The 2009 Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Annual Meeting was held at Alice Drive Baptist Church, Sumter, March 27-28, under the theme “One.” The meeting included state business, missions reports from North American and International Mission Board missionaries, and missions opportunities happening through the South Carolina Baptist Convention (SCBC). This annual meeting also marked the first for Laurie Register in her new role as state WMU executive director-treasurer.
Using the theme word “One,” messengers celebrated missions through special music, dramatic interpretations, and missionary speakers. A reported 550 registered messengers from 38 associations participated in the two-day event. The top three associations recognized for having the highest percentage attendance of registered messengers to the meeting were Williamsburg, Edgefield, and Southeast associations. For many attending the meeting, it was an opportunity to reconnect with old friends who share a passion for missions.
First Baptist Church Surfside member and WMU director Martha Bullard said she loves coming to the annual meeting because she “learns so much about missions and from each other. I also love the people I’ve met here.”
State WMU business was discussed during the Friday morning session. The 2009-2010 Executive Board and the 2010 State Nominating Committee were approved. Of note, current president Gail Hodson, member of Mid-Valley Church, Langley, was elected to serve her third one-year term as president.
The 2009 Janie Chapman Offering for State Missions, Missions Education, and Experience Kingdom Life goal has been set at two million dollars.
During the meeting, SC WMU Associate Executive Director Sandra Tapp recognized 124 churches and 11 associations with the “Triple A” award. The award is a WMU measuring tool for progress and missions growth in churches and associations.
“WMU has had one goal for the past almost 121 years – to involve everyone in missions. Through all the avenues of ministry, the church is responsible for missions,” said Wanda Lee, national WMU executive director-treasurer. Lee said she was excited about the future of SC WMU under Register’s leadership.
Testimonies from the mission field were shared by International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries to South Asia and a North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionary serving in Arkansas. Each missionary spoke of the importance of the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s missions funding source, to their work.
“Thank you for giving to the Cooperative Program,” said Diana Lewis, NAMB missionary in Arkansas. “It is together that we are doing this work.” Donna, an IMB missionary home on stateside assignment, also thanked messengers for their devotion to missions through their giving. “It’s because of you that I can serve and be a voice in the darkness.”
Gordon Fort, vice president of the Office of Overseas Operations, IMB, described a 76 year-old woman on her first missions trip who shared the gospel with a young man dying of AIDS. The local church had tried unsuccessfully for three years to reach this young man, yet because of her willingness to “go and tell,” the man became a Christian shortly before his death. “Never underestimate the power of one person,” Fort said, emphasizing the meeting theme.
Messengers heard an update on the partnership SC WMU began with the Jamaica Baptist Women’s Federation in 2003. Federation president Clover Jarrett said more than 8,000 women are now involved in 300 different branches of the missions organization. “Jamaican women have learned about Christ and are growing in their confidence to witness,” Jarrett said.
Debbie McDowell, Missions Mobilization Group director, SCBC, spoke about ways to become involved in a missions response to the current economy. “There is an increased openness for spiritual discussion right now. Take time to listen, pray, give hope, give Jesus. If we don’t respond to the needs of others, that will be our response.”
Also during the meeting, Kenneth Weathersby, senior strategist with NAMB’s Evangelism Group, shared national evangelism statistics and the impact believers can have. “God has a plan for each of us; we have been called to the purpose of sharing.”
Sylvia Pack, member of Pine Grove Church, Sumter, came to the annual meeting to celebrate how God is working in her life and to give back to the organization that has helped her so much. Pack is a new Christian who quickly became involved in her church’s WMU. It was a source of fellowship and missions education for her, so she wanted to help with registration for the meeting. Pack had a stroke this past year that affected her speech, but not even that would keep her from the meeting because she “just wants God to use me, I am so glad to be here.”
Register closed the annual meeting Saturday afternoon with encouraging words about WMU’s future. She said WMU is a relevant organization that is very effective in missions and missions education, citing 1,401 new WMU organizations begun in South Carolina in the last 10 years - 169 beginning in 2008 alone - and another 124 begun since September 1 of last year. “WMU is still alive, still growing, and still relevant. There is no greater time for the church to be the church. WMU is poised to be at the forefront. We have a chance to be a beacon,” Register said.
