WI-CONNECTS THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF WISCONSIN CHRISTIAN WOMEN CONNECTION SUMMER 2015 LOCAL LEADER IN THE SPOTLIGHT I am Sunella Jones Ash, known as Sunne and I came to Milwaukee from Detroit. I joined Northside Church of God in 1983. I have an accounting degree from the University of Michigan and currently run my own accounting and tax firm as well as a direct sales organization. My husband, Andre, and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in September and our son Hannibal is scheduled to graduate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in May, 2016 with a computer science degree. God continues to work with me and is directing my life to pursue one of my passions; working to empower women to understand and utilize their inner strengths and develop their gifts and talents to their fullest potential. As the newly elected President of our CWC women s ministry, I view my role as the vision keeper and I can see a BIG vision. I know if we can conceive it and truly believe it then we can, through Christ and purposeful work, achieve it because God will not lay anything upon our hearts that He will not equip us to accomplish. With all woman of Northside praying and working together, we can and will accomplishment much. With much love & belief, Sunne SPRING CONNECTOR REFLECTIONS This year's WI-CWC Connector was well received by the 165 men, women and youth that assembled together to learn how to BREAK THE CHAINS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. As a Service Project participants donated more than 150 non-perishable food items and baby products. The two General Session Speakers and the six Workshop Facilitators shared their experiences on how they work to eradicate Human Trafficking locally and abroad. We were blessed with an Inspirational Message by CWC Ambassador, Kaitlyn Reed (pictured above center with her mother, Kristen Reed (left) and WI-CWC Former Treasurer, Pat Forsman (right)) during the lunch hour, which was so fitting to have during this event which attracted a diverse group of men, women and youth. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Local Leader... Spotlight P.1 Spring Connector Reflections P.1 Connector Photo Gallery P.2 Don t Turn Away From God P.3 Reflections from... P.3 Secret Pal Revealing P.4 From the Desk of.p.4 Farewell to Karen Bradley P.4 Upcoming Events P.5 Wisconsin Family Retreat P.5 2015 SPRING CONNECTOR From Racine "Sisters Serving Christ" - I had the pleasure of attending my very first CWC Connector, about human trafficking. I did not realize how close these things are to our homes and how much of an impact they have on our communities. I found the connector very informative. It opened my eyes and heart to the fact that we all need to get involved. I look forward to getting involved in putting an end to human trafficking. It was such a blessing to have been able to attend. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet a great group of people. Everyone was so nice and it was a pleasure to get to meet so many people and fellow followers of Christ. April Hope, CWC Partner
CONNECTOR PHOTO GALLERY
DON T TURN AWAY FROM GOD! By: Minster Samantha Montgomery, WI-CWC Recording Secretary We are living in a time where people are so busy striving to achieve greatness. There is nothing wrong with success, but success apart from God means nothing. I am reminded of King Solomon who had peace on every side, great wisdom and wealth. However, he loved many foreign women. God had warned Solomon that his association with these women would turn his heart towards serving other gods. Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to these loves. Like Solomon some of us are distracted by what we love, our success. We are so busy being fascinated by success that we allow ourselves to be more committed to our career path and less committed to our spiritual journey. Sometimes the work of the church is going undone because we don t have time to take on church responsibilities nor support church activities or programs. Due to the fact that we are either too tired from working so hard to accomplish our goals, or too busy working towards them. We love our success! We must remember to keep God at the center. When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not follow the LORD fully, as David his father had done. 1Kings 11:4-6 {NASB} Let s not be so busy working towards success that we lose sight of God, but make our relationship with God the priority. Let s surrender our whole hearts to God and stay away from anything that will stand in the way of us drawing closer to him. God first! REFLECTIONS FROM THE WI-CWC CONNECTOR The women s connector this year was great! This was my first year being at one, and I learned many great things. I mostly went with the students to their breakout sessions and learned many things that I have brought home to our youth about internet safety. There were so many things I did not realize about human trafficking and how it affects our teens. We need to inform our teens about these threats to their lives, especially because of what these teens and pre-teens post on their Facebooks and other social media sites. I truly hope that we can each do our part to inform those around us about this tragic news we have learned about at the WI-CWC Connector. ~Alison Dillard Sisters Serving Christ CWC Chapter
