Volume 6, Issue 4

November 29, 2015

Index
Day Away-2015
Marilyn Hontz
Steps In
Passion to Abolish
Human Trafficking

Day Away-2015
NorthernLight , Cadillac, MI, was the scene of a gathering of N. MI
District women from 18 churches. We were inspired by worship music
provided by Chelsea Jentzen and 2 friends from Fremont.

Thanks Team
Christmas Selah
NorthernLights
Cooks
Women of Faith
Dighton Style
From the Sue

Wonderful workshop leaders, Barb Geer, Beverly Kimble and Marilyn

Freed, shared their expertise on womens Bible study, using social media
to develop transformational relationships and passion for abolishing
human trafficking. Marilyn Hontz was our keynote speaker.

Editor:
Sue Schram
g_schram@
yahoo.com
(989)893-7896

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Marilyn Hontz Stepped In!

God planned Marilyn to share with our group. After our scheduled speaker canceled 1month
before the event, the Holy Spirit placed Marilyns name in my mind. I never heard Marilyn
speak, but she was available. She brought two wonderful sessions. First, she shared her life, with
her mother dying and painful memories that piled baggage on her, one being bitterness. Gods
interventions and direction continued motivating her to get a passport, to visit strangers and
apply to college when no money was available. The second session centered on listening to God.
Marilyn said with expression, It was after I was 30, before I really listened to God! We pray,
we praise but listening has hindrances: unconfessed sin; not forgiving others; and church &
family distractions. We need to ask God to help us to listen, write down our prayers, pray the
Word, and praise Him for what He has done. There were many take a-ways and the Holy Spirit
had something for each individual. If they didnt hear it, they werent listening!

Passion to Abolish Human Trafficking!

Women left Marilyn Freeds breakaway session with current information about human trafficking in
general and in Michigan. She presented specific actions that we can take to fight this great injustice.
Marilyn and friends pray weekly for human trafficking victims and for the enslavers to be prosecuted.
They actively collect bras for re-sale to earn money to aid overseas victims, attend Human Trafficking
workshops and willingly share information. We must become observant and if we suspect something is
not quite right, a hot line number is available to call -

1-888-373-7888.

Possible examples to report:

At rest areas-the same car shows up regularly and drops off a lady.
Any time a woman cannot speak for herself, or doesn't have her own identification.
Marilyn just e-mailed me this: One of the ways I heard of just lately... a lady was in Goodwill
and witnessed a man buying little bathing suits and pretty undies for an eight year old girl. As bothered
as the lady was she didn't know what to do. Knowing what to do now she would have watched for the
man to leave, taken a picture of the car, called it in and sent a picture. This happened right in Cadillac.

Thanks Team!
Thank you, Ilene for your continued prayers over the last 10 years. Ilene is the charter member of
IVY. Thank you Vicky Perkins for running the auctions and keeping the books! Thank you, Bev
Kimball for sharing about Social Media and Fair Trade! Thank you Michelle Mowat and Gwen
Kleinschmidt for sharing about ALIVE! Big thanks to VJ Scarborough for being our Sound
Person. Bonnie Mowat, greeter extraordinaire and signature pusher for our greetings to the
Missionaries, thank you. The support from Pastor Jojean Thompson was a gift from God, Thank
you. Bay City Wesleyan Church, Pastor Mark and Karen Heinzelman my thanks from the bottom
of my heart go to you.

