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July/August 2020 ♦ Issue 32 |
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Giving It a Go We’ve probably all spent more time on social media and running meetings via video conference than we ever thought we would since the global COVID-19 pandemic. For Melody Tan, project manager for Mums At The Table, leading a team that specifically uses social media as an evangelistic tool has been a learning journey over the past several years. Mums At The Table is a ministry of the South Pacific Division’s Adventist Media that focuses on reaching women in New Zealand and Australia. Today more than 7,600 women participate in its Facebook group, which has 94 percent engagement, Tan says. With a diverse audience, many of whom are not Seventh-day Adventist, Tan is sensitive about making sure her team shares messages that are relevant. “I’m extremely passionate about sharing the difference God can make in a person’s life, but I’m also very aware that we need to do this at a level suitable to someone who may not even be searching,” Tan explains. “Hence the need to be relevant, both in terms of what we have to offer and what we say. Someone who doesn’t understand us won’t always give us the luxury of listening to us.” |
| | "... one of my favorite things to say is 'Give it a go.' If it works, great. If it doesn't, we've still learned something." |
| Tan says communication is key to keeping her team focused on staying relevant. Team members are always encouraged to share stories about what’s working and what isn’t and remind each other of their shared goal. “The interesting dynamic about the medium we’ve chosen to work in is that things are constantly changing; there isn’t a foolproof formula for success,” she says. “As a result, one of my favorite things to say is 'Give it a go'. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, we’ve still learned something.” Tan adds while Mums At The Table utilizes a “persona” to help them hone their messages, every individual is still unique. “And so the important thing to remember is that what’s relevant for you may not be relevant for someone else. It’s why team meetings are important — to gain a different perspective. But it’s fine to try something new or different too,” she says. In order to learn about available options to try, Tan suggests finding the time to “upskill.” Since she knows this is a challenge for busy women leaders, Tan offers two tips that she has found to be helpful: 1. Plunge in and make the commitment. Sign up for a short course. If you can actually go off-site to attend the course (post-COVID), even better, as you won’t have distractions and can focus on what you’re learning without thinking about work. 2. Do it in bite-size chunks. Set 30 minutes per week aside to read and learn. Experiment. Sometimes your 30 minutes may extend longer; sometimes not as long, but at least you’re moving forward. |
| | — Michele Joseph, managing editor, Adventist Women Leaders newsletter |
| | AWL Launches Website There's a new way to stay connected in the Adventist Women Leader's community: our website.
AdventistWomenLeaders.com offers resources, news, links to Flourish podcasts, newsletter archives and will promote upcoming events. With the Facebook page having more than 535 followers, "we felt it was time for a website," said AWL committee member Tamyra Horst, who spearheaded the website's creation.
"Our goal is to help women leaders connect with each other and to provide resources and events that will encourage, equip and grow them in their leadership roles," Horst said. "The website will give us a place to make those resources and materials easily available." |
| | Season 2 Is Here
Listen to discussions with women leaders who share what makes a good leader, finding and becoming effective mentors, "the divine gift of womanhood" and having difficult conversations in the workplace. Listen on Spotify and iTunes. Please subscribe and give positive reviews and ratings to raise the podcast's visibility and encourage others to listen. Email ideas for future podcasts to co-hosts Natalia López-Thismón and Natalie Boonstra at flourishthepodcast@gmail.com. Follow Flourish on Instagram.
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| Creative Start-Ups and Passion Projects
Jean Boonstra, associate speaker of the Voice of Prophecy, shares what she learned creating her passion project Discovery Mountain. Boonstra gives us practical tips to analyze a need in our communities, and the process of taking a creative idea and making it a reality. |
| | Maxims—Words of Wisdom for Women Leaders
"My father was an absolutely wonderful human being. From him I learned to always assume positive intent. Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different. When you assume negative intent, you're angry. If you take away that anger and assume positive intent, you will be amazed. Your emotional quotient goes up because you are no longer almost random in your response. You don't get defensive. You don't scream. You are trying to understand and listen because at your basic core you are saying, 'Maybe they are saying something to me that I'm not hearing.' So 'assume positive intent' has been a huge piece of advice for me."
— Indra Nooyi, in a 2008 interview with Fortune magazine |
| | | AWL's Prayer Circle
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are my constant peace when I am not certain about my plans, my future, or my purpose. Even when I have trouble asking you for help, you are always there. Where my faith lacks, your mercy pours over in abundance. You lavish blessings of love, friendship, career opportunity, and more on me, when I’m not always responsible with the gifts you give me. Thank you, God for unconditional love, and seeking a closer relationship with your daughter.
— Natalie Boonstra, AWL committee member |
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| Meditations
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." — Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV |
| | Share What You Know
We have all learned something in this faith-dependent journey to leadership. Are you willing to share lessons and words of wisdom with each other? Email us your tips. Do you know someone who has wonderful wisdom to share? Nominate her for an upcoming feature in our newsletter and/or podcast. We'd love to hear from you. |
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| | AWL is a community of women affirming, encouraging and celebrating God's goodness to those He has called to lead. |
| AWL Committee: Bonita J. Shields, chair; Celeste Ryan Blyden, secretary/director; Natalie Boonstra, Brenda Dickerson, Carolyn R. Forrest, Tamyra Horst, Natalia López-Thismón and Ann Roda AWL Support Team: Michele Joseph, managing editor; Carla Conway, graphic designer; Frenita Buddy Fullwood, event coordinator |
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