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WEWMAG
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EDITOR IN CHIEF JACQUELINE ANI ASSISTANT EDITOR TAMIKA PUSEY-SQUIRE
CONTACT US magazine@empworedwoman.org.uk VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.wewmagazine.com
WINTER 2019 WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN
Editor's Message | 3
Hi Ladies, Though the end of the year is fast approaching we still have a bit of time to achieve final goals and think about how we navigate our lives through 2020. As America celebrates Thanksgiving in November, and the world celebrates Christmas in December, why not use this festive holiday period to read some of the exciting articles published in this seasons WEW Magazine. Wai-yee Schmidt is our Woman Stepping Out! She discusses Who We Are in Christ and how knowing our true identity is the basis for a successful life moving forward. Allen McPherson gives insight on what he went through as a Prodigal and how his wife’s prayers led him back home. We have some great articles on the prophetic and why The School of Prophets is as important as it was during the Elisha period. A new season is fast approaching and I would like to encourage you as women to think of new ideas that you would like to develop in the New Year or even now. What are these ideas? What strategies should be in place to navigate these ideas to produce successful initiatives for the Kingdom? 2019 has been a very eventful year for me, what about you? Why not reflect on your year and what you would like to take forward into 2020, lessons you’ve learnt about yourself in 2019 and what promises of God you have been waiting for and now ready to manifest in the New Year. Finally, I would like to thank all our contributors, readers and supporters. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Letter From
THE EDITOR
Jacqueline Ani Prophetess Jacqueline Ani Editor-In-Chief Women Empowering Women Magazine
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CONTENTS
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WHOLENESS
Chasing After God 7
Doubt, Unbelief & Fear 10 Forgiveness 15
SPIRITUAL ETIQUETTE
Confidence in The Living God 18 The Role of the 21st Century Prophet 31
Why is the School of Prophets needed in these times? 34
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LIFESTYLE Going For Gold 36 The Masks are Falling 40 Healthing Living Lifestyle 44
W COVER FEATURE
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SPECIAL FEATURES
Stepping Out with Wai-Yee Schmidt 23
When I Fell She Stood 48
The Old Pot Belly Stove 52
Successful Women after 50 56
48
The Mentoring Group 60 Forgiveness 15
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DOUBT, UNBELIEF & FEAR By Lisa Trujillo
The words Doubt, Unbelief and Fear are three of the biggest lies told by the enemy to all who chose to believe in God. As, Christians we are primary targets of the enemy. If you are walking with God whether a new Christian or a seasoned one, you will experience adversity and if you are not constantly, consistently in your word these emotions will overtake your mind and cause you to stumble. Why are these feelings so powerful, how can they cause so much turmoil in our minds? Simple answer, we give them too much power. Like anything else that has control over us we simply allow it (them) to rule our lives. Doubt, unbelief and fear are weapon’s the enemy uses against us to keep us OUT of the will of the Father. We need to understand these emotions are what, the enemy uses against us. Doubt is such a heavy emotion it can cause stagnation in our movement in life, we must learn how to overcome this emotion. The book of James specifically speaks to this behaviour, gives direction and consequences if we allow it to continue in our lives. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. - James 1:6-8 NIV When we make a request or a decision stand firm on the results: We will see the glory of the Lord Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?- John 11:40 Amplified
WINTER 2019 WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN
Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Unbelief is such a big deal, we swing back in forth sometimes daily believing and then not in something we so desperately want to come to pass in our lives. We are all guilty of this and even in the bible it speaks of this...of a father, of a demon possessed boy Jesus said to him, “[You say to Me,] ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” Mark 9:23-25 Amplified Bible (AMP) This is why it is extremely important to focus on all things God because He is our motivator, our Saviour, our everything and when we take our eyes off of Him (God) and onto the natural, we are immediately swallowed up by the things of this world. Jesus, fusses at us about our unbelief: “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” - Mark 9:19 New International Version (NIV) There must come a time in Christian lives to plant your feet in firm BELIEF in what the word says, for if we do not, we will miss out on many blessings. If these principals were not important there would not be so much focus on it in the word. As you read the Bible, you will find many repetitive stories told, WHY, because it important for us to get it, God knew that we need to hear a thing more than once to fully grasp it or even remember it. He created us and He knows what his children need.