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CHRISTMAS SELAH
By Barb Geer with her Blessings
Right about now, we are probably in panic mode wondering how (or even if) everything
we want to do before Christmas will be accomplished. As hard as we try and as much as we
want to have a quiet, simple, blessed Christmas holiday, stuff gets added to our to-do list
and stress accompanies it.
The main problem as I see it sisters, is the fact that we are women and everything falls on
us to make Christmas perfect in true Martha fashion. Im talking about the Martha from
the Bible and the other today Martha who guides us into all things necessary to make our
holiday elegantly charming and unforgettable. (You all know who Im talking about.)
Its not our families who put this unwelcomed stress on us; its our own feelings of
inadequate perfection that drives us into the Christmas frenzy abyss and so lets not go
down that road! Here is a good time to selah (loosely meaning to pause and ponder) the
true focus of Christmas.
Because of Gods Indescribable Gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) on the first Christmas, we are
privileged to receive His gift of salvation and eternal life. Let the grace and mercy weve
experienced at His hands fill our hearts and then flow through us to others. Allow
ourselves to experience the wonder and joy of gratitude in this holy season.
I will be the first to confess that I like to decorate my house for Christmas. I enjoy the
feeling it gives me and it is joyful to my spirit. I used to send cards to everyone I know,
but I discovered that I dont like the pressure of having to do it, so I dont. I may send a
few cards if I have time, but really, I would rather spend the time being with my family or
making cookies. I try hard not to give in to the busyness of the season because thats a joy
robber for me. You might like the busyness. Its really OK if we are different. Joy comes
in many forms.
It would be to your great advantage to know the things that give your spirit a lift. You
will take the pressure off yourself when you give yourself permission to do the things that are
meaningful to you.
During the season that we celebrate Gods Indescribable Gift to us, it would be to our
shame if we didnt take the time to worship Him with an attitude of joyful gratitude.
Make a determination to make time to be still before Him with listening ears and quiet,
expectant hearts. When we desire to feel His presence, He will reveal Himself to us.
Scripture says when you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. (Deuteronomy
4:29) This is a practice we would be blessed to continue all year long.

NorthernLight Cooks
Thanks for the delicious meal provided by the ladies of the
NorthernLights. We could not have done it without you.

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Women of Faith- Dighton Style

Reported By Christen Carpenter
A group of ladies from our church and friends attended Women of Faith in Fort Wayne,
IN this past summer. We enjoyed it so much that we wanted to bring that experience back to our
communities. Our church purchased a WOF DVD.
Our Ladies Faith Night that took place Saturday, Oct. 10th. Thirty seven ladies from
seven churches, which included four denominations, gathered together for a night of fellowship.
(Wesleyan churches in attendance were Dighton, Edgetts, and Ogilvie.) We were led into
worship by a team of ladies from different churches and brought into the Spirit. Our video
session was from Shauna Niequist, who shared with us about God's story for our lives.
Sometimes we're told lies about ourselves, whether from Satan, family, friends or even
ourselves. We were challenged to delete the old story and let God transform our lives with His
Story of love and infinite chances.
We ended the night with a few more songs, prayer, dessert & a wonderful time of
fellowship!

From the Sue

Merry Christmas! The holiday swing is in full blast! May the blessing of His wonderful
presence, joy and peace surround you!
November 1, 2015, I e-mailed my resignation to DS Tom and the DBA. This enables the
DBA to appoint another director and give ample time to plan a 2016 day away, if the new
director/team so choses. I served 2 years as Assistant Director and 7 as Director of Wesleyan
Women/IVY. I have annually published four Connect-Channel-Change Newsletters, distributed
200+ e-mail copies and sent a minimum of 40 hard copies each edition for the last 7 years. Many
hours and meetings were spent designing the move from Wesleyan Women, an auxiliary, to
IVY, a district ministry. The IVY plan was presented to 5 LDJ groups and district conference. I
have visited a minimum of 30 churches and/or their activities, driven more than 23,658 miles (in
the 5 years I recorded). I stayed in hotels, entertained directors/team members, and supported
their local church activities. District wide, I attended leadership trainings, all district conferences,
and the N. MI Womens Retreats. I planned and facilitated 6 conference/day away events, and
two Zone 7 functions. I maintained contact with General Church, delivered Linen Closet items,
promoted/attended the Summit (2Xs), Mustard Seed Gathering and Alive. Communication by
telephone, e-mail and US postal was maintained throughout. An IVY Facebook page was
established. The joy of being the IVY director came from meeting local women and joining their
ministries. Where would the church be without women?
Please pray that the DBA will appoint Gods ordained woman to lead and bring district
women to honor and glorify Him. Thank you!