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Adventist Church Visits Derby
Derby, Western Australia
Melody Tan
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific recently ministered to the women in Derby, Western Australia (WA), through the Women’s Ministries department.
Joy Butler and Linda Delower, co-leader of the Adventist Church in Derby
During the visit, Mrs Butler and Mrs Riggins shared with the indigenous women about the work of Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), a non-profit Christian organisation that lobbies governments on issues regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs and also provides drug education in schools and throughout the community.
“We focussed specifically on the issue of Foetal Alcohol Sydrome (FAS) and the importance of teaching girls and women not to drink alcohol during pregnancy,” says Mrs Butler.
Attendees also signed lobbying cards to urge the Federal Health Minister to put warnings on alcohol bottles regarding FAS. Further issues discussed included the importance of purity and abstinence from sex until marriage, and also the concerns of abuse and violence.
Derby, Western Australia
Melody Tan
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific recently ministered to the women in Derby, Western Australia (WA), through the Women’s Ministries department.
Joy Butler and Linda Delower, co-leader of the Adventist Church in Derby
Women’s Ministries director for the Adventist Church in the South Pacific Joy Butler and recently retired WA Women’s Ministries regional director Sharon Riggins met with the Mowanjum indigenous community of Derby for three days in late April.
“We focussed specifically on the issue of Foetal Alcohol Sydrome (FAS) and the importance of teaching girls and women not to drink alcohol during pregnancy,” says Mrs Butler.
Attendees also signed lobbying cards to urge the Federal Health Minister to put warnings on alcohol bottles regarding FAS. Further issues discussed included the importance of purity and abstinence from sex until marriage, and also the concerns of abuse and violence.
Heather Umbagai (right), active women’s ministries member of the Mowanjum community and Derby, signing WCTU lobby cards.
“The most significant part of the meetings for me was when we finished by praying for a way forward to help eliminate the issues surrounding alcohol in the community,” says Mrs Butler. “We are certainly planning future visits by ladies from the WA Women’s Ministries regional office, and sending them further materials about WCTU."