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e h t f o e l The Ro
PROPH 21ST CENTUARY
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SPIRITUAL ETIQUETTE
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here is much that has been spoken on the office of the prophet within the past ten to fifteen years. Many church leaders have tried to encapsulate the fullness of the office but no matter how sincere they are the Office of the Prophet seems far too elusive for any one person to fully grasp and convey, for we see in part. Many hold great revelation on the Office of the Prophet but until we come together and combine that which we have learned from the Godhead and see in Scripture and historical data we will be slightly shortsighted in our understanding of the prophetic office and function.
HET By Prophet Tracy Pelt
A good definition of prophet is one who is sent by God with the authority to speak on His behalf. Inherent in this definition, is 1) the prophet must be sent by God 2) He walks in an unusual authority and 3) He has a message from God. This simple definition will eliminate many of whom have been labeled prophets, either by themselves or others. A prophet without inherent authority and a message beyond repent is no prophet. I know that ruffled a lot of feathers. Many think because they preach repentance they have the right to the title prophet, unfortunately, that is not the case. Repentance is the baseline of every prophet’s message but the message must move
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beyond repentance to an equipping message for the Body of Christ. Simply put, prophets are equippers and they serve to equip the Body of Christ in a variety of ways. The intent of this article is to provide some understanding for the 21st century prophet concerning their role and function. For the sake of brevity, I will limit my discussion to four aspects of prophetic functioning. Please understand, that even though one may be a prophet, the grace will be determined by the measure of the gift that has been given to that prophet, according to Ephesians 4:7. All will not operate in the same measure and grace.
Equip, Identify, Raise, and Train other prophets Even the briefest glance at Ephesians 4:714, allows the astute person to see that prophets should be helping to equip and mature the Body alongside the other five-fold functionaries. As we follow the ministry of Samuel, the prophet, we find that prophets have the ability to identify other graces and usher them into their respective roles. This aspect of the prophet’s mantle works through well under the auspices of relationship. This is why many prophets mentor other prophets through Schools of the prophet and the like. They delight in raising up prophets and watching them flow freely as a prophetic vessel. One con of this prophetic type is that they can be somewhat controlling if they don’t fully submit their gift to the Holy Spirit. These are the governing prophets.
Lead others into the Presence of God For most prophets, there is no place they would rather be than in the Presence of the Lord. This is where we thrive. This is where we make our home. Most prophets possess musical ability to some degree. But there are those who are simply graced to lead others into the Presence of God. It truly is where they make their home. They sing, they worship. They draw others into an intimate place with the Lord. A singer will sing and go but these prophets will take you with them as they ascend the heights of Heaven in worship. They understand that particular sounds release the prophetic into the atmosphere and that is where healings, deliverance, and breakthroughs happen.
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THE MASKS A
Mental Illness and Suicide
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n September 9, 2019, Jarrid Wilson, associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, ended his life by suicide. This author, mental health advocate and church leader struggled with mental illness for a very long time. He co-created a non-profit called Anthem of Hope, which is a Christian mental health organization that was created to assist those battling many mental health issues to include depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide. Pastor Wilson lost his battle to the very issue that he had helped so many to overcome.
