Muntenia Conference Convention for Women’s Ministries Leaders

From 29 April to 1 May 2022, the Women's Ministries Department Convention "Hand in Hand with Him - Beyond the Fog" was held in Sinaia, organized by Gianina Floricel, Director of the Women's Ministries Department of the Muntenia Conference. Friday evening started with a get-to-know-you meeting, followed by a discussion on our attitude to suffering: How do we help those who suffer and how do we react when we suffer ourselves. What we would like to be told, how we would like to be treated, what experiences we have with people who have gone through loss or illness that we didn't know how to deal with. We made ourselves vulnerable and shared our questions, pains, disappointments... We recommended the book recently published by Life and Health: Facing Grief, by Roberto Badenas.
Then followed the special service of Holy Communion. Through the biblical message presented by Pastor Lucian Floricel, we were encouraged that our Saviour values and trusts us and that the first mission ever entrusted to His followers was addressed to women, who carried it out well. We prayed for each other and embraced each other.
Saturday morning we met to sing. Mihaela Koos and Beatrice Cojocaru accompanied us on the piano. Then came the Sabbath School, presented by Sister Daniela Dorcea, also in the conference room of the retreat center. From 11:00 we went to the church sanctuary in Sinaia, where they were happy to have a full congregation. The message presented had the same theme as the whole convention: "Hand in hand with Him - Beyond the Fog". The hopeful and encouraging message of Gianina Floricel's sermon was, “Reaching the goal beyond the fog is only possible hand in hand with God.” The musical highlights were performed with voice and piano by two little girls who came with their mothers: Thamida Strâmbeanu and Eliana Dorcea. In the afternoon, Liliana Radu presented projects from other Conferences, questions were asked, and answers were given, especially for those who attended for the first time and very soon would be Women’s Ministries coordinators in their communities. Some sisters brought photos or even samples of the materials they used in the different projects.
In the evening the seminar: "Beyond the Comfort Zone" presented by Gianina Floricel had a great impact on the listeners, followed, of course, by discussion: on how to approach more courageously the role of Women’s Ministry leaders and acquire new skills and abilities and what to do with the fear of becoming vulnerable or making mistakes. After the evening meal, Liliana Radu created an emotional moment in which she gave us gemstones (symbolizing victory) for each day of the week and a phosphorescent stone to light up our Sabbath day. On Sunday morning we had another session of experiences, questions, plans, methods, projects tried by other teams, with singing, and then a test to assess multiple intelligences (seminar conducted by Eliza Spătărelu). Also in this framework the Bible Journal for Women was presented, as a project for Bible study groups, a journal aimed at teenagers, young women, and women of all ages. There were 28 representatives from Bucharest, Buzău, Călărași, Dâmbovița, Prahova and Tulcea. We thank God for this wonderful opportunity to meet! We parted reluctantly, embracing each other and assuring each other of our prayerful support. We look forward to our next meeting!
Gianina Floricel, Director of the Women's Mission Department, Conference Muntenia