From 29th May – 2nd June approximately 140 women (and a few men) from 36 countries, including USA and India, gathered in the Stephansstift Centre in Hannover, Germany for the European Baptist Women's Union (EBWU) quinquennial conference. Tony Peck, General Secretary of EBF and his wife Alison, Regina Claas, President of the BU of Germany, Patsy Davis, Director and Raquel Contreras, President of the BWA Women’s Department were among the guests. The theme was ‘Stand Up and Live’, based on the life of Hannah. Our main speaker was Raquel who encouraged and challenged us during her three sessions – Hannah & Penninah; Hannah & Elkanah; Hannah & her church. We learned ‘Hannah’s Song’ specially written for the conference, the music being provided by Birgit and Claudia.

As part of the programme there were 6 workshops on ‘Social Ministry in Hannover’; ‘My Dream Life’; ‘With All My Soul, Body and Spirit’; ‘Fair Trade, Micah Challenge and More – How Christians can Help to Fight Poverty; ‘How Hannah Learned to Stand Up and Live – A Bibliodrama’; and ‘When God Laughs with Us: Spirituality and the Gift of Humour. There was also a time of sharing from a few of the countries represented.

An important part of the conference was the Business Meeting, the main item of which was the election of a new EBWU Committee. The new officers are Aniko Ujvari – President, Wies Dijkstra – Vice President, Fabienne Seguin – Treasurer, Synnove Angen and Dimitrina Oprenova – Additional Members, and Margaret Brown – Secretary. These women were elected for the term 2013 – 2018, all being well.

Old friendships were renewed and new ones formed. There were times to sit and chat, also to pray together, and to learn from one another.

The climax of the whole conference was the Sunday morning Communion Service in the church at Stephansstift. Regina Claas spoke from Luke 13:10-13 about the woman who was bent over and couldn’t straighten up, until Jesus came and healed her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” She was healed, she was able to ‘Stand up and Live’. The Lord’s Supper was celebrated and the new Officers dedicated. There was a real sense of the Lord’s presence among us.

Photos: Jaap Dijkstra