Your recent editorial in The Alabama Baptist (Feb. 17) addressed some challenges facing Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). While some of your observations are correct, allow me to clarify several areas that will enable Alabama Baptists to pray specifically, not only for me, but for all the leadership of WMU.
First of all, WMU is more than an organization for women. It is a family of organizations that embraces preschoolers, children, youth and adults, allowing us to be a missions catalyst for the entire congregation. Our organization for women, Women on Mission, is more than a monthly meeting. A recent survey of 500 Women on Mission facilitators revealed more than 200 local ministries in which women are involved.
Nationally, Christian Women’s Job Corps, Volunteer Connection, Habitat for Humanity and Project HELP involve thousands of women each year.
Your statement that in the past “every WMU woman had to have a subscription (to our magazine) in order to effectively participate in the organization” is just as true today. The key phrase is “effectively participate.” In order to have a holistic learning experience, Missions Mosaic is used alongside group participation and hands-on ministry. Our research shows women who read Missions Mosaic are more likely to say Women on Mission is stimulating and worthwhile. Our challenge is for each woman to see the need for her own subscription to Missions Mosaic. Just as Women on Mission is more than a monthly meeting, the curriculum in Missions Mosaic is more than a meeting plan. While it does contain planning helps for meetings, it inspires women to be engaged in missions on their own.
Secondly, while it is true WMU incurred a budget deficit of approximately $300,000 last year, a large portion of it was due to our commitment to build seven Habitat for Humanity houses and to fund training for WMU leadership. The WMU Foundation is working aggressively to secure funding that will enable WMU to continue such projects while providing financial stability.
And thirdly, the focus of WMU has and will continue to be uniquely missions. It is true that women’s ministries in many state conventions has been assigned to the WMU leadership. We view this as an opportunity for the women in a state to see Women on Mission and women’s ministries, not as competitors, but as parallel ministries providing a broad array of opportunities for women in the church.
The prayers of Alabama Baptists, and all Southern Baptists, are crucial to fulfilling our missions purpose. Our best and most challenging days are ahead.
Wanda Lee
Executive Director
Woman’s Missionary Union
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