Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) continues to be a strong support system for missionaries, but don’t think that is all there is to the group’s ministry, said Candace McIntosh, executive director.
“Alabama WMU is continually seeking new ways to involve our membership in reaching out to the people in their communities, state, nation and world,” she said during her Nov. 15 report to messengers at the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting.
Some missions and ministry opportunities highlighted by Alabama WMU include poverty-related projects, disaster relief-related ministries and school-related activities.
In the area of disaster relief, Alabama WMU assists with child care at disaster sites. The group also is working with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions office of men’s ministries and disaster relief to develop a plan for calling out medical personnel after a disaster.
Alabama WMU also has trained and equipped Baptists statewide to share God’s love with women and families through WMU’s Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) program, McIntosh said. More than 500 women participated in CWJC programs in Alabama this past year and of those, 218 accepted Christ as Savior, she added.
In the group’s parish nursing program, more than 300 nurses have been trained to work with their pastor to meet the physical and spiritual needs of their congregation, McIntosh said. “They also work to reach outside their church to bring in nonbelievers.”
In the area of education, Alabama WMU promotes missions education in local churches for preschoolers through adults.
Education also comes in the form of training and enrichment opportunities for WMU and women’s ministry leaders, McIntosh said. Alabama WMU also provides scholarships for women pursuing a graduate degree through seminary or divinity school. “We are committed to investing in … identifying and training young women for now and the future.”
And when it comes to missions, Alabama WMU is building prayer support for missionaries, as well as encouraging churches to participate in the seasonal weeks of prayer and giving, McIntosh said, adding that WMU also promotes giving through the Cooperative Program.
She said Alabama WMU helps individuals directly encounter missions with chances to meet missionaries at events and by having women lead training events for women in Alabama’s partnership countries of Guatemala and Ukraine.
Another opportunity comes for campers visiting Alabama WMU’s camp, WorldSong, 20 miles east of Birmingham. “Each year, more than 10,000 campers utilize these grounds as a place to retreat,” McIntosh said. “And more than 1,700 campers … experience … missions.
“Alabama [WMU] understands the need for every person to hear and respond to the gospel and to obey God’s command to share the gospel with the world through our words and actions.”
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