Women in Ministry: Caring for Body & Soul
The Christian Women's Association "Life" in Belarus

Miroslava I. Shlyazhko

The role of a woman is unique and has its own special beauty. That is why a woman who understands the role defined for her by God experiences satisfaction. She leads a fulfilled life. She enjoys her duties. This is the sort of woman that is described in Proverbs 31:10 as being "worth far more than rubies."

There are more than fifteen hundred people in our fellowship, Grace Pentecostal Church, of which the majority are women.  And the majority of these serve God using the talents which the Lord has given them.  About four years ago, God prompted several of our sisters to unite--to pray together, work together, and fellowship together. Of course, there were a lot of mistakes in the beginning, but the blessing received was greater. God led us along His path and we endeavored to be attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  We learned to wait and to rely and set our hopes not on our own strength, but on His power and guidance.

Fellowship with other Christian women is very important for those new to the faith.  At such times, when they discuss the problems and proper behavior of Christian women in the home and at church, these new believers begin to understand that while receiving a blessing is all very well, giving of themselves and their own time is even better. They realize that, having received the love of Christ, they must strive to give it to those who are in the world.

Help for the Needy
What first motivated our sisters was a desire to help the needy. (Our church does not receive any humanitarian aid.) This help has been realized in our church in several ways. First, material help is offered to members of our church who are in need--invalids, pensioners, and the unemployed.  The sisters and the church council examine carefully the situation of each needy person and, as necessary, distribute funds from the church's accounts.

Secondly, we help by operating a clothing exchange.  So much used clothing is given to us that we have enough not only for the needy in our church, but also enough to distribute to orphanages, to small village churches, and to those who have recently been released from prison. From time to time, even those far from faith come to us for clothing, and we find them suitable clothing as well.  We want everyone to know that the Christian church is founded on care and love.

Medical Ministry
Our church also sponsors a clinic run by a sister who is a cardiologist, along with two nurses.  Although we do not have much medicine, people--especially the elderly--like to seek assistance here. Here they find people who will listen and pray for them.  And this, as experience has amply shown, is often more important than medicine. We also have organized church visits to hospitals.

It is a great joy for the church when a baby is born.  We have organized a service for newborns so that mothers are never left alone with their problems.  The leaders of our home meetings and our knitting group take part in this service.  Elderly women on pension make wonderful socks, booties, caps, and shirts out of old and useless scraps. Children's clothing, food, and bottles are collected and distributed.

Christian Education
We also conduct work in the area of Christian education.  This work began (let this not seem strange) with gynecological examinations.  It was here that we found 14- and 15-year-old girls who had come for abortions. It was precisely this discovery that caused us to go to the schools to hold discussions about Christian values. Work among youth is not easy.  But the sisters, moved by the Holy Spirit, believe that the sowing of the Word among these young people will sooner or later take root.  We also conduct evangelistic services at children's clinics.  Here sisters distribute Christian literature, hoping that in it children will find role models and the meaning of life.

Concern for Others
God desires that each Christian show true love and care towards people. We must pray that God  would direct our work and subordinate our labor and desire to His will. Missionary to India Dr. E. Stanley Jones once said, "Life is awareness."  Life that exists on a lower level develops only awareness of itself. The higher we go up the scale of existence, the wider and deeper our awareness becomes. Jones explains: "You can discern how far up the ladder of awareness you've climbed by asking yourself the question, 'How much do I concern myself about others?'"  If we see only ourselves and our own problems, we will always be unhappy.  Our prayer is for God to always make us aware and to teach us what to say and how to help our neighbor. 

Miroslava Ivanovna Shlyazhko was born in 1959 in Ivatsevichi, Minsk region, Belarus.  Raised in a Christian family, she completed one year of a Bible institute.  She now administers social programs at Grace Pentecostal Church.

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© 1998 Institute for East-West Christian Studies
ISSN 1069-5664