For the past few years the Evangelical Fellowship of the South Pacific has experienced a difficult period and this had an effect on the operation of the Commissions. The Prayer Assembly, movement which was the major event of the EFSP, embraced some theological perspectives that could not be upheld by WEA and sadly there had to be a split. Both the Youth and Women’s Commissions held their annual Conferences either side of the Prayer Assembly and in fact were very much a part of the whole event, therefore the split has caused deep concern for both the Youth and Women. However we can praise the Lord that there is now a strong EFSP with good leadership and the Commissions can now move forward and strengthen the various National leadership. One of the setbacks we experienced was the withdrawal of the Australian Evangelical Alliance from the EFSP, and as the Australian Women’s Commission was the strongest link in the region, had a devastating effect on operation as a whole. We trust the Lord that the AEA will return to membership of the EFSP as a result of the new leadership and new structure being set in place.

Considering the above the Women’s Commission has been able to meet each year in a different Island Nation. The first Conference was held in Australia, then progressively each year in Tonga, PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tahiti and this year in Vanuatu again to mark the 400yr celebration of the Declaration of the South Lands of the Holy Spirit. Jinny Patrick continues to give good leadership to the Commission in New Zealand and has planned an event later this year.

This year the Women’s Commission will meet on the Island of Santo, Vanuatu from the 9-11th May. We trust the Lord to give us guidance and direction for the next 2-5 years.

The high expense of travel in the region means that we have to make use of our time at Conference to attend to the various aspects of the ministry of the Women’s Commission.
This means we have our committee meetings, training, teaching, encouraging, networking etc during the three days we meet together. It is not always possible for the leadership of each Nation to attend these functions and often it is different women each time, which makes the ongoing work very difficult.

It is our vision that in the very near future each Island Nation could be visited to conduct Leadership training and awareness of the aspects of ministry of the Women’s Commission.

There is still a great need in the region to address the issue of Domestic Violence. Therefore, we need to have another print run of the Abuse leaflets so that each Island Nation can have a supply.

Finance continues to be a great need. I have had to cover all travel since the inception of the Women’s Commission and the various Nations hosting the Women’s Conference have had to raise finance to hold the Conference. Each participating woman has had to raise her own finance to attend these events and as most of these Island Nations are poor and travel in the region very costly it is amazing and cause for great Praise to the Lord for making it possible.