Approximately 150 Southern Baptist leaders, family members and friends from across the country gathered in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 11 to honor Wanda Lee and her leadership of national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) over the past 20 years — 16 as executive director and four as president.
In January, Lee announced her intention to retire.
Frank S. Page said he got to know Lee in 2010 when he assumed his current role as president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive Committee.
Page recited Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?
“I believe Wanda Lee has exhibited that great trio of imperatives from our Lord,” Page said. “I believe she has done what is right, what is just. She is merciful and many of you are the recipients of her mercy and ministry in your own life. She is a strategist, an organizational genius, yet is always humble and gives credit to those around her. I am honored to call her my friend and I thank God for her.”
Resolution for Lee
During a resolution of appreciation given to Lee during the SBC annual meeting, Page told messengers, “During Wanda’s tenure, over $3 billion has been given to missions while she was at the helm of WMU,” with more than $2 billion raised for international missions and nearly $1 billion for North American missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, respectively, in conjunction with the SBC’s two mission boards, state conventions and local churches.
Final report to SBC
In Lee’s final report to SBC annual meeting messengers, Lee said, “It is our desire to partner with every Southern Baptist church in discipling preschoolers, children, youth and adults by engaging them in meaningful missions involvement right in their own communities or on the other side of the world; to support those who go to the nations for a lifetime with our praying and giving; and to accept the mandate of the Great Commission in whatever way God calls us.”
The North American Mission Board and International Mission Board both donated $15,000 to the Wanda Lee Joy Fund in her honor. These along with other donations bring the total given to this fund over the past six months to more than $62,000. The Wanda Lee Joy Fund benefits a solid financial foundation for the operational expenses of national WMU.
Lee told those at the WMU reception, “I believe just as strongly today as I did 16 years ago that WMU is important to the Kingdom. We have the opportunity to make a difference. Our charge first and foremost is to be a light to the nations. There is strength in our union. There is strength in our collective purpose of missions. May our song be a song for the nations.”
(BP)
Share with others: