MISSION FOCUS:

To empower a woman is to empower a family. To empower a family is to empower a community. To empower a community is to empower a nation. Studies have shown that the economic empowerment of women has been proven to have a crucial impact that extends for generations. American Baptist Women’s Ministries is directly involved in the economic empowerment of women through grants to organizations and microloans to individuals, allowing women to support themselves, their families, and their communities.
 
For Your Study

• UN Women (United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women)—Economic Empowerment. See the UN’s international commitments supporting women’s economic empowerment.
• Kristof, Nicholas D., and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Vintage, 2010. Available through Amazon (Using this Amazon link helps support AB Women's Ministries. Thank you!).

 
AB Women’s Ministries Involvement

• Micro-lending to women in Myanmar and Nagaland, to empower impoverished women to begin a business to support their families.
• Books and tuition for strip dancers going to school to advance their education so they can pursue other employment, in partnership with American Baptist women at Eastwood Baptist Church in Medford, Oregon.
• Micro-lending to Baptist women in Haiti to support entrepreneurship as Haitians continue to rebuild their nation after the devastating earthquake of 2010.

 
Taking Action

• Donations to the Women and Girls Mission Fund help support the economic empowerment of women and girls.
• Visit the websites of the following organizations to explore their work in economic empowerment. Perhaps you or your women’s ministries will find ways to be involve:  The Criterion Institute, Ecumenical Church Loan Fund International, Bread for the World, Church World Service, Heifer International, Kiva.
• Study your own community. Who are the vulnerable women and girls in your area? Are there projects already in existence that could use your time or financial support? If not, how might you or your women’s ministry be called to reach out a helping hand?
• University Height Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri, has been directly involved in helping people escape "the debt trap" created by payday and title loan companies. Here's how your church can help too.