World Day of Prayer International
  • Home
  • About
    • International Committee >
      • WDPIC History
      • International Meeting 2017
      • International Meeting 2022
    • Executive Committee
    • Staff
    • Contact
  • Program
    • Journals
    • Fund for Tomorrow >
      • Honored Women
    • Guiding Principles
    • How to organize your worship service
    • Themes & Writers
    • WDP at a Glance
  • Cook Islands 2025
  • Latest News
  • Members

Latest News

My Prayer of Thanksgiving

7/6/2022

6 Comments

 
I will extol the Lord at all times; 
    His praise will always be on my lips. 
I will glory in the Lord; 
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 
Glorify the Lord with me; 
    let us exalt His Name together. (Psalm 34:1-3) ​
Picture
The Psalmist sums up my praise and thanksgiving to the Lord at what has happened in my life. 

On June 16, 2022, history was made as I became the first African Woman to be elected as the Chairperson for the World Day of Prayer International Committee after about 100 years of the existence of the movement. The WDP Africa Region went agog in their respective countries to celebrate this feat and it continues to this day.   

I want to reflect a bit on the journey to this position which has not always been smooth, but has always been fulfilling. In 1994, I joined the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) as the Youth Programme Coordinator and I had the opportunity to work with the Youth Desks of both the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and World Council of Churches (WCC), thus introducing me into the ecumenical movement. I was so sure that I wanted to do this work, so I put in all my effort, even though there were so many hurdles. God held my hand at each stage to jump over the hurdles, leading to growth.  

The World Day of Prayer Ghana Committee is hosted by the Women and Gender Programme of the CCG, so in 2001 when I became the Programme Coordinator of the unit, I was highly involved in the movement and became the Liaison Officer. I attended my first International Meeting in Swanick 2003, and I marveled at the commitment of women to prayer and prayerful actions all over the World. At the 2007 Toronto meeting, I was more convinced that I had a role to play in this movement but I still felt the time was not ripe yet. At the 2012 New York meeting, I was nominated to be a Regional Representative for Africa. I won the election, together with Henriette from Cameroon. At our first Executive Committee meeting in New York, I said that the time had come for Africa to tell the world that we are capable. And indeed, in the Brazil 2017 meeting, we showcased the achievements of Africa and our mandate was renewed to serve a second term through 2022. 

I remember when I answered the call to present myself to serve the Movement as the Chairperson from 2022 – 2027. It was at an Executive Committee meeting in Ossining, New York, in 2018, and I felt a burden lifted off me. And today, the call is answered. 

“What can I offer the movement?” is one question that I have asked myself in the last few days. I have prayed about it. I have so many things on my heart and mind but I will focus on 2 major priorities. 

My first priority is to build a strong movement, with a focus on sustaining the World Day of Prayer into another hundred years. I will be very intentional with young women’s involvement at all levels, from the National to the Regional to the International. This can be done when young women identify with the WDP Guiding Principles, buy into them, and commit to them. We could have virtual sessions with young women, and provide the space and enabling environment for them to operate. Young women have so much to offer, and I will support them.  

My second priority is to explore innovative ways of getting all national committees to contribute their widow’s mite to the movement. This will allow us to build a strong financial foundation for the movement as we strive to build on the work and ministry of our predecessors. 
​

At this moment, I humbly request all members of this movement to support me, as together we can make a difference. I hear the assurance of God to me in the book of the prophet Isaiah:  

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, 
    whose right hand I have grasped 
to subdue nations before him 
    and to strip kings of their robes, 
to open doors before him-- 
    and the gates shall not be closed: 
I will go before you 
    and level the mountains;I will break in pieces the doors of bronze 
    and cut through the bars of iron; 
I will give you the treasures of darkness 
    and riches hidden in secret places, 
so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, 
    the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 
For the sake of my servant Jacob 
    and Israel my chosen, 
I call you by your name; 
    I give you a title, though you do not know me. 
I am the Lord, and there is no other. (Isaiah: 45:1-5) ​
Surely, if God chooses you, He will prepare the way for you. Just seek His face and listen to His direction. ​
- Joyce Larko Steiner, WDPIC Chairperson
6 Comments
Eilís O’Malley
7/7/2022 12:35:29 am

Congrats on your appointment as International President of WDP. I was our National President 2009 - 2014 here in Ireland. I was at the New York Conference where I met some wonderful woman. I also attended the European Conference in Salzburg in 2014. Gods Blessing as you start this new phase of your life.

Reply
Samukelisiwe Coka - South African Association Women Graduates link
8/21/2022 10:24:53 pm

ILet me congratulate you in your Chairpersonship for the WDP, may you take us through Transformation post-Covid 19 which has challenged us everywhere to transform now. We wish you the best as we pray that Africa will benefit from your leadership as we continue to be grabbling with a number of challenges. The theme is relevant and right in time. Through God's Word, love, Power, Trust your leadership will take us through.

Reply
Teknik Komputer link
1/6/2023 09:13:29 am

How can you come up with these lyrics? Visit <a href="https://journals.telkomuniversity.ac.id/">tel u</a>

Reply
Arcico Weldy S. link
1/23/2023 06:30:59 am

Thank for the information, please visit
<a href=https://ittelkom-sby.ac.id/>VisitUs</a>

Reply
hot celebrities link
3/2/2023 11:20:27 am

good

Reply
Mulenga Simaanya - Zambia
2/23/2024 02:58:01 am

Congratulations mum. You are such a blessing

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2025
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    June 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016

    Categories

    All
    A Word From WDPIC
    Events
    Fund For Tomorrow
    Global Conversations
    Job Opportunities
    Prayerful Actions
    Thursdays In Black
    WDP Celebrations
    Writer Committee

    RSS Feed

475 Riverside Drive, Room 729
New York, NY 10115 USA
E: [email protected]
​H: M-F 9am-5pm EST
Home Image: Thatch roof huts on beach in the Cook Islands © WDPIC
Site powered by Weebly. Managed by Lunarpages
  • Home
  • About
    • International Committee >
      • WDPIC History
      • International Meeting 2017
      • International Meeting 2022
    • Executive Committee
    • Staff
    • Contact
  • Program
    • Journals
    • Fund for Tomorrow >
      • Honored Women
    • Guiding Principles
    • How to organize your worship service
    • Themes & Writers
    • WDP at a Glance
  • Cook Islands 2025
  • Latest News
  • Members