In this context, women in crisis is a collective term for trafficked women (sex slaves), prostitutes and battered women. I didn't do anything further with the idea, but later the Danish Missionary Council Development Department (DMR-U), which administers DANIDA funds, suggested that we could apply for money for a South-South conference between our partners in two Central Asian countries as their work for women in crisis is in many ways identical.
The South-South conference has just ended and was placed just before another conference in the region, where leaders from the persecuted Central Asian church and Western partners met. Here the idea of a network could be presented to other interested parties. And so it was that the Danish European Mission applied for and received DKK 75,000 from DANIDA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to cover travel expenses, accommodation and conference fees for a number of employees from two of our partner organizations, so they could meet and exchange experiences and participate in the regional conference. It took place at a secret location for security reasons.
The partners could unfold
The partners were tasked with leading large parts of the program so that they themselves were involved in the process as much as possible and could talk directly about experiences, methods, best practices, relationships with authorities, persecution, challenges, professional issues. They found areas where they could learn from each other and share resources.
Our partners help women in crisis with shelter, medical care, advocacy, counseling and job training. The recipients of help are very grateful for this tangible way God's love is shown.
Inspirer in the persecuted church
I am very grateful that Pastor Niels Peder Nielsen, President of the Danish European Mission, would make his ministry available for this conference. God used Pastor Niels Peder to give our partners words from the Bible and taught from the Bible on day two. Our partners were clearly touched, comforted and encouraged by the Word and the Spirit.
I am very grateful to God for the opportunity that opened up for this conference. When the exchange of experiences is not only in headlines but in detail, the differences come to light and the partners could see differences in methods and thus also learn from each other how one did the work in a better way than the other and vice versa. Secondly, we could introduce the possibility of networking to our partners so that they can keep the line warm, pray concretely for each other and support each other professionally.
The conference was very much noticed at the subsequent large regional conference where leaders who have been working in Central Asia for many years attended and welcomed the initiative.
Facts - kWinds are treated like animals
Muhammad said that women are worth as much as camels, and Islam coupled with the local culture forms the basis for a sick oppression of women. One of the woman's tasks is to satisfy the man sexually and, for example, some teenage girls are raped - and even nowadays forced to marry the perpetrator. This is also called bride theft.
