Global Women Connecting (GWC)

What is the purpose of GWC?

Global Women Connecting was formed in 1955 as World CWF to provide a channel by which all women members of the Stone-Campbell heritage churches and of the United churches who share that heritage, may be joined in fellowship and through which, by prayer, study, and service they may share the gospel to the ends of the earth. The name change from World CWF (WCWF) to Global Women Connecting (GWC) was adopted at the 2004 World Convention in Brighton, England.

Who are GWC?

The president for Global Women Connecting is chosen from the country hosting the next World Convention. The Vice President represents a different country, usually across the globe. In addition to the elected officers, there is a named or elected contact person for GWC in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, United States, Vanuatu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Swaziland. Ecumenical Partners are Japan, Philippines, and Thailand.

What does GWC do?

GWC unites, informs, and connects Stone Campbell Movement women from around the world. It provides mission emphasis via a four-year service project that all member countries support. GWC sponsors a women's retreat preceding the World Convention for fellowship and networking. This is also the time when the Executive Committee meets. A semi-annual newsletter is sent to all member countries in which monthly prayer topics are lifted up, financial and activity updates for the service project are given, and information regarding world events and concerns are shared.

What is the current service project, 2008 to 2012?

The Executive Committee of Global Women Connecting in their meeting in Nashville, Tenn., on July 28 and 29, 2008, voted that the next service project would be the Klong Toey Community Center in Bangkok, Thailand.

Who does this project serve?

More than 25 years ago, the Church of Christ Thailand, through the hard work of two amazing Christian sisters, Kru Dow and Kru Duen, established a day care center on what was then a rubbish tip in the areas of Loks 4, 5, and 6 of the largest slum in Bangkok. The day care center then developed into a Christian Montessori pre-school and currently houses programs that serve the 4000 people officially registered in the program and the many more who call this area home:

• Preschool for three to seven year-olds;
• Youth group for eight to 15 year-olds;
• Daily soccer program for six to 18 year-olds;
• Fair-trade based handicraft projects which employ 20 women full time selling and exporting goods made in the slum;
• Coffee Shop set-up by the women from the profits of their handicrafts to train unemployed youth;
• Medical programs and training; and
• Family support programs.
  More details are available on the brochure prepared by The Church of Christ Thailand.

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How can I help?

• With your prayers;
• With your financial support.

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How can I send you the money we raise?

If you are interested in making a contribution, please make check payable and mail to:

OGMP-Treasury Services

Global Women Connecting
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206-1986

Please mark check for: Klong Toey Community Center

Remittance form is available in a PDF format.

We are also interested in the story of how you raised your funds. If you would like to share, please email your story to GWC. Stories will be posted as they become available.

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What are the past service projects?

• 1960: Printing of Jerol E Naomi in Creole as part of a literacy and hygiene program for women in Haiti
•  1970: Relief and rehabilitation in Vietnam
• 1974: Relief of world hunger, especially in Northern Africa
• 1980s: Work with street children in Latin America
• 1992: ECPAT (End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism)
• 1996 to 2004: Khayelihle Children‚s Village located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; a response to the needs of thousands of children whose parents have died from AIDS.
• 2004 to 2008: the Women's Network (Red de Mujeres) of the Council of Evangelical Churches of Colombia (CEDECOL).

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Disciples Women and GWC

Disciples Women are active participants in GWC.

• The Executive Director of the Office of Disciples Women, Disciples Home Missions, serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the organization and is editor of the GWC newsletter.
• The International Disciples Women's Ministries, DW's church wide organization for women, sends a delegation to every GWC retreat. The annual dues rate of $10, collected from each congregational DW/CWF group, is divided between the GWC budget ($9) and a fund to send U.S. and Canadian representatives to GWC meetings ($1).
• Disciples Women support the GWC Service Project chosen every four years at the GWC retreat.
• The GWC newsletter is available on the Disciples Women Web site.

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