The 2010 Woman’s Missionary Union annual meeting was held March 19-20 at Ashley River Baptist Church, Charleston. Under the theme, “In?du?bi?ta?ble,” more than 500 women from 37 associations participated in the weekend event that included mission education, testimonies, and organizational business.
National WMU president Kaye Miller encouraged attendees to listen for God’s call to missions.“My dream for the meeting was one where people would be challenged to pray more, give more, and go more than they ever have before,” said Laurie Register, South Carolina WMU executive director-treasurer.
A meeting highlight was the celebration of the partnership between South Carolina WMU and the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation. Over the last six years, more than 300 South Carolina volunteers on more than 20 missions teams have traveled to Jamaica. Four additional mission trips are planned between now and the end of the partnership on Dec. 31. Thirteen women from the Jamaica Baptist Federation participated in the annual meeting and provided entertainment during a reception.
“This past year alone we had 109 people on seven teams serve in Jamaica, which exceeded our goal. What a joy it is to hear the stories, see the smiles and the relationships that have developed,” Register said.
The theme word “indubitable” – defined as “impossible to doubt; unquestionable” – was used in each session, along with the phrase “God’s love for all peoples.” North American Mission Board (NAMB) and International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries spoke about their work in sharing God’s love with people at home and abroad.
Karina America is a South Carolina native serving as a NAMB-appointed missionary in New Orleans. She is the assistant director of Baptist Friendship House, an urban ministry to homeless women and children, helping them feel valued and loved. “I want to thank WMU for being Baptist Friendship House’s biggest supporter,” America said.
An IMB-appointed missionary family serving in an unidentified country in central Asia shared about their experiences with the nationals to whom they minister. In their location, they have distributed tuberculosis medication, cleared snowy roads, and shared American holiday traditions with curious nationals while sharing the gospel. They thanked WMU for the financial gifts, prayers, and encouragement they have received.
Karina America (right) is a South Carolina native serving as a NAMB-appointed missionary in New Orleans.Kaye Miller, national WMU president, encouraged attendees to listen for God’s call to missions in their own lives where they are on their own mission field. “WMU encourages believers to be radical about telling others about Jesus, about mission education and involvement. There is a certain call because of his indubitable call to us.”
WMU is seeing growth potential with younger women. Register reported that in the past year, WMU has added 100 new organizations in 41 churches and plans to start new Women on Mission groups this year. “I believe that people are looking for ways to be involved, and they are finding that WMU is that place in which they can serve,” Register said.
Teenagers Hannah and Elizabeth Legendre shared testimonies during the meeting about their commitments through Youth on Mission and to become a Sojourner, respectively. That is exciting news to Ann Shelton, assistant director of the WMU group from First Baptist Church, Columbia, who also attended the meeting.
“Students are doing a wonderful job of testifying about their faith. It is wonderful to be on mission to tell others about Jesus,” Shelton said.
The 2008-2009 Annual Church Profile reported that South Carolina WMU had a total membership of 74,695. Fourteen associations and 111 churches were recognized for completing sufficient categories within the WMU’s “Triple A” measurement tool. South Carolina Baptists gave $8.3 million to the 2009 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and $3.6 million to the 2009 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. – SCBC