Teenage girls find real beauTypage 7 - RECORD.net.au

NEWSTeenage girls find real beautyHoniara, Solomon IslandsA three-day conference in the Solomon Islands hashelped young women discover their inner beauty.Ninety teenage girls participated in the “Real Beauty”conference, which was reportedly the first conference of itskind to be run by the Adventist Church in the Solomons.“It was all about teaching our girls that beauty is notphysical, but that it is the inner beauty that counts,” saidErna Johnson, director of Women’s Ministries for the SouthPacific Division and a moderator at the event. “That Jesusloves us, He created us and He’s the only One who canmake us beautiful as we grow in Him.”The conference was organised by the Adventist Women’sMinistries of the Solomon Islands under the leadershipof Beverly Maega. Many mature women came to help asmentors for each group.“The girls lovedevery moment of itand told us that theycan’t wait until nextyear when we will offerthem another conference,this time with thetheme ‘Real Friends’,”Young women enjoying “Real Beauty”.Ms Johnson said.“Adventist Womenacross the Division are putting an emphasis on teenage girlsand young women as their main goal for this quinquennium.This conference is part of our strategic plans as we worktowards engaging our teenage girls and young women inchurch.”—RECORD staff/Erna JohnsonMembers equipped to support familyHoniara, Solomon IslandsThe newly revised Family MinistriesCertificate was presented in Honiarato 41 participants from various missionsin the Solomon Islands.Pastors, local churchFamily Ministries leaders andother leaders interested inministering to families signedup for the two-week coursetaught by Pastor Chris Footeand Dr Alex Currie, FamilyMinistries directors for SouthQueensland and Greater Sydneyrespectively.“We are excited about the potentialof this training,” said Pastor TraffordFischer, Family Ministries directorfor the South Pacific Division. “It isimperative that our pastors and leadershave training and are resourcedto help build stronger marriages andhealthier families in our churchesthroughout our Division.”—RECORD staff/Trafford FischerChurch op shop hopes to impact communityEight Mile Plains, QueenslandEight Mile Plains church celebrated the opening of theForever Loved Op Shop last month.The opening was officiated by Pastor Malcolm Potts,secretary of the South Queensland Conference, and MalcolmCole, Liberal National Party candidate for the federalseat of Moreton.A highlight of the day was a fashion parade that displayedvarious sets of clothes from the op shop. Otheractivities included face painting and a jumping castle.“The purpose of the Forever Loved Op Shop is to putback into the community,” said Pastor Andre van Rensburg,who helped set up the shop.“We want to use the profits for ministry and to make adifference in our community. One of our aims is to partnerwith other organisations that serve the community’sneeds.”Volunteer manager Jeanette Hay has been encouragedby the support.“More than24 people havevolunteeredto help runthe shop, thesupport isamazing!” shesaid.“Theunique nameForever Loved reflects the church’srecycling aspiration, which will help the earth, people’spockets and also instil a spiritual message.”The Forever Loved Op Shop will complement ChristianLife Resources and ADRA emergency services, connectingwith the community on a daily basis from the churchcampus.—Amanda White/RECORD staffrecord.net.au • JUNE 29, 2013 7