Experienced Middle East missionaries share their experiences with Palestinian women students and leaders.

As part of the “I am a Pot in His Hands” ministry at Bethlehem Bible College, women students and leaders joined together for the first public event on May 8. Ministry leader, Madleine Sara, organized a night of worship, fun, fellowship, and sharing. This is the first of ongoing events which aim to create a warm and welcoming space for women students and leaders to share together and learn from others’ experiences, from which they can gain strength and motivation in their ministries.

Last week, three women missionaries in the Middle East, one of whom serves Syrian refugees in Jordan and another who has served in Sudan for over 15 years, discussed ways to deal with stress in ministry; First, how to keep hope, even in difficult times. Second, how to concentrate on positive thinking. Third, how to say “no,” reduce activities and keep from being overwhelmed.

“I felt that this night was an opportunity for many women to open up in a way they haven’t before,” expressed Madleine. “During the night, we tackled issues of abuse, physically, sexually, and mentally. Afterword, I had some women come to me and open up about these issues in their own lives.  These women were able to share in a way they would not have been able to in a group with men.”

Madleine hopes to hold an event for women every two months to continue this ministry of motivation and empowerment for women leaders.  She hopes to plan an event for all of Bethlehem Bible College, as many young male students even expressed the desire to be involved in similar events.