Beautiful Feet promotes prayer for missionaries with Alabama ties

Women who have ties to Alabama and are serving as international missionaries now have a new title — “sole mate.”
   
And for these “sole mates,” their concerns and needs have become the objects of the prayers of Alabama women through Beautiful Feet.
   
Begun by Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) in July, Beautiful Feet encourages groups of two or more women to choose a missionary with Alabama ties and intercede on her behalf as she adjusts to life on the missions field.
   
“As the executive director (of Alabama WMU), my heart has been burdened for a specific prayer project for the women of Alabama,” said Executive Director Candace McIntosh. 
   
“As I have had opportunities to visit with our overseas missionaries, I have become more aware of how challenging it is for individuals and families to adjust to the culture of the country they are called to serve.”
   
Some recommended prayer requests include the missionary’s adjustment to the new culture, any family relationships or friendships, relationships within the community and with her fellow workers, the people God is calling to Himself through the missionary’s work and her emotional, physical and spiritual health.
   
Brittney Gardner, Alabama WMU communications specialist, said missionaries submit their names for adoption. So far, 76 “sole mates” have been chosen, and others are waiting, she said. Missionaries from all of the International Mission Board’s regions of service except one have signed up, including Last Frontier missionaries.
   
Because of security concerns with the Last Frontier missionaries, “we leave it up to the missionary as to how much contact she feels comfortable with,” Gardner said.
  
The adopted missionary is given the name and contact information of the women who are praying for her and can then decide how much contact to have with the group.
   
The adopting groups are given the name or initials of their missionary, along with instructions on communicating with a missionary in a high-security area, to help lower the risk if a Last Frontier missionary does contact the group.
   
Gardner said Beautiful Feet is scheduled to last until July 2006 but “has the potential to continue beyond that.”
   
Groups interested in adopting a missionary may contact Erin Jacks at Alabama WMU by calling 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 325, or by e-mailing ejacks@alsbom.org