Missionettes being an arm of Women’s Ministries, therefore, comes under the jurisdiction and control of the Women’s Ministries National Director the Auxiliary, and the Women’s Ministries Executive Board. The Missionette department has five clubs which include girls from age 3 until the time they get married.
