Tag: Australian Baptist Women

Jenny Baxter, State Leader, EmpowHer takes a moment to wonder.

“Look at this, girls,” Dad said, his brown eyes sparkling. He held out an old British book, its cover worn but magical. “This was my book, when I was a boy.”

THE WONDER BOOK OF WONDERS was emblazoned across the front, and it featured a faded illustration of a polar bear and cub beneath the dancing aurora borealis.

As teens, my sister and I helped Dad clear out the garage before moving house, and he had found a box of his old things. As we sorted through the treasured memories in the box, the book was unrivalled. It unveiled a world of extraordinary images: a man standing in near-boiling waters surrounded by ice, mysterious Easter Island heads on a hillside, the ancient Pyramids of Giza, and—would you believe it—a man wearing a helmet of live honeycomb, bees and all!

We were transfixed.

Oh My, Oh My!

Do you ever catch your breath in awe at some unexpected and awe-inspiring sight? Those moments can stop you in your tracks and remind you how extraordinary life really is.

The Hebrew word for “wonders” is pala` (pah-lah), meaning miracle, marvel—something beyond human ability to achieve. Pala`crops up 109 times in the NIV Bible as the writers express God’s almighty power, signs and wonders.

Just as in biblical times, we experience awe, often captivated by the world around us. Even a sight as common as clouds on the horizon can create a sense of wonder as they change and shape-shift in the light of the setting sun. Or thunderstorms painting dramatic landscapes with lightning bolts. We’ve even have incredible delicate “equipment”—eyes to witness the beauty, and ears to hear nature’s symphony.

Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
Job 13: 15, 16 NIV

You can Wonder about Wonder

Wonder isn’t just about what we see—it’s also about what we imagine, what we question.

“I wonder what I’ll have for dinner?” A daily Wonder.

“What the world will look like in 2074?” A serious Wonder.

“I wonder what God’s plan is for my life?” A very deep Wonder.

In the Bible, Mary’s moment of wonder captures this perfectly: When the angel appeared, she was greatly troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this might be (Luke 1:29 NIV). Wondering keeps us curious, and alive to possibility. Forget about Wonder Woman — we can become Wondering Women!

Having the ability to wonder is evidence of you being a complex individual in a complex world. You are truly wonder-full.

The Day of Wonder

During the Day of Wonder women willl gather to considerall these wonderings, and more. So this is your invitation to come along to Riverlands in Longford on Saturday 29 March 2025!

The remarkable Melissa Lipsett, CEO of Baptist World Aid, will bring encouragement as she wonders about the seasons of life. What will your life look like in 2025 and beyond? This might be a sliding doors moment for you.

We will also hear briefly from three Tasmanian Baptist women as they reflect on their own experience of Wonder. Anthea Maynard, Kristen Cox and Maggie Perkins will all have insightful reflections and stories about their experience of WONDER.

In addition to light-bulb moments, there will be scrumptious food, and a feast of engagement and connection.

Register for the Day of Wonder HERE. Registrations are $60, and due by 28 February 2025. From 1 March, a $10 late fee will be charged, and there may be a waitlist in place.

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Jenny Baxter is the State Leader for Tasmanian Baptists’ EmpowHer. She and her husband Stephen, have five grown-up children and all of a sudden, seven grandchildren! As a Professional Overthinker and an Amateur Adventurer, she heads off for thoughtful walks in the great (un)known just about every day. She also loves to engage with women around Tasmania as a mentor/coach.

Jenny Baxter
State Director, EmpowHer
jenny@tasbaptists.org.au

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To find out about EmpowHer events and activities for women in Tasmania, subscribe to HEARTLANDS EmpowHer News.

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Tasmanian State Leader Jenny Baxter explains why Australian Baptist Women began, and how things have changed.

In the early days in Tasmania, there were some heroic women who led the ministry in during the depression when cars were still few, telephones a luxury item, and most communication was done by mail!

Setting the scene

Australian Baptist Women (ABW) has been an entity since the 1930s. When the national body began, it aimed to provide opportunities for Baptist women to gather and connect. ABW was formed separately to the infant Australian Baptist Ministries, which began a few years earlier in 1926.

Nationally, ABW State leaders were appointed. This handful of women oversaw the ministry in each state and territory, gathering annually until 2020. Around that time, independent of one another, the states/territories gradually ceased those positions, with the exception of Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania.

20th-Century ministry?

No thanks!

After over a decade with no Tasmanian leader, I was appointed in 2017. By then, many Tasmanian Baptist women’s ministries had wound down. I soon discovered there was little appetite for returning to 20th Century-style women’s ministry.

Nationally, things were moving. Covid disrupted plans for the ABW national meeting in 2021, and then came a series of online discussions, think-tanks and brainstorms. But nothing seemed to fly. The question was: How do we continue to support Baptist women, when state Unions are less inclined to appoint ABW state leaders?

THE QUESTION: How do we continue to support Baptist women, when state Unions are less inclined to appoint ABW state leaders?

Moving onto 2023

In May this year, the National Council Taskforce gathered in Sydney. There was intense and robust discussion about women and women’s ministry. However, good decisions were made.

Soon afterwards, National Ministries Director Mark Wison, made an official announcement.

As a result of this announcement, ABW officially ceased to exist:

The clear decision of National Council is that ABW, as a delegated body, is not the desired way forward for the State Leaders and National Council Taskforce. This decision is due to a number of factors including lack of agreement on purpose/scope, lack of buy-in from state associations [unions], changing understandings of needs and the inconsistency with how other delegated bodies operate. National Council has a desire to bring this group to an end well and recognises there might be different responses from current ABW group members. Some may feel disappointed or hurt, others relieved or even excited about the change.

Mark Wilson continued …

I want to affirm that this in no way says National Council is not committed to developing and supporting women leaders . . . National Council is creating a new delegated body, specifically focused on Women in Leadership. This is a new group and will involve representatives appointed by each state association [union].

What does this mean for us?

In God’s goodness, we Tasmanians were ahead of the curve!

Since 2021 a statewide team consisting of Wendy Marston (Newstead), Jenna Blackwell (City, Launceston), Gabe Fife (Ulverstone), and myself (Hobart) have met, mostly on Zoom (and very rarely in-person!)

EmpowHer became our new name.

EmpowHer Vision:

A network of women growing and encouraging each other in their God-given potential.

EmpowHer Mission:

Providing community, training, and support for Tasmanian women to empower them to move into leadership, and to take their God-given place within the Baptist churches of Tasmania.

I look forward to this new era as we further develop EmpowHer.
Here is what’s happening next …

Day of Courage

The Day of Courage in November will be the first statewide event in this new paradigm. We are looking forward to hosting as many women as possible at Riverlnds (Longford). All women are welcome!

Women’s National Taskforce

I will also work with the National Taskforce to help develop the newly delegated body, focussing on women in leadership.

The team and I value your prayers as we lead and encourage women around Tasmania.

Jenny Baxter
State Director, EmpowHer
jenny@tasbaptists.org.au