Birmingham’s award-winning news anchor Brenda Ladun delivered the keynote address for the 2003 missions celebration and annual meeting for national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU).
Meeting at the Phoenix Civic Center in Arizona June 15–16, the WMU meeting “Answer His Call” also launched a new day for Girls in Action (GA) and offered special receptions to meet missionaries.
Ladun, anchor for ABC’s 33/40, shared about her spiritual transformation as she fought breast cancer. Following her diagnosis, she wrote “Getting Better, Not Bitter” and received several national awards for her pioneer work in bringing breast cancer awareness to television viewers.
“Brenda is such an inspiration,” said Wanda Lee, executive director for national WMU. “As she shares her touching story, she relates first-hand how God can use our struggles and adversities to strengthen our faith, and through these difficult times, He can supply us with a reach that truly surpasses our understanding.”
“My battle with breast cancer was two years ago and, praise God, I am in remission,” Ladun told the WMU crowd. “[God] gave me every single thing I needed to carry me through,” she said.
During the days before her double mastectomy, Ladun was comforted by the Scripture Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart … .”
“We cannot possibly understand why bad things happen to us,” Ladun said. “The only thing we need in our lives from the beginning, during and in the end is the Lord Jesus Christ,” she said.
“The day of the surgery should have been the worst day of my life,” Ladun said. “But God turned it into the most beautiful day of my life. I wasn’t in charge; the Lord was in charge,” she said, noting her overachiever, “type A” personality always wanting to be in control.
Cancer ‘changed my life’
“That (day) changed my life. My experience with cancer gave me the opportunity to look at my life and get it right,” Ladun said. “God taught me that you don’t have to do all those things and make yourself weary.”
All God expects is for His children to love Him and tell people about Him, she noted.
“Cancer is the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said. “He changed my heart, my life and made me thank [Him] for everything He has given to me. I didn’t realize how wonderful and powerful the Lord Jesus Christ was until I had cancer.”
Now Ladun finds joy in each day. “Never doubt the Lord Jesus Christ because He is too good. He carries you through it all,” she said.
“In all that you do, remember life is a gift from God, and He wants you to take care of yourself. He wants you to serve others, but take care of yourself,” she said. “Get on that roller coaster for Christ and let Him lead you because it is an incredible journey.”
WMU leaders continued Ladun’s message of hope for the future by announcing the latest GA news.
“For over 90 years GAs has been ministering to girls,” said Mitzi Gibbs Eaker, ministry consultant for children at national WMU. “Today we have incorporated it into a new language for today’s girls.”
The new items for GAs includes a motto, a Scripture verse, a lifestyle verse and a pledge. “It is a new day for GAs,” Eaker said.
Lee also announced the installment of a new award “Dr. Martha Myers, GA Alumnae of Distinction Award” in memory of Montgomery’s Dr. Martha Myers, who died Dec. 30, 2002, when a gunman shot her and two other Southern Baptist missionaries in Yemen. “She got her start in GAs,” Lee said. “We are so grateful to the Myers family for allowing us to honor Dr. Martha (as she was called by those who knew her well) by naming an award in her memory.”
The award will be given annually beginning in 2004 to some GA alumnae who exhibits a missions lifestyle, dramatically influences lives through missions, ministry and/or civic duty and who could be a great role model for girls, Lee noted.
Don and Teri Caswell also shared their testimony of the tragedy in Yemen. Don Caswell was wounded in the shooting. The Caswells also shared about their decision to return to Yemen Aug. 1. “By His grace and mercy, we will stand,” Teri Caswell said. “God will walk us through. He has proven Himself to us.”
Another new aspect of this year’s meeting included a reception time with North American and international missionaries. Those attending the WMU Sunday afternoon session had the opportunity to talk with various missionaries and hear a word from International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin.
The evening of June 15, a Legacy Dessert Party hosted by national WMU and the WMU Foundation celebrated the legacy of missions.
Janet Hoffman was re-elected national WMU president and Yolanda Calderon was re-elected as recording secretary.
(Charlie Warren contributed
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