It is the duty of the Women's Missionary Band to raise funds for missionary work around the world and to pray for the workers in His fields. It is with great joy and enthusiasm that we are faithfully engaged in these duties. Women of all ages, of all walks of life, from all around the world, are working together to accomplish this God-given task. By His grace we will send this message of salvation and the gathering of His people together around the world.

A Message from the Coordinator

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)

FAITHFUL SERVANT

To be a servant, you must have a master. Our Master is Jesus Christ with whom we have a personal experience. Faithfulness is a quality found in those who are dedicated to a cause. The cause: fulfilling the commission given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the head of the Church and Savior of the Body.

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20)

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM

"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" simply put our commission is to take all the truth to the entire world. In 1928, the Women's Missionary Band was instituted into The Church of God for the purpose of raising funds to support our missionaries and mission work. Since that time, Heaven's records have recorded the names of faithful servants who have labored tirelessly and have kept alive the spirit of the Women's Missionary Band. Those who have given out of very meager means, but with a joyful heart, those who have worked in cooking, sewing, selling, soliciting, when many times it was physically a task to them but their hearts said "I must." Praise the Lord today for those who were faithful servants before us who have passed this rich heritage down to us. Today, we are the faithful servants who are filled with the desire and determination to be faithful until the work is finished. Thank God for those when circumstances says you can't, we say "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Let us look at some examples of faithful servants during the life of Jesus: " Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment." (John 12:1-3)

Here Mary and Martha made Him a supper, serving His natural needs, and then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard anointing His feet. She did not consider the cost of the ointment. The humility of her heart caused her to fall to her knees, anointed His feet with the ointment and wipe them with her hair.

"And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. (Matthew 27:55-56)

Many were there in Jerusalem which had follow Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him. Jesus had traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem to observe the Passover, knowing that He would finish His earthly ministry there on the cross. These women were willing to walk the long distance of 70 to 80 miles to minister to His needs of food and water, etc. It was not customary that the women would always go to Jerusalem for Passover, but these were faithful servants, which had a divine purpose for going.

The women that were at the cross, broken-hearted because of His suffering, their lives were in danger, nevertheless they were there. While the disciples, all but John were in hiding because of their fear. These faithful servants were in sight, at a distance, so that Jesus could see them and in effect they were still ministering to Him.

FAITHFUL SERVANTS IN THE EARLY CHURCH

" And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." (Acts 16:9)

Paul received in a vision, a call to come and help us in Macedonia. He made his way to the country of Macedonia, and to the city of Philippi. On the Sabbath day, they went to the river where a group of women were having a prayer meeting. Paul brought the message of the full gospel to them. Lydia obeyed, was converted, and baptized, she and her household. It was in her home that The Church of God began in Europe.

"Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive." (Acts 9:36-41)

Dorcas was full of good works and alms deeds. She died; Peter was called. When he arrived he was told of her service, Peter prayed for her and she was raised from the dead. This was a joyous time when he presented her to the saints and the widows. This faithful servant was greatly loved and needed, so God gave her back to the Church for a while longer.

FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE CHURCH OF GOD TODAY

There are those of us who represent third and fourth generations of The Church of God. Can you imagine the faithful service rendered unto God by these families?

At the arise and shine of The Church of God this side of the Dark Ages, travel was slow, communication was slow, and finances were low. However faithful servants gave, worked, and sent this glorious message around the world. But all nations, and every creature have not been reached, yet, because of faithful servants it will happen.

The Holy Ghost is moving in our midst, there is a stir to be faithful, not to compromise to worldliness. There is an unction to work, not to shirk our callings; a prompting to give of our means so that the preacher can go preach; a calling to old time fasting and prayer in secret closets so that God will give open rewards. These rewards will be the manifestations of His power in signs, in wonders, and in miracles. What we lack, or cannot do, He can and will give through His divine provisions. Our God is faithful in all He has promised, and His inspiration will be upon all who desire to be faithful servants. This inspiration of God given by the Holy Ghost that causes us to consider our duties and be faithful servants until the Church is perfected and raptured into glory.

Let us be faithful to the Great Commission until we hear the words from our precious Savior, well done faithful servants.