WMU leaders discuss Christ-following, missions work during annual meeting

WMU leaders discuss Christ-following, missions work during annual meeting

Missionaries, Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) leaders and others explored what it means to be Christ-followers during WMU’s 2004 annual meeting June 13–14 in Indianapolis.

Through music, dramatic presentations, videos, testimonies and inspirational messages from North American and international missionaries, the 850 women registered were challenged to carry the message of Christ and disciple new believers in their communities, throughout the United States and around the world.

“All true followers of Christ desire more than anything else to be like Christ,” WMU President Janet Hoffman told attendees. “To imitate Christ, one must be intimate with Christ, and that is nourished through daily prayer and study of His Word.”

Christian believers who are like Christ are more interested in being than doing, but those who love Christ intimately begin to serve Him by serving others, she added.

“Following Christ is love in action,” she said. “In loving, we are most like Him because Christ is love. Love for each other will prove to the world that we are His.”

Beth Ann Williams, women’s ministry consultant for Utah-Idaho Baptists, encouraged participants to prayerfully support the efforts of WMU-sponsored volunteers and others who will minister during the summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

A self-described “Olympics junkie,” Williams coordinated 1,300 volunteers from 21 states who engaged in creative ministry during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Rebecca Carnell, literacy missions consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, received the Dellanna O’Brien Award for Women’s Leadership Development.

She recalled attending a life-changing WMU annual meeting in 1992. Deeply moved by the testimony of a man who called it “a miracle” that he had been taught to read as an adult, Carnell made a commitment to return home and use the training she had already received to teach others to read.

Since then, she said, God also has given her opportunities to teach literacy and English as a second language as well as train others to do so. For the past six years, Carnell has served part time as a Mission Service Corps volunteer and part time as literacy consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

WMU Executive Director Wanda Lee announced that an offering of $6,950 was collected for the WMU Vision Fund Sunday evening.

Sara Ross Clayton of Georgia received the 2004 Dr. Martha Myers GA Alumnae of Distinction Award.

Laurita Miller, dramatist from Pelham, presented biblical monologues at each session, portraying Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Dorcas of Joppa and Lydia. Miller’s husband, David, joined her in portraying Aquila and Priscilla.

Missionaries also explained how they’ve sought to follow Christ.

Missionary moments

Native American Alpha Goombi shared how she wallowed in pain from abuse as a child and low self-esteem until one day she hit bottom. She decided to accept the invitation of a missionary who had invited her to attend a Baptist Indian mission.

When the invitation was extended, “I ran forward and gave my heart to Jesus and I have never been the same,” she recalled. “In me, God saw a princess.”

Today, she serves as a missionary in Omaha, Neb. She concluded her presentation using Native American sign language to interpret the Lord’s Prayer.

Harriet and Paul Lawrence, Southern Baptist missionaries to North Africa and the Middle East, told of the danger and unique challenges of serving in Gaza and the West Bank of Jordan. They spoke on near misses by both Israeli and Palestinian bombs.

“We love the Lord too much to fear following Him,” said Harriet.

“In spite of the hardship, it is worth it to follow Him,” added Paul.

Barbara and Harry Bush, Southern Baptist missionaries to South Asia, told of “equipping God’s leaders” by providing biblical training to Christian leaders in nine nations. About 1,600 people have received such leadership training, resulting in 16,000 baptisms and 285 new churches in the nine nations.

Milton and Mary Jane Allred, Southern Baptist missionaries to the Mixteca Indians in Mexico, described their ministry and their plan to pursue reaching the Mixteca stateside when they retire at the end of this month.

Dena McAnally, missionary to Peru, testified of her work among the Ashinica people group in the Peruvian jungle.

She referred to them as “precious people who lead a simple life” as hunters and gatherers and live in fear of evil spirits.

She said there are now a growing number of Ashinica Christians and she and her husband are discipling them and training them to share the gospel throughout the area.

In business matters, Hoffman was re-elected as national WMU president. Kathy Hillman of Waco, Texas, was elected to a first term as recording secretary, succeeding Yolanda Calderon of California.