South Carolina’s Joy Cranford developed a love for missions as a young girl in GAs (Girls in Action) and has lived a life committed to sharing the love of Christ ever since.
“Joy credits GAs with her love for and involvement in missions,” said Betty Ann Rudisill, WMU director of Flint Hill Baptist Church. “Today she helps women in Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) experience hope and peace through scriptures, many that she learned as a GA.”
Cranford, a member of First Baptist Church, Fort Mill, served on the first advisory council for York County CWJC during the pilot year and was one of the first to serve as a mentor.
“Joy learned as a GA that ‘We’ve a Story to Tell,’ and she has made telling that story her life work,” said fellow church member Elizabeth Ford, a nationally certified trainer for Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps. Ford said Cranford has remained an active volunteer in the CWJC ministry for all 13 years of its existence in their association.
“Joy takes every opportunity to encourage the women in Bible study and toward a personal walk with Jesus Christ,” said Debbie Wieland, executive director of York County CWJC. “Joy lives out her love for Christ by sharing God’s love and compassion every day, and she challenges others to be on mission as she leads girls and women to opportunities [to serve].”
Cranford has served as GA leader and director in her church, GA director for the York Baptist Association, and GA consultant for South Carolina WMU. She currently serves on the executive board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
She has participated in several mission trips to China, teaches English as a second language, and helped nurses in her church to organize a chapter of Baptist Nursing Fellowship.
“Joy is not a healthcare professional, but she does have a heart of compassion and mercy,” said Amanda Davis, a registered nurse and fellow church member. “Thankfully, she is also very organized, and orchestrated most of the fine details in forming a chapter of BNF in Fort Mill. She is living proof that the lessons learned in GAs are not forgotten. She has continued to answer God’s call to go and tell the world of his great love for us.”
Mike Wallace, missions development director for York Association, who has worked with Cranford for the past 11 years, described her as eager and willing to serve in most any way needed.
“She serves with humility and a genuine transparency that is refreshing and needed in the kingdom work,” Wallace shared.
“I was blessed some time ago to hear Joy share some of her story,” Wallace continued. “She spoke of the role that GAs played in her life and her call to missions. She spoke with a joy on her face, as she remembered the days that she participated in GAs and the times as an adult when she has led GA groups in her church. She is a model of a life impacted by this great ministry and a life that gives back.”
Cranford was named this year’s recipient of the Martha Myers GA Alumna of Distinction Award during the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting on June 14 in Orlando, Fla.
Established in 2004, this award is given annually to recognize a GA alumna who influences the lives of others for Christ and serves as a positive role model for girls. It is named in honor of Myers, a medical missionary who served in Yemen for 24 years.
To learn more about Girls in Action, visit www.gapassport.com.