KUALA LUMPUR-- Over hundreds of Christians from different denominations attended the recent CCCOWE West Malaysia Women’s Conference, women Christians are challenged to be strong and take up the baton of world missions.
The theme of the conference was quoted from Psalms 68:11 "The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it". In Chinese Union Version, the people who proclaimed the word were actually the "women". It means that all women, though different characters they have, they do have a common goal, which is to go out altogether to preach the Good News.
CCCOWE (Chinese Coordination Centre of World Evangelism) General Secretary Rev. Morley Lee’s wife, Mrs. Lee, was invited as one of the guest speakers. She challenged the participants by saying "Sisters, let’s stand up!"
Mrs. Lee shared her own experience. She dedicated herself to serve a missionary at the age of over 50. For a period of time, she was not able to stand up due to certain disability, however, God still used her for His work.
"Therefore, only if you are willing to dedicate yourself to God, He will use you," Mrs. Lee testified.
Furthermore, Mrs. Lee gave a clear explanation on why sisters today must stand up for the Lord. First of all, sisters are specially used by the Lord in modern times. According to the world’s mission statistics, two-thirds of the missionaries are female. Among them, around one-third will marry to brother missionaries while another one-third will remain as single. Sisters often gain advantages on mission fields because they are keen in making friendships, so relationship can be easily formed with the native people through daily lives. In addition, they are good at running Sunday schools and working with children.
Secondly, mission mobilization in the 20th century is not a one-man team. There are some people who serve at the frontline while some people back up by providing them resources, two sides must be working closely together. Women of all ages and all occupations can surly find a role on the mission fields.
Lastly, Mrs. Lee urged women Christians to take any opportunities given by God. Using the examples of Esther in the Old Testament, she said that even though Esther was just an orphan, a Jewish woman, God has made her the Queen of the time, so she was able to have a chance to save the people of God.
"Compared to women and children in Africa, where millions of people died of hunger, we live like a queen as Esther did," Mrs. Lee exhorted the sisters, "Is this a great opportunity? I ask all of you to follow the command of the Lord, and be the company of those who proclaimed the word."
[Editor's note: Claudia Cheng in San Francisco translated the article.]
