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February 11, 2019 ♦ Issue 15 |
| | | The Adventist Women Leaders committee members are (left front, clockwise) Brenda Dickerson, Carolyn R. Forrest, Debra Brill, Tamyra Horst, Celeste Ryan Blyden, Natalia Lopez-Thismon, and Ann Roda. |
| | | These women are the driving force behind Adventist Women Leader's 212-member community. Their varied experience in full-time Adventist ministry encompasses conference, union and division positions, as well as health care, pastoral and education careers. Many have been and still are the only women in the room on their jobs. They fully understand, both personally and professionally, the need to acknowledge and engage women leaders. |
| | Debra Brill AWL Chair Vice President for Ministries, NAD Brill has worked in church ministry for 40 years, first as a volunteer and then as an employee. She was on of the first women to hold a departmental director position in the Potomac Conference and the Pacific Union. She followed Rose Otis as the only woman vice president at the North American Division. Why are you excited to be part of the AWL community? "Women are making remarkable contributions to Adventist life and ministry, however we face unique challenges. AWL offers forums to tell our stories of faith and resilience, describe evidences of God’s providence and encourage recognition that women are uniquely chosen by God to lead." What words of encouragement do you have for women leaders? "When we focus on ministry that transforms leadership from power over others to empowerment of others, everyone prospers, most especially, ourselves." |
| | Brenda Dickerson Communication Director and OUTLOOK Editor, Mid-America Union Dickerson is the first woman communication director for the Mid-America Union and one of only two women directors.
Why did you decide to host a regional event, and why do you encourage others to do so? "When we were in the room face-to-face, you could feel the energy, the excitement, the relief that finally something official is happening for women leaders! The women clearly felt appreciated, understood, no longer alone—there is now a network of support to which they are connected." |
| | Tamyra Horst Communication Director and Women's, Family and Prayer Ministries Director, Pennsylvania Conference Horst became Women's Ministries director 24 years ago and then became communication director 14 years ago. In the past five years, she added Family and Prayer Ministries to her duties as well. Of the six full-time directors working in her office, she is currently the only woman.
After launching the AWL Facebook page and Crucial Conversations book club, how would you like to see the women interact? "My hope is that these are places we can grow a community that provides the resources and connections that will encourage, equip, affirm and challenge us. I’d love to see the Crucial Conversations group become a place where we really discuss each chapter together. I think there’s strength and power that happen when women come together to talk, share ideas, ask questions, and figure things out. My hope is that we’re not just posting great posts on our FB page or posting thoughts and questions that get reactions on the Crucial Conversations page, but that people respond and post their own thoughts, questions and ideas." |
| | Ann Roda Vice President of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care, Adventist HealthCare Roda pastored for 15 years and received a ministerial commission in 2012 before becoming the first woman to hold her position at Adventist HealthCare three years ago.
Why are you excited to be part of the AWL community? "For the shared experiences, networking and sharing of resources. I want to contribute to women growing to be strong and effective leaders; to redefine what it means to be a woman leader in the Adventist Church; to be an example and influence for the next generation of women leaders; and to push the ‘glass ceiling’ just a bit more ... or break it!" |
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| | Celeste Ryan Blyden AWL Secretary/Director Vice President for Strategic Communication and Public Relations, Columbia Union
Blyden has served the Adventist Church in a variety of positions from journalist and author to television producer and social media strategist in the past 25 years. She is the first woman vice president and officer at the Columbia Union. Why are you excited to be part of the AWL community? "I love meeting people, and AWL provides an opportunity to meet and swap stories with women from many places. One size does not fit all—women serve the Seventh-day Adventist Church in a variety of capacities and across many sectors. We stand on the shoulders of so many women who worked tirelessly for the church, spearheaded initiatives or started ministries, carried the load and stuck with it no matter the obstacles or issues, and whose names we don’t know or have never heard. We are the answers to their prayers and evidence of the growth and change many didn’t get to experience. What a time for us to come together, share our journeys, open doors for others and grow together. What do you love most about the response and development of the AWL community? "When we started AWL, I expected that maybe a handful of women would respond to our invitation, a few presidents and administrators, but so many women are reaching out to let us know where they are, how they serve and that they share our desire to connect, learn and grow in their role as leaders. Since we launched the email newsletter in July 2018, more than 200 women have subscribed from across the NAD and from other parts of the world. This is awesome and beyond expectation! I pray that more women will join the community and invite others." |
| | Carolyn R. Forrest Associate Secretary-Director for Secretariat & Office of Human Relations, NAD
Forrest began working for the church 21 years ago and was the first woman of color to serve as the assistant director and then director for Human Resources and assistant to the conference secretary for Florida Conference. She is also the first coordinator for International Service Employees Resources and Services and co-director for the Archives and Statistics office. Both are new positions in the NAD. Why are you excited to be a part of the AWL community? "To be able to support and encourage other women in leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is more needed today than ever before, and it is a privilege to be able to serve in this new role." |
| | Natalia Lopez-Thismon Assistant Professor, Southern Adventist University School of Journalism & Communication
For the past six years, Lopez-Thismon has worked in a variety of positions for the Adventist Church, including assistant director of communication for ADRA and as an assistant professor at La Sierra University. She admits she's been blessed to have amazing mentors and women bosses in her journey and wants to be able to provide the same for others. You shared an article about self-care with the AWL community. Why is this topic so important for women leaders? "... I’ve been finding that as a society we suffer from so many issues that we could overcome by resolving to take care of ourselves. ... As professionals, leaders, friends, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, etc. we pour out so much, but we're not taught how to pour back in. I want us to build lives we don’t constantly feel the need to run away from. I hope I’ll be able to serve the AWL women with reminders and tips on ways to fit self-care into our daily lives." |
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| — Michele Joseph, managing editor; photo by Mylon Medley, news writer and producer for the North American Division
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| | Meditations
"Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel." — Proverbs 20:15, New International Version |
| | | AWL's Prayer Circle This week we are praying for: |
| | Judy Glass Chief Financial Officer AdventSource |
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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: Debra Brill, chair; Celeste Ryan Blyden, secretary/director; Brenda Dickerson, Carolyn R. Forrest, Tamyra Horst, Natalia Lopez-Thismon, and Ann Roda AWL Support Team: Michele Joseph, managing editor; Carla Conway, graphic designer; Frenita Buddy Fullwood, event coordinator |
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