Alabama WMU conference encourages women to know who they are, live their call

Alabama WMU conference encourages women to know who they are, live their call

Today give yourself completely to the Lord. For a while, leave the cares of this world behind and be present spiritually, mentally and physically in every moment.”

This was the challenge given to the 416 women of all ages who gathered for the Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) fourth

annual Renew … One Day conference at First Baptist Church, Pelham, on Feb. 27.

And according to the evaluation cards, more than 220 women said they took up that challenge and God spoke to them.

One of those was Tina Sumpter, a member of First Baptist Church, Springville.

“God’s been talking to me since the minute this conference started about getting myself out of the way and following Him,” she said.

And throughout each session, that message continued to resonate with her. “It’s about a new level of selfless living, to be willing to do anything He asks of me,” Sumpter said. “It’s really going to change a lot of me to follow what He’s said to me today.”

The conference was characterized by 17 breakout sessions, music by Shelley Jennings and large group sessions led by Tollie Meggs, founder of Out of the Boat Ministries in Tuscaloosa.

“Love Him with all you have and all you are, and whatever that looks like as it spills out of you will glorify God in a way you can’t even imagine,” Meggs told the women in the closing session. “And can I say this — let it start today.”

Because it’s about more than just being a “pew-sitter,” she added.

“The truth of the matter is unless the Lord returns immediately … we’ve got work to do. If He continues to tarry, there’s a big ole world, and the vast majority of people in it don’t know about Him. It’s time we, in the body of Christ, begin to live with a sense of urgency.”

For Lauri Williams, a member of First, Pelham, that was just the reminder she needed.

“We get so caught up in our daily lives with our families or kids or things that come, and so it’s important to just have that reminder that Christ should be first in our lives,” she said. “No matter what happens or what activity may come, He is our light and is to remain our focus throughout that day and every day.”

Sumpter said the event provided just the break she needed to be able to readjust her focus back to God.

“It feels like a retreat even though it’s only been one day,” she said. “It’s a break from all the responsibility I have at home — to focus on seeing God’s will and hearing His voice.”

And that was just the point, said Lucretia Mobbs, missions and ministry consultant for Alabama WMU.

“All believers need to have a time of spiritual renewal and women in particular because we are so many things to so many people,” she said. “Women have a harder time saying, ‘no,’ and our plates get full so easily that we can get spiritually dry real quick. … Our prayer was that this would be a day they could come back to that the Lord had changed them forever, and I’m hoping and praying that’s the case.”

For more information about Alabama WMU events, visit www.alawoman.com.