Tag: Women’s Ministry

SWBC is for you!

Wondering whether you should go to the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention and why you should be excited about “another Christian conference”?  To help we asked different people why SWBC is for all women and is something we should all be excited by.  These people have either already booked their tickets, are involved in planning or are enthusiastically advertising at their churches.

This week we asked Alan McKnight, minister at Harper Church in Glasgow and part of the West of Scotland Gospel Partnership Steering Group, why he is encouraging the women in his church to go.

Alan writes,”When God’s word is faithfully taught his voice is heard and lives are changed. That’s why I’m so encouraged by the work of the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention because it is all about God’s Word and it provides a model for women opening up God’s word with other women.

We are encouraging all of our Harper women to go along and enjoy a feast of good teaching together with a varied range of seminars that will help with living the Christian life in the world as it is today. We see the Scottish Women’s Bible Convention as a model that our women can learn from and that it will enrich women’s ministry in the local church as well as building friendships across the various congregations supporting the event.”

Speaker – Luke 7

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On Mondays we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention. We asked our speaker Clare Heath-Whyte to share more about what she will be speaking on.  Clare will also be running a seminar “Women of faith – hidden heroines of the Reformation”.

What are you speaking about at the Scottish Women’s Convention and why?Flier final

I am speaking on “Faith” from Luke 7. Faith is central to the Christian life, but there is so much confusion about what it actually is. Seeing Jesus meeting various people in this chapter helps us to understand what faith is (and is not) and what a faith filled life looks like in practice.

What is the title of your seminar at the Scottish Women’s Convention? What is it about?

Women of faith – Hidden heroines of the Reformation.

2017 is the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation – when the wonderful truth of Justification by faith alone was rediscovered by Martin Luther. The names of some of the male reformers are well known – but the role of women was vital too. We will be looking at the fascinating lives of a couple of these women to see how justification by faith alone and the doctrine of scripture alone transformed their lives – and how they influenced the world around them.

Why is this seminar topic important?

Seeing how women in the past, with far fewer advantages and opportunities than we have, served Christ in their lives can challenge and encourage us today. Will we, like them, allow ourselves to be transformed by scripture rather than being conformed to the world?

Thursday Spotlight

On Thursdays we want to give you an insight into the lives of some of the women involved in the Scottish Women’s Convention.  Some of these women are involved in full time ministry in the local Church, while others balance serving in the church with a secular job.

We sent various people a questionnaire asking them to give us a taste of what they do, the challenges they face and what they are looking forward to about the Scottish Women’s Convention.

clare mugshotMeet Clare, our speaker…Clare is a wife, mother, speaker and author from Morden, South London.

What area of ministry do you work in?

Pretty much everything – I’m the minister’s wife.

How did you come to work in this particular area of ministry?

I married a minister – in fact I married an airline pilot, who then became minister!

Give one great challenge and one great joy of working in gospel ministry?

Seeing the most unlikely people turn to Christ and have their transformed.

What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?

That I am not as capable as I think I am and he is far more capable than I ever imagined. 

Besides speaking and your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?

Coming to Edinburgh!

Talks – Hebrews 12

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If you missed the first Scottish Women’s Bible Convention or just want to re-listen to Carrie Sandom’s talks, you now can.  The links are all below.

Carrie’s first talk was on Hebrews 1:1-3 and can be found here – Session 1  The second session was on Hebrews 12:4-11 and can be found here – Session 2.  The talk starts with some singing which is have kept in, as it sounds AMAZING!

If you have any feedback on the convention or any questions regarding the teaching do get in touch at scottishwomensbibleconvention@gmail.com

Finally, next years convention already has a date – 7th Oct 2017 – do get in the diary now!!  Looking forward to having you all with us next year.

What you need to know

There are now only 11 sleeps until the first ever Scottish Women’s Bible Convention.  I hope you are all as excited as the planning committee.  To make the most of the day there are a few things which we thought it would be useful for you all to know.

  • Firstly, doors will open at 9am and tea & coffee with be available.  Do give yourself time to sign up for your seminars.
  • The first session will start at 10am and the last session will be finished by 4.30pm.
  • There will be a bookstall provided by 10ofthose.com, so do come prepared to purchase some awesome books!
  • Nursing Mums are more than welcome to bring their baby.  There is be a room with a video feed available, if you want to breastfeed in privacy.
  • Lunch is not provided but there are plenty places nearby to pick up some lunch, or why not bring something with you so you can use the lunchtime period to have fellowship with one another.  There will be more information on lunch spots in the convention programme.
  • Charlotte Chapel is situated at 58 Shandwick Place and is easily accessible by public transport.  The train is an easy option as Haymarket is a 10 minute walk from Charlotte Chapel.  Tram or bus stops are just outside the church.  The Lothian Bus website will give you all the information needed.  Parking around Charlotte is all on-street parking and pay and display.  Melville Street is the best place to aim for.  There is a NCP multi-story carpark nearby as well.  It is possible to park a little further out where is it free on a Saturday and walk the rest.  Edinburgh Council has an interactive map which shows the parking restrictions and where it is free to park on Saturday.  If you are coming from Glasgow or over a bridge an alternative would be to park and ride at Ingliston You can park for free and then get the tram into town.  The tram stop is 2 mins walk from the church.

