BOLTON AND ROCHDALE METHODIST DISTRICT

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Bolton and Rochdale District Network

District Network Officers

In the summer of 1987 Women's Fellowship and Women's Work were combined under the umbrella of "Network".  It's aims are to Encourage, enable and equip.  Rosemary Wass who spearheaded the change said, "The umbrella is not a refuge, it is a 'Service Station' of our Christian life."

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The Women's Network of the Methodist Church aims to encourage, enable and equip women to participate fully in the life of the Church and in society.

It does this through:

• Training in specific skills

• Conferences and events on issues and themes

• Different styles of worship and ideas for worship

• Campaigns in which women may be actively involved

• Provision of information about other groups and resources

• Mutual support through all of the above

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During 2009-11 Bolton & Rochdale District Women’s Network is supporting the

Community Health-Care and Development Project being undertaken by the Nixon Memorial Methodist Hospital in Sierra Leone

bringing locally based health care to twenty villages in a radius of 40 miles of the hospital, to people who are in very real need.  

Facilities in these villages are extremely basic, people are very poor, roads are bad, and maternal and infant mortality rates are second highest in the world. 

One aim of the project is to provide a safe birthing room and basic equipment to enable the traditional birth assistants to help women give birth safely in hygienic conditions.

Another is to help the villagers build more hygienic sanitation facilities to help prevent the spread of endemic diseases.

In a desperately poor country project costs are high; the villagers are helping to provide local materials and labour, the hospital is providing substantial funding, but outside help is urgently needed.  

      The Rev. Anne Cash, District Network President, successfully completed her Sponsored Walk on July 15th to raise funds for this Community Development Project being organised by the Nixon Memorial Methodist Hospital in the Njaluahun Chiefdom of Sierra Leone. This project will bring tremendous benefit in their villages to some of the poorest people in a country struggling to recover from the ten year civil war, for whom the Nixon is the only medical centre in a radius of 40 miles.

Anne is very grateful to all who have sponsored her and given support in a variety of ways. Sponsor money can be sent via Anne - cheques made out to Bolton & Rochdale District Women's Network (marked on the back 'Nixon Memorial hospital') - to Rev. Anne Cash  4 Green Bank, Bolton, BL2 3NG.

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"MAGNET"

Christian magazine MAGNET reaches out to broader Church

Magnet magazine, which until now has been published by the Methodist Church, is to be published by its own independent charity, Magnet Resources, with the aim of reaching a wider ecumenical audience. It has a committed readership of 13,000 each quarter and is produced by a team of volunteer editors.

The current Winter issue includes an exclusive article by the author of The Shack, Wm Paul Young. He writes: 'This issue of Magnet deals, in my opinion, with the two most fundamental spiritual questions that occupy the mind and heart of every human being: of God.'Who is this God, really?' and of the human creation: 'Who is this human being, really?'

Magnet is known for colourful and thoughtful meditation pages, its seasonal worship resources, insightful and stimulating features, Bible study and prayer focus. It is of value both to individuals in their personal spiritual journeys and to leaders of worship, Bible study and house groups.

The magazine started in 1987 as the magazine of the Women's Network of the Methodist Church and the initiative has taken place with the full support and blessing of the church. Independence will allow the new charity to market the magazine to members of other denominations and those with an interest in spiritual matters but no formal church allegiance. There are also plans to develop and sell other resources such as poster sets, resource packs, booklets and cards through the new website www.ourmagnet.co.uk

Lynne Ling, Business Manager, says: 'This move gives Magnet editorial independence and makes the magazine far more accessible to readers outside the Methodist Church. We remain committed, however, to providing the informative, challenging and inspirational material valued by our present readership.'

 The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, says; "This is an exciting time for Magnet, and a fantastic opportunity to bring their high-quality material to an even broader audience. We wish them well and look forward to enjoying the magazine as it grows and develops."

Journalists and readers can phone 0844 736 2524 or email felicity@ourmagnet.co.uk for a free copy and can subscribe online at http://www.ourmagnet.co.uk .