At the Annual Session that convened in San Antonio, Texas, President Alma Jean Danford provided space on the program for attendees to share ideas in small group settings. Judging from the comments in the evaluation surveys, the sharing experience was a blessing to the participants, and to those who received the written report.

Our sincere thanks to each of you for your input and expressed excitement about our first Sharing Time session. Special thanks to Sisters Verna Chivers, Dorothy Eke-Oduru, Clover Jones and the facilitators, (listed below), for helping to compile this report. The ideas and suggestions are listed under the name of the facilitator from whose group they came.

FACILITATOR: CAROL KEGGINS

Question: What unique ideas for ministry are you involved in at your local church or district? What are you doing that almost nobody else is doing? Give Examples.
• S.A.L.T (Single Adults Laboring Together). Volunteer at Salvation Army, Feed persons there each week. Provide a hot meal once a month.

• Nursing Home Ministry – Minister in group setting and to individuals.

• Health Care Ministries:
  
  -Widows Support Group
  -Cancer Survivors Support Group

• Youth Prison Correspondence
  -Health Checkup
  -Criminal background check.
  -Special training by SBC Prison Ministry

• Freeman Center – A residential center

• Food Pantry at Local College.

• Sunday School class goes to Women's Abuse Shelter and teaches the lesson.

• Samaritan House – Supported financially by local churches.
  
  -medical supplies
  -food pantry
  -utility help

FACILITATOR: JEAN WILLIAMS

Question: How do we discover untapped resources in the local church and in the convention, i.e. How can we know what each member can do and/or desires to do?
• Observe and communicate. Every member should be observant, to recognize skills, abilities and potential in others, communicate with them, and let the leadership team know about such untapped resources, so such persons may be given opportunities to utilize their gifts. (Dorothy Eke-Oduru)

• Follow a 6-point program. (Contact Emma Baliste for more information)
  a. Closer fellowship
  b. Must be a people person.

• Task Force's 6-point program: (Contact Mission Development Council for more information – (seniormission2@aol.com)
  a. Questionnaires
  b. Correspondence (short notes, letters)
  c. Job Fair for Christian workers
  d. Informal conferences/interviews
  e. Individual commitments

• Be encouraging – (Evelyn Moore )

• Make personal contacts – (Georgia Richardson)

• Ask/use new people.

FACILITATOR: SHERRY SMITH

Question: How do we adapt ministries to changing times? We know that the message never changes, but our methods must. So, how do we adapt the way we do things to more effectively meet the needs of people today?
• Prayer - self preparation

• Unity – help the person to have a feeling of belonging.

• Creativity in spreading the Word.
  a. Openness
  b. Daring to depart from tradition.
  c. More interaction with members of the group.
  d. More humility , especially when sharing the Word.
  e. Must be motivated by love.
  f. Do not make changes for change sake. Keep the effective ministries.

• Adapt methods for target group, the people you are trying to reach.
  Example: Some groups respond well to the traditional lecture, while others want to interact with the facilitator or teacher.

FACILITATOR: DOROTHY STARKS

Question: How do you, or how can we get all of the women involved in our local women's ministries? Give examples.
• Change of Leadership. Invite them. Hold a meeting for the specific purpose of asking for suggestions. Let them know in advance, so they are prepared to give input. (Murina Collins)

• The ones that are already active should "live the life." Do one-on-one interviews. Invite inactive women to the meetings. (Gloria Moore, Roberta Mitchell, Emma Holleman)

• Invite speakers. Utilize senior seniors to encourage. (Rosa Hill)

• Pray. Pray. (Margie McGruder)