Leaders of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and women’s ministry groups recently had a chance to share their experiences with each other, as well as receive some valuable training.
Alabama WMU held its annual Women’s Leadership Training & Enrichment conference at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega July 21–23.
More than 500 leaders of WMU programs for all ages gathered for training, as well as a new Friday-night missions and ministry forum.
“This part of the weekend was well received and created an excitement and energy that continued to build throughout the weekend,” said Alabama WMU Executive Director Candace McIntosh.
This was the second year that training for both WMU and women’s ministry leaders was held simultaneously, and according to McIntosh, that blend has been quite successful. “I am encouraged by the sweet spirit of cooperation and desire to lead with excellence,” she said.
Gail McCollum, a member of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, in Tuscaloosa Baptist Association, came to the conference hoping to get ideas to help her as a Women on Mission leader.
“I’ve never attended this conference before and didn’t know what to expect, but it was so much more than I could have imagined,” she said. “I’m going home with some great ideas.”
Basic and next-level workshops were offered for church and associational leaders.
Basic topics included beginning and sustaining women’s ministry and Women on Mission groups, planning a calendar and budget and effectively publicizing groups and events.
Next-level topics included tips for teaching women to study the Bible, ideas for missions and ministry and plans for a year’s worth of Women on Mission meetings.
Special-interest workshops were offered simultaneously on numerous topics including prayer, lifestyle evangelism, crisis ministry, care giving and mentoring. In one special-interest session, author Barbara Joiner talked about her recently published book, “The Story of Martha Myers.”
Joiner, a member of First Baptist Church, Columbiana, in Shelby Baptist Associtaion and longtime WMU leader and speaker, shared the story of Myers, an International Mission Board worker from Alabama who was murdered in Yemen in 2002.
In addition to training and special-interest workshops, general worship sessions encouraged the women to Live the Call — the theme for the weekend. Missionaries from around the world shared their testimony.
And Ron and Becky Parnell, volunteers with Alabama WMU’s Temporary Emergency Child Care, reported on that group’s work with Hurricane Katrina victims.
Participants also heard from and worshiped with Katrina survivor Kathy Lee, who led the worship music.
She told of her family’s evacuation from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where she was a conference planner and her husband was a professor.
“There are some songs I couldn’t sing for a while after Katrina,” Lee said before singing her favorite hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.” Her husband is now deployed as a Navy chaplain, and she and her two sons live in Mobile.
Sandy Wisdom Martin, Illinois director of women’s missions and ministries, taught the worship-session Bible studies. She reminded the audience that grace redeems, sustains and assures. Martin also challenged the women to examine their calendar and eliminate unnecessary activities so they could “live the call” with joy and grace.
“We need to be grace-full Christians so that people can’t help being drawn to Jesus,” she said.
A highlight of the weekend was the presentation of 15 emerging leaders, girls in grades 9–12 who have been recognized as leaders in their church and were invited to participate in the yearlong Emerging Leaders program.
According to Faith McDonald, Alabama WMU students and ministries consultant, each girl was chosen based on leadership ability and potential. She said the 4-year-old program gives participants the opportunity to associate with other girls with similar interests and abilities as they receive encouragement and training in several aspects of leadership.
Rosalie Hunt, president of Alabama WMU, said the conference equipped Alabama Baptist women to live God’s call to follow the Great Commission.
“Alabama women have been a vital part of world missions for over 150 years and they haven’t slowed down,” she said. “The coming year in Alabama WMU will offer increased and innovative opportunities for missions involvement, not just here in Alabama but to ‘the ends of the earth.’”
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