Leaders of Texas and national WMU formalized their commitment to provide bilingual missions education materials to Korean Southern Baptist churches by signing a three-year agreement on Aug. 28.
From left: Nelda Seal, intentional interim director, WMU of Texas; Wanda Lee, executive director/treasurer, national WMU; Angela Kim, Korean consultant, WMU of Texas and national WMU; and Carol Causey, missions resource center director, national WMU.The project began in 2007 as a pilot between the state and national WMU organization to meet a specific need in Korean Southern Baptist churches for missions education materials in both Korean and English for preschoolers and children, according to Carol Causey, missions resource center director for national WMU.
Angela Kim, Korean consultant for both WMU organizations and editorial coordinator for the Korean curriculum project, along with Carolyn Porterfield, former executive director-treasurer of WMU of Texas, presented a proposal and strategic plan to national WMU that outlined the need. Today, following just one year of making these materials available, Mission Friends and Children in Action organizations in Korean churches have grown exponentially.
Kim explains, “Most adults in?cultural churches in North America speak their own languages; however, they are limited in English-speaking teachers, and usually the first-generation adults?with limited English comprehension have to prepare the lessons?using?English?curriculum.?WMU has been sensitive to this need and responded with materials for the first-generation teachers who are teaching the second generation using both their own language and English.”
The formal agreement calls for Texas WMU to handle logistics, including layout and design, printing and distribution, while national WMU will lend their expertise in curriculum development and help fund the project with a $10,000 grant paid annually for the next three years.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Texas WMU and for the visionary leadership of Angela Kim,” said Wanda Lee, executive director/treasurer of national WMU. “The opportunity to couple our expertise in developing missions education materials with her expertise related to needs in Korean churches enables us to provide materials that are culturally relevant and eagerly used.”
Kim, who also serves as WMU committee chair?for the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America, added, “Most Korean churches are?very much interested in missions today, but they?have not?had?the framework for ongoing missions education or materials where the children?can grow up learning about missions. The concept is new to them and has been very well received.”
Causey said that in addition to preschool and children’s materials, bilingual resources for Korean adults are being developed.
“National WMU remains committed to expanding missions involvement with emerging audiences, and this project provides us with a good model for other bilingual resources,” Causey said. “Our hope is that other states will join us with similar projects to engage a larger multicultural audience in missions.”