Nearly 200 people from across the nation — and a few from around the globe — made their way to Birmingham Jan. 7–9 for national Woman’s Missionary Union’s annual January board meeting.
Among other business items, board members set this year’s goals for the two national Southern Baptist Convention missions offerings.
The 2023 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions goal was approved for $200 million, up from $196 million in 2022. The 2024 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions goal will be $75 million, up from the current $70 million for 2023.
Board members also heard a challenge and a word of encouragement from national WMU Executive Director Sandy Wisdom-Martin.
Many moving parts
Wisdom-Martin compared a life lived in service to the Lord to the workings of a piano. A piano has many moving parts, she said, but they all play in concert for an audience of one “just like us.”
Piano strings also require tension, she added, and a piano’s sound relies on a mechanism that moves the internal hammers back into position as soon as they hit a string.
“Tension can change us,” Wisdom-Martin said, noting James 1:2–4. “But God can take the broken pieces and make something more beautiful. That gives me hope.”
‘Follow the model of Jesus’
Willie McLaurin, interim president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, preached during the Jan. 8 worship service and led a Jan. 7 breakout session on “Reignite Your Passion.”
McLaurin encouraged leaders to focus on a deeper intimacy with God, developing a passion for reaching the lost, improving their relational skills and persevering through difficulties.
Pointing to the meeting’s theme Scripture, Romans 12:12, McLaurin said, “Believers stay on task even in difficult situations … but difficult situations have a way of taking our passions away.
“Our vision must be based in reality, which includes difficult times, and difficult times require perseverance.”
But even in difficult times, believers are to rejoice in Christ, McLaurin said, noting Philippians 4:4.
“Create a climate of contentment,” he said. “Learn something new every day. Get some rest and relaxation. Finish strong.
“Follow the model of Jesus, who was engaged, then disengaged and then reengaged.”
‘Reinvest in future of WMU’
In her Jan. 9 address, WMU president Connie Dixon spoke to the past of WMU but focused primarily on the organization’s future.
“We need to reinvest in the future of WMU,” Dixon said. “We can’t just coast. We need to have the same attitude that our foremothers had — whatever it takes to assure every man, woman and child is taught missions discipleship; that all our churches are committed to compassion ministries; that we are constantly training up leaders for tomorrow in missions; and the importance of praying and giving to support our missionaries.”
National Acteens Panel, other presentations
Members of the 2023 National Acteens Panel were announced Jan. 9. Destiny MacCarthy, a member of Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Montgomery, will serve alongside Leslie Almonte of New Jersey; Alyssa McMillon of North Carolina; and Hannah Rickman and Isavela Montanez Ojeda, both of Texas.
Throughout the weekend, the group also heard from North American and international missionaries, WMU staff members showcasing various areas of work and David George, president of the WMU Foundation, who made a special surprise presentation to retired missionary and author Rosalie Hunt.
Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, spoke during a lunch presentation, and Todd Lafferty, executive vice president of the International Mission Board, closed out Jan. 8 with a dinner presentation.
Author Julie Busler, who serves as Oklahoma WMU president, also shared about her book “Joyful Sorrow.”
Other breakout sessions offered throughout the weekend built off the ideas of reset, reimagine and reinvigorate.
TAB editors speak to WMU
TAB Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Davis Rash and content editor Carrie Brown McWhorter were two of the many missions, ministry and media professionals who led workshops during national Woman’s Missionary Union’s January board meeting held Jan. 7–9 in Birmingham.
The meeting’s theme was “Regather,” since it was the first time leaders had been together in person since January 2020. The breakout sessions all built off the theme, focusing on ideas to reset, reimagine and reinvigorate in the coming year.
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