Five Alabama youths are going to earn the opportunity to experience the international missions field firsthand if they read the newly published book “Hootie,” by retired international missionary Jim Oliver.
In January, Oliver’s book was published and now he has started a contest in conjunction with Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and the Challengers arm of Men’s Ministries of the Alabama Baptist State Convention. Every youth who reads “Hootie” is challenged to write an essay based on the “Parable of the Hidden Treasure in the Field” found in Matthew 13:44. The deadline to enter is Sept. 21.
After the essays and applications are reviewed, 12 to 15 finalists will be interviewed and then two Challengers, two Acteens and one youth from a church youth program will be chosen to go on a trip to the islands of San Andres and Providence to retrace the steps of the boy in the book.
The youths will meet missionaries and give their testimonies in churches in San Andres and Providence islands. The youths will be accompanied on their journey by Oliver and his wife, Marilyn, and Bob and Louise Franklin. Franklin is the former associational missionary to Montgomery Baptist Association and is now employed at the North American Mission Board.
“I have always worked with RAs (Royal Ambassadors) and I always had trouble getting them to quiet down and listen,” Oliver said.
Contest applications and the novel “Hootie” may be obtained from Alabama WMU or the Men’s Ministries office at P.O. Box 11870, Montgomery, AL 36111. Contest applications may also be printed from the Web site: www.alabama.woman.com.
For more information about the novel, contact WMU at 1-800-264-1225. (WMU)
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