SECRET PAL REVEALING RACINE SISTERS SERVING CHRIST held their annual Secret Pal Revealing and Recruiting Party on Thursday, participants has doubled this year with a total of 20 secret pals for 2015-16 PTL!! March 12. Secret Pals, provides women with the opportunity to draw closer to another women from our congregation to serve the Lord by being an encourager. It is always a fun night of anticipation as last year s pals are revealed. Since it was so close to St. Patrick s Day, we used green and holiday decorations. The night opened with an object lesson led by Kristen Reed. We focused on her helium balloon as we discussed how, just like the balloon needs helium to stay afloat, we need to be in God s Word on a daily basis to be doing the jobs we are called to do and get the strength to do what He has called us to. A balloon couldn t serve it s purpose if it was deflated without air. Several ladies shared what a blessing being a secret pal has been for them and gave examples of specific incidents/remembrances from the past year. Then came the fun part. The participants found out who their secret sister from last year had been. We want to emphasize that this is a vital ministry of the church and how KAREN BRADLEY WI-CWC Connection Team would like to take this opportunity to important it is for participants to pray thank Sis. Karen for their secret pals every day, as well Bradley for her as send them a card or note on a service on the monthly basis. Giving and receiving WI-CWC Nominating gifts is not what it s all about it s Committee. May the Lord Bless You throughout your transition to about praying and encouraging! We your new home in Duluth, GA. are very pleased that the number of FROM THE DESK OF NYELA ZAMORA (the Nine Year Old Daughter of Cedar Hills Church CWC Coordinator, Sabrina Zamora) GOD God is the father of Jesus. He is Light. Without Him there will be no light. Without Him there will be no Peace, Hope, Joy, or Love. He is our Peace. He is our Hope. He is our Joy. He is our Love. There is puzzle called the puzzle of life and in the center of that puzzle is God. There will be no earth or light without God. There will be nothing. Some people might not believe in God, but I do. JESUS Jesus is the Son of Light. The Son of Life. The Son of the Center of Life on Earth. Jesus died on earth for our sins. Jesus is everything God is but he was just in human form.
UPCOMING EVENTS: IN COMPANY OF GOOD MEN FLAPJACK BREAKFAST FUNDRAISER JUNE 20, 2015 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. APPLEBEE S, 7135 South 13th Street, Oak Creek, WI 53154. Donation: $ 7.00 and will be accepted at the door. COMMUNITY PRAYER WALK TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING JUNE 20, 2015 10:00 A.M. We will meet in the Applebee s Parking at 10:00 A.M., immediately following the In Company of Good Men, Flapjack Breakfast BOUNTIFUL HARVEST USHER BOARD FISH FRY FUNDRAISER JUNE 20, 2015 12 Noon to 3:00 P.M. at Bountiful Harvest Church, 3300 North 39th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53216. Donations: $ 10.00 for Adults, $ 6.00 for Children 11yr. and under. Dinners include: 2 pieces of fish, bread, spaghetti, cole slaw, a scrumptious slice of cake and a beverage. SISTER 2 SISTER (CWC) - TASTE OF CHICKEN FUNDRAISER JULY 25, 2015 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Northside Church of God, 4858 North 19th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209. Donation: $ 8.00. SISTER 2 SISTER (CWC) - WOMEN S WEEKEND AUGUST 14-16, 2015, BUILDINGWOMEN WITH THE STRENGTH, PATIENCE AND PASSION FOR SERVICE. Ephesians 4:12 at Northside Church of God, 4858 North 19th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209. For additional information please email your inquiry to: NCG.Sister2Sister@gmail.com STRIPPED LOVE TRAINING SEPTEMBER 18-19, 2015 at Cedar Hills Church, 6911 South 20th Street, Oak Creek, WI 53154. Come learn how to reach out to women in the sex industry. Donation: $ 50.00. Please register on-line by visiting the link below: www.strippedlove.org/oak-creek-wisconsin-sept-18-19-2015.html#.vx8lu_lviko WI-CWC CONNECTION TEAM VICE-COORDINATOR Kathy Brad FINANCE COORDINATOR Hattie Billingsley TREASURER Deidra Taylor RECORDING SECRETARY Samantha Montgomery NOMINATING COMMITTEE Elizabeth Craig FORMER COORDINATOR Genene Hibbler WI-CONNECTS SUMMER 2015 SISTER 2 SISTER - SHE AIN T HEAVY COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT NOVEMBER 21, 2015 at Nothside Church of God, 4858 North 19th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209. Sis. Sunne Ash is seeking Mentors that are 18 years of age or older, who are willing to complete a half day Mentor Training Session prior to this event. WISCONSIN FAMILY RETREAT August 3-9, 2015 Rock Springs Retreat Center BE BOLD! RECLAIM! Isaiah 61:1 MISSION PRESENTERS: SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015 Timothy and Angelita Downing Timothy and Angelita Downing are missionaries to Ecuador and will be headed to Ecuador later in August. They will be teaching in the Church of God Seminary and assisting with Children of Promise and other programs meeting social needs. They have four children, Timothy, Esperanza, Ezequiel, and Elias. WISCONSIN CHRISTIAN WOMEN CONNECTION 6911 South 20th Street Oak Creek, WI 53154 414-719-2044