Philadelphia Area Women's Missionary Conference

Conference Hymn 1942

In Christ there is no East or West, in Him no North or South But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth In Him shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find His service is the golden cord close binding all mankind Join hands then, sisters of the faith whate'er your race may be Who serves my Father as a son is surely kin to me In Christ now meet both East and West, in Him meet South and North All Christly souls are one in Him throughout the whole wide earth

History

In May of 1929 the first meeting of the Philadelphia Area Women’s Missionary Conference was held in Collingdale, PA with four assemblies represented and about 50 sisters in attendance.  

After having to omit several years during the depression, and again during World War II due to rationing, in 2013 we are celebrating 79 years since the beginning of the concentrated effort.

The conferences have been held at several locations over these years: Collingdale, PA, The Women’s Club of Germantown, Central Gospel Hall Mission, Faith Community Church, Enfield Gospel Chapel and our present location at the Philadelphia Brethren Assembly. This began a missionary endeavor that spread to other parts of the U.S. and results have been felt worldwide.The expenses for the current conference are met by donations from various chapels, ladies’ missionary groups and individuals. There are two offerings during the conference. All of the offerings are distributed to women from the local area that are in full time service, whether in the U.S. or in other countries.

In addition to the conference, the Philadelphia Area Women's Missionary Conference Committee oversees two missionary projects each year.  One project is in October and one in February.  Notices for the projects are sent out to contacts at many different assemblies.

The Fields' History of the Conference in 1940

FIELDS MAGAZINE: Origin of Sisters’ Missionary Conference in Philadelphia

In 1929 a few sisters in Philadelphia, believing it of the Lord, undertook a Sisters’ Missionary Conference. This meeting was fairly well attended. The inspiration and blessing from the words of admonition at that first feeble attempt to have a sisters’ conference have been the backbone of all our missionary meetings and classes since. It may be well to note the outline of the message. 

Exodus 35 tells of the women that helped in the work of the tabernacle. Giving their services, they were:* 1. warm-hearted (affections stirred).* 2. willing—hearted (ready to do anything that was required of them).* 3. wise—hearted (used prayerful judgment in the work of their hands).

After three years, the Lord giving encouragement and guidance to the same sisters, another conference was announced. This time the attendance was greater. The result of this soul-searching meeting was to ask ourselves the question, “What are we, as sisters, doing to help in the work of the Lord? Do we even know what some of our own sisters are doing in foreign lands?” As a result, many sisters’ missionary classes were formed, and interest in missionary activities was revived generally.

Through the combined efforts and prayers of several sisters’ groups, the conference was revived in 1936. This meeting was well attended, 10 or 12 assemblies being represented. There were three speakers in that afternoon and evening session, and the cry and heart’s desire of that conference was, that out of our midst the Lord would call someone to go tell the story of Jesus’ love to those in darkened heathenism. The offering was divided amongst the speakers and two home workers.

Every year since, we have had the happy fellowship of a Sisters’ Missionary Conference. Each year we see more prayer interest and greater attendance. This year the conference was attended by over 300, representing 22 different Assemblies.  There were four speakers, and some home workers and outgoing missionaries were introduced. It was a great pleasure and privilege to be able to minister to 22 workers in the Lord’s service in various parts of the world.

This meeting's tone and spirit of unity, and love encourages us to carry on. The theme was “Himself” as expressed in Philippians 3:10, and “Lift up your eyes” as we have it in John 4:35. 

Accounts of the Lord’s work in China and Africa were given by His servants from those fields of labor. The conference closed with a helpful word from Matthew 17, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”  As a result of our meetings here, many classes have been formed, and now several sisters’ conferences are held in surrounding districts. To these we say, “Press on!  Look up! It is worthwhile!”

