Ever find yourself fearful the next generation of young women won’t care about missions?
Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) can put your mind at ease.
During the March 7–8 COMPLETE 2008 conference for girls grades 7–12, Alabama WMU Executive Director Candace McIntosh was pleased with what she saw.
About 400 girls attended, worshiped, laughed and learned. And so did their leaders, McIntosh pointed out. This was the first year COMPLETE was held in conjunction with Renew … the Retreat, a conference for women also sponsored by Alabama WMU. Another 350 to 375 women participated in Renew. Both were held at First Baptist Church, Trussville.
“With the new format, the girls’ leaders won’t have to pick between going to the girls’ conference or their own conference,” McIntosh said. “They can be here with their girls but attend some of the Renew sessions as well.”
Krista Surtees, Acteens leader at Shades Crest Baptist Church, Bluff Park, agreed. “We have a new Acteens group that just started this year, and I want to be a part of the group’s activities, but in this case, I can go to both (the girls’ conference and women’s conference).”
‘Missions heart’
McIntosh also noted the encouragement the women receive from being around the girls. “It is good for the women to see girls growing up with a missions heart.”
Marilyn Brown from Westside Baptist Church, Boaz, said she loves hearing about missions and learned a lot at COMPLETE.
Brown was one of 21 from her church, four girls and 17 women.
Along with times for worship and testimonies from Baptist representatives serving around the world, those attending the COMPLETE and Renew conferences also participated in small-group sessions.
Sessions covered topics such as being sensible with MySpace, having a strong self-image and staying focused on Christ while in college for COMPLETE. Renew sessions covered topics such as dealing with life’s obstacles, finding joy after brokenness and living out one’s calling.
Both conferences offered sessions focused on developing a deeper relationship with God.
And that’s what 16-year-old Elizabeth Berg of Shades Crest Baptist said she took away from the conference. “This is not a pep rally type of event,” she said. “It stretches your understanding and gets you to dig deeper.”
Bible study leaders for the conference were Page Hughes (Renew) of Anchor Deep Ministries in Birmingham and Marty McGukin (COMPLETE) of Reverb Ministries in Villa Rica, Ga.
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