A holy urging for reimagining Women's Ministries: Commissioner Rosalie Peddle

Commissioner Rosalie Peddle shares her 'holy urging' to reimagine The Salvation Army Women's Ministries, to win the souls of women for Jesus around the world. 

The International Women's Ministries 'Reimagining' launch will be livestreamed on Wednesday February 12^th 2020, 10.30pm NZDT (9.30am GMT) via salvationarmy.org, sar.my/youtube and sar.my/facebook. The video will still be available to view once the livestream has ended.

Check out the full livestreaming information here.

Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, World Secretary of The Salvation Army Women's Ministries, interviews Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of The Salvation Army Women's Ministries, about the reason behind the 2020 launch of Women's Ministries 'Reimagining'.

We've included extracts from Commissioner Rosalie's speech (filmed above), communicating her vision for the future of women's ministries: to women, for women, by women.

'Know your country, know your context, know your community, see what the need is and go out and do something that will make a difference in women’s lives.'

The holy urge to reimagine Women’s Ministries

'I have a call to a reimagining of the international Women’s Ministries around the world.’

There’s this holy urging for me to do something... the time is right. Women’s Ministries continues to grow from strength to strength, it is a powerful force within our Salvation Army. But I want to future-proof it for the 21^st century. We celebrate Women’s Ministries – it’s strong and great things are happening. But I think, 'Oh what we could do if we could only imagine what God could do through us as we look at the needs of women around the world!'

I have a call to a reimagining of the international Women’s Ministries around the world.

Why the word ‘reimagine’?

Ministry to women, women’s ministries, is not a new activity. I firmly believe that back 135 years ago when Florence Booth started the Women’s Social Work, there must have been a great imagining going on in her heart and her head about what The Salvation Army could do in that time. Home League started in 1907, I believe they had this great imagination of what they could for the women of that time. Here we are, 154 years, as we celebrate The Salvation Army and it’s time for us to reimagine what could happen through our Women’s Ministries throughout the world.

It’s not a new program. I look at this as an invitation and a challenge. I’m appealing to the women leaders to reimagine Women’s Ministries within their territories, commands and regions:

• In the culture of today, what is it that is not working, that they think they have to do?
• What if you could do something new, innovative, creative? 

​That’s the reimagining.

WM to align to The Salvation Army International Mission Statement

We have an International Salvation Army mission statement and it’s time for us to align ourselves to this mission statement, and create this Women’s Ministries vision statement. The [International Salvation Army] mission statement is our identity. Our vision statement encompasses our Women’s Ministry objectives moving forward. The activity is inspired by our identity.

Updating our resources for the 21st Century

Here are key ways Commissioner Rosalie indicated WM will be updating, so we can reimagine ministering to women in our contexts:

• International WM Bible study: IHQ will provide women's Bible Studies, that will be relatable in their resourcing for Christian women and Salvationists. 'The Bible Studies will follow the themes that the General has set out in his call to mission. The new series will have 24 bible studies written by women from all around the world'.
• International WM Logo: A new logo will be unveiled, one that reflects the 'expansive and multifaceted... essence and purpose of the women’s ministry internationally.'
• International WM Social Media: Women's Ministries will develop and maintain a vibrant presence on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to engage with the women of The Salvation Army.

The launching of Reimagining 2020

‘Our focus is to win women for Jesus. That’s what our main goal is. That’s what I’m saying, the sky is the limit’.

The launch of The Salvation Army Women’s Ministries 'Reimagining' will be live-streamed from IHQ on February 12^th, 10:30pm NZST. 

Commissioner Rosalie says, 'Our focus is to win women for Jesus. That’s what our main goal is. That’s what I’m saying, the sky is the limit... Know your country, know your context, know your community, see what the need is and go out and do something that will make a difference in women’s lives.' Rosalie is also concerned for future-proofing for the next generation of girls and women, saying 'I am really concerned that we put our heads around how The Salvation Army can come alongside our young girls, so that they know they are loved, respected, proud of who they are and what God is calling them to be.'

Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham agrees, saying ‘It’s the beginning of what can be around the world. I sense in you as our leader, this call for us all to be engaged, to think about what our part is in it, to think creatively, to think outside the box, to celebrate what is already happening… to know because of this unlimited, unimaginable God that there is so much more we can to do be more effective in winning women for Jesus around the world.'

God is doing a new thing for women through Women's Ministries;

In Isaiah 43:19 God says ‘See I am doing a new thing’. And God is doing a new thing. The challenge will be for us to see this new thing, God has to open our eyes, all of us involved in Women’s Ministries.

And then we need to be engaged, we need to be part of it, part of what God is calling us to do. I’m very excited about this reimagining of Women’s Ministries and I really think that there’s going to be some great things that we are going to see in the days that are ahead. And I encourage everybody to join us, and to be ‘in’ doing this.

Let the reimagining begin!