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LIFESTYLE
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Depression, anxiety, brokenness, self healing to others, but many don’t realize harm and suicide. These are all issues that that they must first heal and bring hope to may be associated with someone that works on themselves. Wall Street or unfortunately many high school There is a saying, “The Mind is a students; however, these issues are affecting Battlefield.” This is truly an honest perception. many of our clergy today. Not only are they Before we can bring, healing to others, we affecting the clergy, many are must first bring it to ourselves. struggling with mental illness One key element is spending in silence. There are countless enough quite time with God. " 57% of pastors pastors that have decided that Our faith and trust in God is suicide is the only alternative acknowledged that key to our healing. Giving Him for the daily struggles that they every aspect of our brokenness if they had other on a consistent basis leads to are facing. In the past ten years, many The main issue is qualifications they healing. prominent pastors of churches believing that there is nothing here in the United States have to hard for God to heal. would quit" taken own lives. Leaving their Another issue that can families and congregations lead to depression and anxiety asking so many questions. Why did this among clergy is financial instability. Many happen? How did we not see this coming? pastors don’t receive a salary, and some have Where do I stand in my faith? These are only a other full-time jobs. Trying to balance home, few of the questions that many have pondered. family and ministry can be very daunting. However, so often these questions have gone Financial issues can add a mountain of stress to unanswered. a pastor. Some receive receive salary, but they In 2010, the New York Times published and don’t receive emotional support from their
RE FALLING
e Among the Clergy article with some very startling statistics. 57% of pastors acknowledged that if they had other qualifications they would quit their current profession as a pastor; 45% said they suffered from depression due to the inability financially to take a vacation or even being able to express to their congregations the need to take a much needed break; 33% have experienced burnout, while 25% stated they had no support system to discuss their own personal issues. These numbers may astonish you, but it is indicative of why many pastors experience breakdowns, thoughts of suicide, and ultimately take their own life. They are attempting to bring hope and
By Mary Elam
congregations. Pastors deal with the spiritual and emotional maturity of their members and yet they have no one to share their hearts with on a daily basis. They don’t have anyone to talk to in regard to their walk with God. Church members often feel that their pastor is superhuman. They have a skewed view of their leaders. Pastors have struggles. They need support and they need prayer. Unfortunately, many suffer in silence for fear that will be misunderstood. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide has increased by 30% since 2016 and in that year alone over 40,000 people took their life. Mental illness is www.wewmagazine.com
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Debbie Flores Arizona, USA
The Mentoring Group for International Women (TMGIW) has been the training ground for truly developing my leadership qualities. In my opinion, it is a group that has provided a platform for the application of discipleship and wisdom of the Living Word, which reflects in the relationship between a solid group of women that all desire growth in all areas of their lives. When I joined the leadership team as a moderator, mentor and administrator, I had the opportunity to be challenged in a way to grow as a leader mainly through the observation of other leaders, namely Jacqueline Ani, my personal mentor. The modelling of a leader in close contact, behind the scenes, in the development of the group itself, has allowed me personal insight and learning opportunities that are valuable in the personal growth as an individual and leader myself. Being able to grab a hold of a vision and execute in the ways that focus on building a solid foundation and maintaining that through consistent discipline, administration, and prayer has been invaluable. The application of wisdom is the most important leadership quality that I believe TMGIW has allowed me to not only apply to my own personal life, but also demonstrate as a leader in the group. All the teachings in this group have focused on this – no matter the teaching on marriage, discipleship, healing, deliverance, prayer, life management – this has been the major development for me as a leader, where I can glean from what I learn through the Word of God, a prophetic message, and a teaching from those gifted from God, and that it is applied in myself, in my home, in my relationships, and in the TMGIW group. The group has also allowed me to develop relationships among the leadership and women as a whole that taps into various personalities, spiritual gifts, and different lifestyles and perspective. Due to its international focus, this opens up my viewpoint to not only see differences in personality,
"It has been my training ground"
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but also culture and lifestyle differences. At the same time seeing the differences, show me the commonality across the board, and that is the power of God’s love and message counter to any culture. This allows me to have exposure as a leader that is truly special in the sense that we make connections and relationships around the world that adds to my understanding of people and relationships in the context of our lives to be empowered and overcome. Lastly, the TMGIW group has allowed me to pay forward what I gained personally through mentorship. Through the development and growth of mentorship from Jacqueline Ani and the other relationships among the leaders, I have been challenged to take what I am mentored on in my gifting, skills, processes and experiences to pay forward and learn how to powerfully convey it in a way that opens up avenues of expression which I did not have before – through speaking, writing, and training, I have been able to mentor other women to overcome and grow in their own lives as well, and eventually to continue to be raised up as leaders in their own communities as well.
Deb bie
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