These results that can be seen are the results of united efforts in prayer, that the Lord would stir the hearts of the sisters in Philadelphia, and move lives to reach out with the Gospel to others, and to have fellowship with those who are already serving the Lord Jesus Christ as missionaries.  As the Lord watches over and cares for us individually, may we watch over His precious work, obeying with new vigor His command to, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.” Before eternity is upon us and opportunity is past, go... your own selves where possible, or, go through your gifts: your prayers. May we be alive to every opportunity!

“Only one life—--’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last!

• JANE M. JAEGER
• HELEN J. LANE

Some of our conference speakers

A

• Mrs. Carol Anderson

B

• Mrs. Lida Baehr; Mrs. Myrtle Baehr; Miss Janet Bateman; Miss Betty Beatty; Mrs. Madge Beckon; Miss Marjorie Beckwith; Carol Beverly; Mrs. Georgia Billups; Mrs. Margaret Bitler; Miss Joanne Bitler; Marsha Blair; Mrs. Catherine Brad; Mrs. Esther Brooks; Miss Rose Brooks; Miss Ceola Brown; Mrs. Mildred Browne; Mrs. Jennifer Burger;

C

• Mrs. Anita Clark; Carol Clark; Judy Clever; Mrs. Gladys Cotton; Mrs. Jintana Crouch; Nisa Crutchfield;

D

• Mrs. Donald Deweese;

E

• Ojoma Mary Edeh; Karla Ernst;

F

• Mrs. Joan Farmer; Mrs. Betty Ferguson; Joyce Finch; Mrs. Paulina Flack; Brook Ford;

G

• Sharon Geesey; Peggy Green; Mrs. Beatrice Gyger;

H

• Mrs.Gertrud Harlow; Carmen Harris; Mrs. B. Sam Hart; Miss Peg Hart; Alice Hill; Marta Hocking; Esther Howell; 

I

• Frances Iler; Betty Ingalls; Miss Marian Iverson;

J

• Mrs. Eleanor Johnson; Melli Johnson; Mrs. Ruth Johnson;

K

• Mrs. Priscilla Kalioudjoglou; Joy Ann Kia; Miss Jane Kirk;

L

• Mrs. Rena Lennox; Mrs. Geraldine LeValley; Mrs. Marjory Lipsi; Mrs. Lois Logan; Martha Logan;

M

• Mrs. Cathie Mayer; Mrs. Betty McGehee; Mrs. Edna Monnik; Mrs. Katherine Morgan;

O

• Mrs. Pat Otto

P

• June Peck; Mrs. Sue Pfaff; Miss Mary Poole;

R

• Mrs. Grace Rainey; Mrs. Thomas (Cathy) Ruff; Mrs. Deanne Rush

S

• Mrs. Sara Sanchez; Mrs. Betty Sanders; Miss Susan Sands; Mrs. Kristina Schetelich; Mrs. Carolyn Schmidt; Mrs. Eleanor Schultz; Loretta Severin;Mrs. Sheila Shannon; Miss Elinor Shaw; Miss Dorothy Shubel; Bonnie Sims; Mrs. Dena Speering; Mrs. Esther Staley; Mrs. Ruth Steenland;Miss Sandra Stirling; Lorraine Stirneman; Bea Stocker; Mrs. Nellie Stover; Mrs. Joanne SusherebaMrs. Maisie Sutherland;

T

• Mrs. Marguerite Taylor; Mrs. Raymond Taylor; Mrs. Helen Tielmann; Nancy Trego; Nancy Trogdon; Mrs. Lois Turello;

U

• Heidi Ulrich;

V

• Anne Vanderlaan; Marcia VanderLaan; Mrs. Charles Van Ryn; Carolyn Vargas;

W

• Mrs. Anna Warris; Mrs. Glenda Watt; Dr. Ruth Watkins; Miss Carol Weir; Miss Alice White; Mrs. Ruby White; Christine Wigden; Mrs. Maureen Williamson; Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson; Miss Pearl Winterburn; Jane Wolcott; Holly Wooler;

Y

• Mrs. Viola Young;

Sources

Alice Roberts, Chairwoman of the Philadelphia Area Women's Conference, 2015 interview with Doug Engle