Missions stories from Africa, Asia and the Americas highlighted the 125th anniversary celebration of the national Woman’s Missionary Union during their 2013 Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting, June 9-10 in Houston, Texas.
In addition, 2013-14 marks the 100th anniversary of missions education for girls (Girls’ Auxiliary, Girls in Action and Acteens) as well as the 25th anniversary of WMU’s Second Century Fund, which was birthed at WMU’s centennial to fund leadership training for women worldwide.
Johnny Rumbough, director of missions for Lexington (S.C.) Association and outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions (renamed Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders), said he was “very pleased” to announce a new partnership between the group and WMU.
Rumbough said the directors of missions organization was expected to adopt not only a new name, but also a new leadership structure including associational leaders and representatives from four SBC entities and WMU. Associations will now also be a part of WMU’s week of prayer emphasis.
WMU representatives reelected Debby Akerman, a member of Ocean View Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach, as WMU president.
In her address, Akerman said WMU celebrates 125 years because it has “stayed true to those missional core values given by God and fleshed out by [its] foremothers.”
Influenced by more than 30 years as a GA leader, Akerman led participants to recite pledges, special songs and other mission education components before sharing written testimonies of the impact WMU has had on women and girls.
“Let us commit anew to radically challenge Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God as we look forward to what God will do through WMU in the next 125 years,” Akerman said.
Next year’s WMU annual meeting is set for June 8-9 in Baltimore.
— Shannon Baker is national correspondent of BaptistLIFE, the news journal of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Laura Fielding is a writer for the International Mission Board.