Women’s Fellowship

American Baptist Women’s Ministries and Women’s Fellowship of First Baptist Church, Nashua, New Hampshire

Our Mission and Vision

The mission of our national organization of American Baptist Women’s Ministries is to “provide vision, training, and resources to women and girls in American Baptist Churches!” We want to help you build and strengthen healthy women’s and girl’s ministries. In fact, our vision is that every church shall have a vital women’s ministry program that empowers women and girls to become and develop as God’s person, build God’s faith community, and serve God’s world.

Membership

Women’s Fellowship, in accordance with American Baptist Women’s Ministries, consists of women who are members of the First Baptist Church of Nashua, and other local women who are committed to the purpose to which this Fellowship is dedicated.Currently, there are two “Circle Meetings” that are held every other month. The Mary Circle meets in the evening in a church member’s home, and the Diamond Circle meets during lunchtime at the church. The purpose of these meetings is to work together in smaller groups for fellowship, to gather in support of each other, to assist our church in missions, to share ideas, and to conduct business related to ABC Women’s Ministries and Women’s Fellowship of FBC.

Missions

Missions is a large part of the activities and support provided by women of ABWomen’s Ministries and FBC’s Women’s Fellowship. Some of the following “missions abroad” include:

• White Cross: Bandages and surgical dressings are made from old sheets and then sent out to mission workers in the field. White Cross contributions from American Baptist congregations and groups provide more than $750,000 to support mission in this country and throughout the world. Last year, Women’s Fellowship completed and sent 130 bandages.
• Gift of the Heart Kits: Once a year, in partnership with Church World Services, various kits are gathered by Women’s Fellowship such as health items, school supplies, and infant care needs. The kits are then distributed through disaster relief to areas devastated by destruction caused by natural or man-made disasters.
• Blanket Sunday: Also in affiliation with Church World Services, Women’s Fellowship plays a vital role in gathering blankets to be distributed throughout the world to areas in need.
• Love Gift: Monies are collected at each Women’s Circle meeting, which go to support our own programs and missions within the church and our community in addition to supporting ABWomen’s ministries and mission projects throughout this country and the world.

Missions Within Our Church

In addition to providing national ministry support to, the women of our organization also work to support the mission and ministry of First Baptist Church of Nashua. Ways in which Women’s Fellowship help support our church include:

• Coffee Hour: Following each Sunday’s service, Coffee Hour has become a tradition at First Baptist Church. During this time, members and visitors mingle, share stories, and strengthen the bonds of friendship over a cup of coffee and snacks. Women’s Fellowship helps to provide funds, materials, and “labor“ in order to continue this time of fellowship.
• Kitchen Care: Women’s Fellowship functions as the “caretakers of the kitchen”. They provide supervision as well as materials and maintenance. Basically, if it comes from the kitchen, Women’s Fellowship is a strong contributor!
• Special Gifts: Often times there is a need for a specific item or items to support overall operations and ministries of our church. Women’s Fellowship is glad to support our church by providing Special Gifts.
• Shut-Ins: Women’s Fellowship plays a vital and active role in remembering our shut-ins and assisting in the needs of this special group of church members.
• Fall Fair: In order to support the budget and to continue providing funds and resources for missions within and beyond our church, Women’s Fellowship holds a fair during the fall of each year. Crafts, household items, toys, and baked goods are sold at this fair in support of Women’s Ministries. This is the largest funding resource of our organization.

Exciting and New Developments for Women Supporting Women

Women’s Fellowship of First Baptist Church has been in existence for decades! Well, times have definitely changed from the 40’s and 50’s when the church was the center of the community and of all social activities. The role of women in the home, church, working world, and community has changed just as significantly as the times. The responsibilities of women in this now complicated, fast paced, information packed society have become numerous and at times, overwhelming. Women have to constantly re-evaluate their time, energies, priorities, and needs.Women’s Fellowship of First Baptist Church recognizes the changing needs of women and is developing programs and ministries specifically geared to the needs of our church, tapping into the gifts and resources of women in our church and then utilizing these gifts and resources to support each other. To start, the luncheons planned for each quarter are designed to provide an opportunity for fellowship and learning for the women of our church and the community. Materials and resources provided through ABWomen’s Ministries can serve as additional supports as we share our mission not just with those in need throughout the world, but with each other as well.World Wide Missions will continue to be an emphasis for Women’s Fellowship providing new avenues for women of our church and community to touch the lives of others, hundreds and even thousands of miles away.One of the greatest contributions to missions we as women can make are to our own church in Nashua. There are many needs right here in our own backyard, many of which do not even cost a dime. Women’s Fellowship will work to identify and respond to these needs so as to continue growing as a church family.Our greatest and most recent contribution to our organization is the emphasis on the needs of each other. With your involvement, we can become a resource of much needed community support and friendship that women still crave in these times. We will continue to explore ways of coming together as an organization with the mission of building each other up as we share our God given gifts.

All women are welcome to become a part of the exciting and new developments of Women’s Fellowship. We welcome any suggestions, requests, needs, and gifts that you have as we grow individually, spiritually and organizationally.

Keep your eyes open to announcements regarding Women’s Fellowship activities listed in the church bulletin, newsletter, and throughout our church.