Message from Buelah Santhosh about Women’s Sunday
GREETINGS TO THE MOTHERS’ UNION OF THE DIOCESE OF OXFORD
Dear Sisters in Christ,
Warm greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
It is with great joy and gratitude that I convey my heartfelt Women’s Sunday greetings to all the dear sisters of the Mothers’ Union of the Diocese of Oxford, on behalf of the Women’s Fellowship of the Church of South India, Diocese of Nandyal, and in my personal capacity as the Women’s Fellowship President. During the recent visit to the Diocese of Oxford with my husband, The Rt. Rev. K. Santhosh Prasanna Rao, Bishop of the Diocese of Nandyal, I was blessed to meet and fellowship with you. Your warmth, love and gracious welcome made me feel that I was among sisters rather than among people from a distant country.
The longstanding partnership between our two dioceses is a precious gift from God. I pray that our relationship will continue to grow through prayer, friendship, fellowship and our shared commitment to the mission of Christ.
As I greet you, I would like to share a theme that is very close to my heart:
“Women Who Trust God: Faithful and Fearless.”
This theme is inspired by three beautiful biblical examples of women whose trust in God enabled them to live with courage and faithfulness.
Huldah reminds us of the courage to speak. When God's Word needed to be proclaimed, she did not remain silent. She boldly delivered God's message of coming judgment, but also proclaimed a message of mercy and hope. Her life reminds us that women who trust God can speak God's truth with courage, wisdom and compassion.
The Canaanite woman reminds us of the courage to persevere. As a mother, she came to Jesus with faith for her suffering daughter. Though she faced discouragement, she did not give up. She continued to trust and seek the Lord. Jesus recognised her faith as great. Her story encourages every woman and every mother to hold on to God even when the answer to prayer seems delayed.
The women mentioned by Paul in Romans 16 remind us of the courage to serve. Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Junia and the other women remembered by Paul contributed faithfully to the life and mission of the early Church. Their names remind us that the work of God is strengthened by women who pray, serve, encourage, give, welcome and labour faithfully.
These women lived in different circumstances, but they shared one thing: they trusted God.
Their trust made them faithful in service and fearless in difficult circumstances.
Dear sisters, this is my encouragement to all of us today.
We live in different countries and cultures, and our circumstances may be different, but women everywhere carry responsibilities, concerns, hopes and burdens. We pray for our families, nurture our children, care for those around us, strengthen our churches and seek to be a blessing to our communities.
At times we may feel inadequate or afraid. But God does not ask us to face life in our own strength. He asks us to trust Him.
When God calls us to speak, may we have the courage of Huldah.
When circumstances test our faith, may we have the perseverance of the Canaanite woman.
When opportunities for ministry come before us, may we serve with the faithfulness of the women Paul remembered.
May we therefore be women who trust God in prayer, trust Him in our families, trust Him in our service and trust Him even when we cannot see what lies ahead.
I pray that the Lord will continue to bless the Mothers’ Union of the Diocese of Oxford, strengthen every woman and mother among you, and use your lives to bring Christ's love into your families, churches and communities.
May our fellowship between the Mothers’ Union of Oxford and the Women’s Fellowship of Nandyal continue to deepen, so that together, across our different contexts and cultures, we may encourage one another to become women who are faithful in service and fearless in faith.
With my prayers, love and warmest greetings in Christ,
Smt. D. Buelah Santhosh Women’s Fellowship President CSI Diocese of Nandyal
