wfn.org | ABCUSA: Home Mission Support by Women Celebrated

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (11/16/02)--During semiannual meetings in
Valley Forge, Pa., the Board of National Ministries noted the 125th
anniversary of the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society with thanks
to American Baptist women for their longtime partnership and ongoing support
of mission in the United States and Puerto Rico.

The Rev. Susan B. Maybeck, president of the board, expressed appreciation to
Virginia Holmstrom, executive director of American Baptist Women's
Ministries, and Carole Moore, the organization's national coordinator of
Church and Community Ministries, who is an observer to the Board of National
Ministries.

In her remarks Maybeck noted that the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission
Society was founded in 1877 by Baptist women in Boston and Chicago to
support single women in fulltime missionary service.  The organization also
worked to establish schools, settlement houses, Christian centers and
hospitals.

"It is reported that there was some concern among the male leadership of The
American Baptist Home Mission Society that was founded in 1832," she said.
"But American Baptist women expanded their efforts and supported the mission
of both societies.  And that commitment to the American Baptist family
continues today."

In honor of the 125th anniversary National Ministries made a $5,000
contribution to ABW Ministries during the national women's conference at
Green Lake in July.  The Rev. Dr. Margaret Ann Cowden, treasurer of National
Ministries, presented the gift from the Woman's American Baptist Home
Mission Society on behalf of National Ministries Executive Director the Rev.
Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III.

Expressing gratitude to members of the Board of National Ministries,
Holmstrom said, "We thank you deeply for your gift to the ABW Ministries'
endowment fund.  We will use the investment to strengthen and broaden our
ministry with women and girls in American Baptist churches."

Several years ago, in a commitment to NEW LIFE 2010, the national board of
ABW Ministries voted to make an annual contribution of $200 each to 25
church planters.  Over the last four years a total of 100 church planters
have received this encouragement.  Other longstanding ABW Ministries mission
support programs include White Cross, the Special Interest Missionary
program and region special mission projects.

National Ministries is incorporated as The American Baptist Home Mission
Society (1832) and the Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society (1877).

02ABN167

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org