Happy Birthday, WorldSong!” was the theme of the celebratory video shown during the state convention report of Candace McIntosh, executive director of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). WorldSong Missions Place, the summer camp owned and operated by Alabama WMU, celebrated 20 years this summer.
WorldSong is located in Cook Springs, just 20 miles east of Birmingham at the base of Bald Mountain. More than 500 staff members and more than 20,000 summer missions campers have found spiritual refuge in WorldSong’s 620-acre campus, McIntosh said.
“The true beauty of WorldSong is in the transformation of lives that takes place on this campus,” she said.
Church groups and religious organizations utilize the campus buildings throughout the year. However, in June and July, these grounds are reserved for Alabama WMU’s Summer Missions Camp. “Summer Missions Camp provides a unique environment that introduces campers to Jesus Christ and teaches them about God’s heart for the people of the world,” McIntosh said.
She said more than 5,000 campers have asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior. More than 3,000 have felt the call to serve as missionaries, and 1,529 have surrendered their lives to full-time Christian vocations.
“The ministry of WorldSong continues to shape tender hearts of young girls and boys who understand what it means to give, to go and to pray,” she said.
“Thank you, Alabama Baptists, for entrusting us with the lives of your girls and boys. Thank you, pastors, for recognizing the importance of raising up Great Commission children and teenagers who will one day be the missions leaders in our churches,” McIntosh said.
This year, Alabama WMU also trained “more than 560 leaders through Equip … for Missions, for Ministry, for Life, the statewide training event held at Shocco Springs Conference Center in July,” according to the Book of Reports. Regional trainings were held at Five Points Baptist Church, Northport; Parkway Baptist Church, Auburn; and Thomasville Baptist Church during the month of August.
More than 470 women attended Alabama WMU’s annual missions event, Renew, One Day, held at First Baptist Church, Prattville, in February, according to the Book of Reports. And 600 girls and their leaders attended Complete, a gathering for girls in grades 7–12, at Valleydale Baptist Church, Birmingham.
According to the Book of Reports, Alabama WMU also assisted with disaster relief efforts following the April tornadoes by serving with the state’s child care unit in Rainsville and a child care team in Phil Campbell.
It also partnered with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions to care for ministers affected by the storms.
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