Under the title "More than a standby", the first single women's weekend of the Austrian Union took place in Mondsee, in the Salzkammergut, in mid-March 2023. The participants and speakers came from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and were between 21 and 72 years old.
The youth hostel in Mondsee was practically full of only participants; all of them enjoyed good food and the proximity to the lake, with walks in the great weather. Above all, participants enjoyed good fellowship.
Although some knew only one or two people when they arrived, the ice broke quickly, e.g. when laughing about caricatures on the bulletin board, during a skit about being single, playing various games, singing together, praying, doing handicrafts, or studying the Bible in groups.
In addition to profound spiritual and practical impulses, there was also enough time for personal conversations. After two speakers had given a moving personal testimony on Sabbath afternoon, some of the participants also contributed with their personal stories, and a mood of great solidarity and special, encouraging openness arose, all of which created wonderful experiences.
“The number of singles is growing in our congregations”, so Dagmar Dorn, Women’s Ministries Director in the Inter-European Division. “Therefore, it is important that we as a church give them more space, involve them in our congregations, and give them responsibilities. We are not just a church for families, but also a church family”, continued Dorn. “God gives a satisfying life regardless of our relationship status. I believe there are times for singles to share, encourage and motivate each other, as I experienced this weekend. I really appreciated the openness and honesty that was shared and this touched me”, concluded Dorn.
In the end, everybody was amazed by how much God had given us in these few hours and how such a diverse group could experience something like this together.
More about Women’s Ministries
Women's Ministries is a place to address the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social needs of women in the church. God calls men and women to minister for Him. Women's Ministries is all about women ministering to women in their own unique way. Women's Ministries encourages women to find and improve their potential for participation in the mission of the Church.
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