Approximately 2,350 girls in grades 7-12 and their leaders, along with some collegiate young women, gathered for “Blume,” where they were encouraged to appreciate their spiritual and missions heritage and consider ways they could share Christ with others and live a legacy of faith in their junior high, high school and college years.
Keynote speaker Chandra Peele, author and founder of Godly and Beautiful Ministries, told Blume participants: “You just never know what God has planned. Years from now we will see how the teaching and legacy of others shaped your life, and prepared you for what God has called you to do.”Blume, a missions event for teen girls sponsored by the national WMU, took place July 13-16 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Each general session featured high-energy music led by Christian recording artist Cindy Johnson, along with this year’s six national Acteens panelists; a message from author and keynote speaker Chandra Peele of Houston, Texas; messages from a host of international and North American missionaries; and theme interpretation through painting by artist Rianna Freeman of Lafayette, La.
A focus on “Living a Legacy” was introduced by the 2011 national Acteens panelists as they talked about the beginnings of WMU and the legacy of missions they enjoy today thanks to missions advocates in WMU who came before them. Each panelist also thanked a special woman who personally invested in her and taught her the importance of serving others and sharing Jesus.
Citing 2 Timothy 1:3-19 – the Scripture focus of Blume – keynote speaker Chandra Peele challenged each girl to fan the flame and not be afraid of sharing how Jesus had changed her life.
“Be confident,” she said. “Keep fanning the flame. You never know how God will use you.”
Combating human trafficking
Kym Mitchell and Suzanne Reece of national WMU introduced the Power Project, an avenue for Acteens to address human trafficking. In January, human trafficking awareness month, Acteens will be encouraged to learn about the issue, look around their community for ways to educate or minister, and plan a mission action project to do something about human trafficking.
Christian recording artist Cindy Johnson and her band from Winston-Salem, N.C., led in worship during the missions-focused Blume conference.During Blume, girls and their leaders learned about the reality of human trafficking through general sessions, an interactive experience called “Trafficked!”, and from missionary speakers who are addressing the issue now.
Kay Bennett, NAMB missionary and director of the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans, said that human trafficking, a $32-billion dollar industry, is the second largest criminal industry in the U.S.
“Ranking first is drug trafficking, and third is the sale of illegal weapons,” she continued. “While drugs and weapons are sold or used once, a human can be sold 15 to 30 times a day.”
Bennett shared that as many as 2.8 million children and teens leave home and live on the streets. Within 48 hours of leaving home, one-third of them will be sold into prostitution.
Ginger Smith, executive director of the Mission Centers of Houston, said they are also seeing many signs of human trafficking in her area.
“We are seeing things in Houston that we haven’t seen before,” Smith noted. “Things like billboards to end modern day slavery. We are hearing how you can get a girl for $2 at the corner cantina. But this is not just in the large cities – it’s in your town.”
During a breakout conference, Smith urged the girls to call the national hotline (1-888-373-7888) if they suspected a problem, but also gave other ways to help tackle sex trafficking and labor trafficking.
“You will leave knowing more about human trafficking than most in your church and your community, so go back and tell them about it and educate them,” Smith encouraged.
Rianna Freeman, freelance artist and instructor from Lafayette, La., offered Blume’s theme interpretations of 2 Timothy 1:3-19 by painting unique panels in each of the general sessions.‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
Belinda Baker (named changed here for security), a missionary serving in East Asia, told the girls how she came to minister to victims of human trafficking across the globe.
“I was not a believer growing up. I was mean – a real bully,” Baker said, adding that her father was an alcoholic.
“My sister consistently shared the gospel with me for four years and I finally accepted Christ at 27,” Baker shared. “I had never been joyful before that.”
Baker said shortly after her conversion, she was talking on the phone to an old friend who had grown up in a Baptist church. Hearing the joy in Baker’s voice, her childhood friend asked, “Belinda, have you been saved?”
Baker responded, “You know what that [being saved] is? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her friend, who had been a member of Girls in Action and Acteens, replied, “I thought you were the only person who couldn’t be saved.”
After that, Baker said she prayed the Lord would send her to people that no one thought could be saved.
“So God sent me to East Asia,” she continued. “He opened up my eyes to exploitation of women – the enslaved, the trapped, and those in brothels. My heart and passion is the gospel and that every woman enslaved in sexual sin would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loves them and wants them to have joy.”
Working with national believers, Baker goes to brothels with gift bags filled with scones, a Bible, a DVD, and other items to give to the women.
“Don’t be like that girl I knew who came to things like this [Blume] and didn’t tell me [about Jesus],” Baker admonished. “Go back to where you came from and you tell them about Jesus Christ. Go tell that mean girl.”
Exploring cultures
WMU partnered with Disney’s YES (Youth Education Series) program to provide an interactive cultural experience at Epcot customized for Blume participants.
As the girls “visited” three different countries, Epcot facilitators led the girls through interactive learning experiences that helped them to recognize that while there are differences among people around the world, there are also many commonalities that bring cultures and people together.
At each of the three featured countries, the girls also spent time with a Blume facilitator for a biblical component in which they explored the theme for Acteens this year – G3: The Power of a Girl to Change the World. G3 encourages girls to focus on three girls: herself, a girl next door, and a girl on the other side of the world.
WMU launched Acteens, a missions organization for girls in grades 7-12 in 1970. Through Acteens, girls are inspired and challenged to serve others and fulfill their part in God’s plan as they pray for and learn about other cultures and missionary work, both nationally and internationally.
Held every four to five years, Blume began in 1972 as the National Acteens Convention. NAC was re-envisioned as Blume in 2007. Girls do not have to be involved in Acteens to attend Blume. – WMU
Related: Iva teens changed by ‘Blume’ experience
Missions Education in? Southern Baptist Churches
WMU offers organizations and approaches, as well as ministries, that enable every member of the church to learn about missions, become involved in missions, and live a missional lifestyle.
Through the organizations and approaches, adults, students, children, and preschoolers learn about the work and needs of missionaries. There are opportunities to participate personally in missions projects as well as develop a missions lifestyle.
WMU missions organizations include:
– Mission Friends for children, birth through kindergarten
– GAs (Girls in Action) for girls grades 1-6
– RAs* (Royal Ambassadors) for boys grades 1-6
– Children in Action for children grades 1-6
– Acteens for girls grades 7-12
– Youth on Mission for youth grades 7-12
– Women on Mission and Sisters Who Care for women 35 and older
– Adults on Mission for men and women 18 and older
For more information: http://www.wmu.com.
*Transferring from North American Mission Board to WMU in 2011-2012