EAFC's Women of Purpose

"Hearts burn" might be an expression that more accurately describes who we are than "passion." Originally we used the word"passion" to describe a new focus EAFC is experimenting with, but a godly man suggested we rethink the word. We went to the dictionary and discovered that the definitions are full of synonyms that hint of sexual connotation. That is NOT the message we wanted to get across. So April 10,2011 a group of women in Liberia renamed our project.

 We are or hope to become Women of Purpose.

Yes, our hearts are FOCUSED, and yet we want chapters to spring up all over the world, that have FLEXIBILITY to craft themselves with not just focus, but with wisdom, and goals that meet their felt needs. This is not a top down, highly structured undertaking, but is an attempt to share a vision with the church.

Women of Purpose want and need their Christian fathers, husbands and Christian brothers to rise up and encourage the advancement of these chapters in their own villages, churches and nation. We believe that  Christian men have been silent too long. Women have attempted to bring up their unique issues, sometimes with a fighting spirit. This is not acceptable to Women of Purpose. We have no desire to fight anyone but to resist the enemy that would hold us down from achieving God-given dignity. Together we resist the second class status that has been strangling us since the fall in the garden.  We believe that if we marginalize the need of the church in our effort  we will be diminished. Just like EAFC refuses to grant partial tuition scholarships without the active participation of the local church's assuming its responsibilities, so this philosophy must permeate "Women of Purpose."  To do otherwise would dilute our efforts.

There is no need to spell out all the atrocities women all over the world still endure on an hourly basis. If abuse is not one's present condition, then these ladies are blessed so that they can be a blessing to the widows and orphans around us all.

We are urging those whose "hearts burn within them" to  learn of the plight of others, to communicate with sisters across the world, to raise awareness,  to share skills, but most of all to pray for one another.

Pray for mercy, for compassion, for wisdom. Pray that chapter leaders will be well chosen. Pray that education will be available to women, formal training where needed, and informal too. Pray that women be creative in finding skills to support their families when they have been abandoned so that they are not tempted to sell their bodies. Pray that they be strong. Pray that their minds be reborn to see the dignity and worth in them. May each rest in the knowledge of how Jesus Christ showed a model of respect and love in a culture where women were very much second class citizens.

Would you think with me? Would you ask God to cause your heart to burn within you if you are to explore establishing a Women of Purpose chapter in your area?  If interested, will you contact us at admin@eafc.net?  We look forward to hearing from you!