Rosemary Kempsell, Worldwide President of Mothers’ Union writing yesterday….
Back to Basics was the theme for the recent Mothers’ Union Marketing Conference that provided an opportunity for the organisations ‘marketing’ representatives to come together at the Hayes Centre in Derbyshire. Back to Basics means a return to previously held values and it is true that the vision that Mary Sumner had for the organisation in 1876 still remains important but it has been moulded and changed to be relevant to families in the twenty first century.
As you can read on the website (www.themothersunion.org)in 83 countries, our members share one heartfelt vision – to bring about a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. This is not a vague hope, but a goal we actively pursue through prayer, programmes, policy work and community relationships. By supporting marriage and family life, especially through times of adversity, we tackle the most urgent needs challenging relationships and communities.
Our members are not all mothers, or even all women: single, married, parents, grandparents, or young adults just beginning to express their social conscience. For all 4 million members what Mothers’ Union provides is a network through which they can serve Christ in their own community – through prayer, financial support and actively working at the grassroots level in programmes that meet local needs. We lobby local and national governments on issues affecting family life and campaign to challenge legislation that neglects the vulnerable and marginalised. We are also represented at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.”
The ‘Back to Basics’ Conference was an opportunity to learn new skills or practice old ones in the important task of getting the message over about the vision and achievements of Mothers’ Union worldwide to people both within the organisation but also outside of it. How do we turn telling everyone about Mothers’ Union into something that is manageable and achievable.
3 Questions formed the basis for everything that was discussed and thought about.
Who do you want to talk to? What do you want to say to them? How are you going to say it?
If you follow the link you can read our Annual Review giving a full account of the outreach of Mothers’ Union http://www.themothersunion.org/annualreview0405.aspx you will find plenty of facts to use when talking about Mothers’ Union.
We need a positive message. Positive people attract other positive people!
Rosemary