Please do get in touch at scottishwomensbibleconvention@gmail.com if you have any questions.  Also do remember in your prayers our speaker and the seminar leaders as they finalise their preparations.

Tickets are still available for £10 from – tinyurl.com/swbc16tix

Seminar – Being godly online

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On Monday’s we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention. For the next few weeks we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

my-passport-photoName – Rachel Sloan

Lives – Edinburgh

What is the title of your seminar at the Scottish Women’s Convention?

Being godly online

What is the seminar about?

This seminar will be looking at how we behave as Christians online.  We will look at the change the internet and social media platforms has made to our world and how we communicate with one another.  We will explore the pitfalls and benefits of an increasingly online world.  We will also investigate what the Bible has to say about our behaviour in this area.  

Who is the seminar for?

Anyone and everyone!  This session is not just for the ‘internet savvy’ as we all live in an increasing online world.  All of us are living lives which are being shaped by social media, some of us more than others.  But even if you don’t spend much time online you will have family members who will or you may be discipling someone who does.  Do you know what the issues they face through online media and do you know how to encourage them to be godly in their behaviour.

Why is this area important?

There has been a fundamental shift in the way we communicate and more and more of us are using digital technology.  As Christians we want to find a place where our use of digital technology is not just thoughtful and informed but it is informed by the Bible.  We don’t want to be Christians who completely reject digital technology any more than we want to be those who embrace them without thinking.  Instead we want to be disciplined in discerning to embrace what can be embraced and reject what can be rejected. 

Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?

I think I am most looking forward to seeing women from all over Scotland coming together to learn from God’s word.

Seminar – Running the race in tough times

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On Monday’s we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention. For the next few weeks we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

Staff_Sharon_Dickens-300x400Name – Sharon Dickens

Lives – Niddrie, Edinburgh

What is the title of your seminar at the Scottish Women’s Convention?

The title that I have been given is Endurance – running the race when the going is tough.

What is the seminar about?

I need to give it more thought but probably ‘How to keep on keeping on when life and ministry sucks!’

Who is the seminar for?

Any women who isn’t a deluded Mary Poppins wanna be – “Practically perfect in everyway”

Why is this area important?

Life is full of struggles we can’t avoid them basically there are times when it out right sucks. We need to learn how to run the race with endurance, relying on God and in doing so grow in our faith. We also need to teach young women how to do this well. Far to often as older women we perpetuate this Mary Poppins myth that we are practically perfect in every way and in life nothing phases us or is going wrong, it’s the “I’m Fine” syndrome magnified. We all know it’s not true or helpful.

Seminar – Ordinary fuel for running the race

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On Monday’s we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention. For the next few weeks we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAName – Leonie Poole

Lives – Sileby – a large village situated in the Soar Valley between Leicester and Loughborough

What is the title of your seminar at the Scottish Women’s Convention?

The working title is “”Ordinary fuel for running the race” though I have been pondering “Ready Brek for the soul” – probably breach of copyright there! Perhaps “Porridge for persevering pilgrims?”

What is the seminar about?

The seminar is about how we keep going as Christians, how we keep running the race – what has God provided for us that we need to take hold of? We will discover how God’s word, His fatherly goodness to us and our communion with him in prayer, our brothers and sisters in Christ and our fellowship with them and giving and receiving in service and day dreaming about heaven will keep us running the race til the end.

Who is the seminar for?

For any one who has ever felt like giving up on the Christian life– whether due to failure, fatigue, faithlessness and anyone who is running well at the moment but is conscious that none of us are promised that following Jesus will be easy.

Why is this area important?

The longer I have been a follower of Jesus, the more I see that it is the ordinary life, the day to day keeping on that is often the silent killer of faith. Crisis of faith, tragedy – they make us more aware of the testing times, but in the day to day slog we become complacent. Yet this is where the battle is fought too. And sometimes we have been guilty of giving the pat answer “Just read your Bible, pray and go to church.” Which I endorse entirely – but I want to remind people why God has given us these gifts for our perseverance and why we should keep coming back to them with renewed joy and delight.

Besides your seminar, what one thing about the Scottish Women’s Convention are you looking forward to and why?

Being back in the homeland, catching up with dear friends who I don’t see often and being encouraged by their perseverance. I have been involved with the Midlands Women’s conventions over the last couple of years and I am keen to encourage this convention in Scotland, knowing how helpful it has been to women in the Midlands. And maybe having chance to enjoy a sneaky white pudding supper while I’m there!