Please login to continue
Having Trouble Logging In?
Reset your password
Don't have an account?
Sign Up Now!
Sign Up for Free
Name
Email
Choose Password
Confirm Password

Jubilee Birthday

What is Jubilee Birthday?

The Jubilee Birthday Fund and Celebration was established by the ARP Woman’s Synodical Union in 1925, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the first ARP missionary, Miss Mary Galloway, in 1875. The word "jubilee" came from Leviticus 25:11: “The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you.” 

Female World Witness missionaries are selected by the ARP Women’s Ministries and supported by the Jubilee Birthday Fund, which is financially sustained through local-church Women's Ministries, Presbyterial, church-wide, and individual donations. 

Many ARP Churches invite one of the Jubilee Birthday Ladies, or other World Witness missionaries, to speak at annual missions events or women's gatherings. Customarily, these meetings are preceded or followed by a reception, luncheon, or dinner. Sometimes a birthday theme is carried out, and cake is served. An imaginative container or empty gift-wrapped box work well for receiving the offering.

In church-wide gatherings, children, in particular, enjoy meeting a missionary. Maps, bulletin boards and display tables can be used to provide information regarding the ministries of World Witness missionaries.

Jubilee Birthday Ladies uniquely represent women of the ARP Church in taking the Gospel message to the world. Your prayers and financial support for them is very encouraging.

Jubilee Birthday History

Shelia Osborne

Shelia and her husband, Jeff, were commissioned as missionaries with World Witness in 2001 for service in Mexico. Their ministry together included leading adult discipleship courses, training children’s workers, organizing Bible Clubs and hosting Short-Term Mission teams. In addition, Shelia led a women’s Bible study and taught English.

In 2009, they returned to the United States, where Shelia continues as a supported missionary based in the World Witness home office, serving as Short-Term Ministry & Development Coordinator and Liaison to ARP Women’s Ministries. She was selected by ARP Women’s Ministries as Jubilee Birthday Lady in 2013.

Rebekah Carson

Rebekah Carson joined World Witness in 2004 and began working with a church-planting team at the Family Center in former East Berlin, Germany. In 2012, she moved to Altglienicke, in the southeast of Berlin, to work with a church-planting team in children and youth ministry, as well as with national Christians in outreach and discipleship.

In 2000, Rebekah earned her B.A. in History and Christian Education from Erskine College. Prior to her commitment to World Witness, she served as Director of Christian Education at First Lancaster ARP Church. She was selected by ARP Women’s Ministries as Jubilee Birthday Lady in 2015.

Jubilee Resources to Download

Life and Letters of Mary Galloway Giffen,
pioneer missionary of the Associate Reformed Church.
Designed and Powered by WMTEK