EVENTS:

 
On Saturday, June 23, 2023, ABWM’s Be Strong, Be Courageous biennial Women and Girls’ Day program will be held at First Baptist Church of Caguas, in Caguas, Puerto Rico! Women and girls from across the country and Puerto Rico will gather for worship, fellowship, Bible study, and community service projects. Rev. Dr. Yamina Apolinaris will be the Bible study leader.


Location:
The Women and Girls Day will be held at the First Baptist Church of Caguas (Primera Iglesia Bautista de Caguas). The address is Av. José Gautier Benitez, Caguas, 00725, Puerto Rico.


Community Service
After lunch, participants may participate in a community service project for our sisters and brothers in Puerto Rico. When registering for Women and Girls’ Day, please select your first and second community service project choice. The options are:

• Creating emergency kits for hurricanes – We will be creating emergency kits for Corporación Milagros del Amor (CorMA), who will distribute the kits to the homeless in Puerto Rico. Each kit will include Solar lamp or flashlight, First Aid kit, Masks, Hand Sanitizer, Gloves, Light Sticks, Rain Coats (Ponchos), a Hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand wash cloth), Whistle, an Emergency blanket and Insect repellent. No travel is necessary, as the kits will be created at the church.
   
• Projects at Local School – Women and girls will have the opportunity to work on projects at Colegio Bautista de Caguas, a non-profit Christian educational institution that since 1950 has offered services to the community, and offers an education aimed at the cultivation of spiritual life. Transportation to and from is included in your Women’s Day registration fee.

To support our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico, we need volunteers to sign up to bring items with them for the kits. Our goal is to create 50 emergency kits. Sign up to bring items with you to Women and Girls’ Day or if you don’t have room in your suitcase, make a monetary gift by June 1, and we’ll purchase items that we need.

• Signup to bring items: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E4BAAAD23ABFB6-womens
• Make a monetary gift: https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_a686b5aa-cdec-11ea-96ab-0a4146b57d16&WidgetId=2458883072

Bible Study Leader: Rev. Dr. Yamina Apolinaris
The Rev. Dr. Yamina Apolinaris is a native of Puerto Rico. Rev. Apolinaris’ passion for ministry has led her through many different crossroads. She was the first woman with theological education to serve as a pastor within the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico. Rev. Dr. Apolinaris elected as the first woman President of the Baptist Churches of P.R (1981), served as director of National Ministries' Urban Strategies (1984-88) and serve as Executive Minister of ABC of Puerto Rico, the first and only woman in the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico to hold this position (and for the longest number of years).   In 2000 she moved to Madrid, Spain, where she served as a professor (Preaching/ Worship) and chaplain at the Baptist Theological Seminary, as a Commission Missionary for the Board of International Ministries, and earned a Master in Mediation and Family Counseling and completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in Family Relations at the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. In 2005, Rev. Dr. Apolinaris returned home to a demanding, exciting, and highly satisfying ministry with Corporación Milagros del Amor (CorMA), a Christian Center established by the First Baptist Church of Caguas (served until 2018). Since 2009 she has served as the representative from the Latin America Council of Churches (CLAI) to the International Committee to the Fellowship of the Least Coin; in October, she was re-elected for a two-year term as Chairperson of the Committee. Rev. Dr. Apolinaris served First Baptist Church of Caguas as Full-time Interim Senior Pastor (2018-2020) until her retirement. In 2022, the Seminario Evangélico de Puerto Rico honored her with a Doctorate Honoris Causa for her 50 years of outstanding ministry. Although retired, she remains active as a preacher, professor, workshop leader, and in ecumenical organizations.  

AB GIRLS Bible Study Leader: Rev. Dr. Jessica Lugo-Meléndez

Jessica Lugo-Meléndez is an Ordained Minister of the Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico, part of our American Baptist Churches. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was raised in the state of Florida. She's been married to Joel Diaz for 22 years, and together are the proud parents of Joel Antonio (20) and Joel Manuel (16). Currently, she teaches New Testament and Church History courses at the Alliance University-Seminary of PR campus while also teaching Business Administration courses at other universities. Revered Jessica Lugo is a bi-vocational pastor at the Primera Iglesia Bautista de Canóvanas and actively collaborates with her denomination participating as the chair of several committees. 

On her secular job, Lugo is an innovation strategist. She has a Doctorate Degree in Ministry from Liberty University with a specialization in Biblical Teaching and Preaching. She also has a Master's in Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the Ana G. Mendez University, PR Campus. Lastly, Lugo is a board member of the Association for Hispanic Theological Education (AETH), actively working on making theological education accessible to the lay, minister, and academic individuals. 

Register Today!
Register Now! – Please read the below information about registration. Click here to register.  Registration closes by June 1st. Registration fee:

• Onsite attendees registration: $50; $65 after May 1, 2023
• Virtual Registration: $30; $45 after May 1, 2023

Virtual Attendees – If you're unable to join onsite, we hope you'll be able to join virtually. Please note that the registration does not include community service projects. Onsite Attendees – By registering as an onsite attendee, you agree to the ABWM's safety guidelines to ensure the safety of all attendees:

• Masks will be required throughout the event
• Attendees agree to assess their health prior to attending the event. If you are not feeling well or have been in close contact in the last 14 days with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, please contact the ABWM office.
• On your arrival, you will be required to answer a few health screening questions (including having your temperature checked) and provide proof of vaccination.

By registering, you understand you could be exposed to and/or contract COVID-19, despite American Baptist Women's Ministries' efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19. By attending the event, you and any guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and agree not to hold the American Baptist Women's Ministries and its related event organizers liable for any illness or injury. 

COVID-19 Cancellation Policy – If COVID-19 makes it impossible to gather in-person safely, our event will be converted to an online only event. ABWM recommends purchasing trip insurance for your travel arrangements.

Cancellation Policy – Refunds forfeit a $20 processing fee. Written cancellation notice must be received by June 1, 2023. No refund notification requests will be honored after June 1, 2023. Written cancellation notices should be emailed to info@abwomensministries.org.



Scholarships for Girls 
Middle and high school girls are invited to attend Women and Girls Day to engage in activities with peers, worship, and participate in a community service project!  Click here to apply for a scholarship.