Serving Globally
Brenda Halk is a Strategic Associate serving in the role of Women’s Initiatives Facilitator. She works with CBM’s global church partners to train and equip women to be effective agents of change at home, in the church and within the wider community. Brenda employs her skills and knowledge gained from the workplace and in her volunteer leadership capacities to provide strategic direction to a global network of women that will mentor and support emerging female leaders in their local contexts.
In addition to being the former President of both CBM (2009-2012) and Canadian Baptist Women, Brenda has extensive experience as both an educator and entrepreneur. Before joining CBM in this role, Brenda operated several businesses in the Waterloo, Ontario area. Prior to that, she worked with the Waterloo District School Board specializing in special education.
Latest Ministry Updates
All our work is ministry unto the Lord: Introducing CO323
Col: 3:23”Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters.” Under the Co323 brand, we continue to develop Marketplace ministries with both the Waddell and Guthrie families focusing on this in the Philippines. Marketplace Ministries involves fostering new initiatives, training partners to engage in the marketplace, linking business people, investing and supporting strategically in people and places as we seek to integrate faith and work. It is a cross cutting theme that is seen in much of what we do. In October, we will launch 323 Collective, an online store. The
Double Your Impact!
In April and May I attended the conferences of CBWOQ and ABW in Mississauga and Moncton. Workshops were presented on Marketplace Ministries highlighting the work of several of our Global Field Staff in this area and our continued scarf project that supports the Self Help Groups and Urban Muslim ministries in Eastleigh, Nairobi. The project continues to be a source of income for the Self Help Groups and an amazing link between Canadian and Kenyan women. The Hands Extended Group, Victoria Road Baptist Church, Dartmouth has sold more than 100 scarves supporting the women’s microcredit business in Kenya and
Introducing Cheryl Bear
Cheryl Bear an award winning musician, author and theologian has partnered with CBM this year to bring focus to the issues of indigenous women in Northern BC Canada. Cheryl is a band councillor of the Nadleh Whut’en community in Northern BC. In June, Cheryl’s Ontario tour visited Ottawa, Lakefield, Mississauga and Toronto. Cheryl also embarked on an artist tour in Bolivia to see CBM’s work and hear more about the issues facing indigenous women in their own communities. About Brenda Halk Brenda Halk is a Strategic Associate serving in the role
UN Commission on the Status of Women
In March I attended the CSW in New York. This Year’s the theme “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the changing world of work”. The Commission partners with NGO’s from around the world focusing on the status, rights and empowerment of all women and girls, everywhere. The world of work is changing fast, spurred by innovation, globalization and increasing human mobility. At the same time, it is adversely impacted by climate change, humanitarian crises, rising informality of labour and economic inequality. For sustainable and healthy economies, the world of work must empower women and remove the persisting inequalities that hold women
She Matters Retreat
In January 2017 a team of women visited Rwanda as part of the She Matters advocacy campaign. Here they witnessed firsthand CBM’s literacy programs and women’s empowermen, but above all else spent time building relationships with African Women. Two thirds of uneducated children are girls. She Matters supports CBM programs which seek to equip, empower and enrich women’s lives. Literacy programs, support for indigenous children in India, School fees and support for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS are only a few of the areas that benefit from She Matters. About Brenda Halk
Women Mentoring Women
Building Bridges between women of Canadian Baptist Churches and the African Christian Church and Schools. On January 29, 7 female clergy gathered together in Mississauga to learn about the women pastors in Thika, Kenya and to plan for a mentoring program. The women will mutually benefit from shared prayer, devotions, support and encouragement. “Pamoja” (which means “together’ in Swahili) was formed. Erica Kenny (CBM global field staff in Kenya) introduced the ACC&S (African Christian Church and Schools) CBM’s oldest partner in Kenya. Today it consists of more than 200 churches spread throughout Kenya. The women face many
