On March 7, 2026, the women of the Greifswald Adventist Church organized a special worship service. The hall had been festively decorated and tables set for the occasion.
The focus was on the theme of this year’s World Day of Prayer for Women, “Come, bring your burdens,” based on Matthew 11:28–30, which Christian women in Nigeria had chosen as their motto. Several short reports highlighted the challenges faced by women in Nigeria and other African countries, including discrimination, educational disparities, persecution, various forms of violence, and a lack of legal rights. Faith can help us share these heavy burdens with Jesus; we can support them through prayer and giving.
The information about the Open Doors prayer campaign “Arise Africa,” which has been running since May 2025 and aims to encourage, was particularly impressive. Numerous prayers were written on small slips of paper on the Sabbath and forwarded to Open Doors. The service concluded with prayers led by five women from the congregation in their native languages. The subsequent collection of approximately €650 was split equally and donated to two aid projects in Africa.
The food brought for the fellowship lunch was primarily prepared using African recipes. A selection of recipes had been distributed beforehand. What a colorful and delicious buffet!
God once again blessed us with wonderful weather, so the terrace and outdoor tables could be used for meals.
In the afternoon, there was a varied program. After singing some uplifting songs from the “Singing and Celebrating” section of our hymnbook, the approximately 40 women were in high spirits. This was followed by a half-hour guitar concert. Next came a performance by a children’s dance group, and finally, everyone got moving to international music under the guidance of a music teacher. This part could have gone on even longer, such was the good cheer it spread.
The event concluded with a lavishly set refreshment table. We give thanks to God, who blessed the day. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who actively supported the event and contributed to its success: the women in the kitchen, the helpers who set up the hall, the musicians, and the technician.