“As a child from my small church in southern Illinois I traveled around the world each week. I was taught missions. I was taught to pray,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, national WMU executive director, as she described her missions education in a report to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention June 16 in Nashville.
Wisdom-Martin was introducing a new missions discipleship curriculum for children in grades 1–6 called “Missions Journey: Kids.” It includes a monthly leader’s guide, full-color poster kit, and magazine. A free sample download is available at wmu.com.
“We heard you,” she said describing the curriculum. Listening to children’s mission leaders’ requests, it is “written for Southern Baptists by Southern Baptists” and takes less prep time.
“As a people committed to the Great Commission, we don’t want our children to go on mission without hearing a biblical world view,” she said. The new curriculum is designed to do that.
WMU Missions Celebration
“Relentless Journey” was the theme as hundreds gathered at the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting Sunday, June 13.
Outgoing WMU President Linda Cooper reminded WMU of its mission to take the Gospel into all the world, referencing International Mission Board statistics that globally nearly 155,000 people die daily without a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. She termed the level of lostness as “unacceptable.”
“I truly believe God has his hand on WMU, guiding every step. … God is not limited in His ability or His willingness to provide just what we need to those who are willing to be used for His glory,” Cooper said. “We must not allow our feelings of inadequacy keep us from doing what God has called us to do. …. If God can use a simple country girl from Kentucky, He can use you, and He wants to.”
Connie Dixon of New Mexico was elected president of the national Woman’s Missionary Union at the group’s annual meeting at Nashville First Baptist Church, replacing Linda Cooper whose term ended after six years of service.
A lifelong member of WMU-related missions organizations, Dixon has served in her home state of New Mexico as an Acteens and Children in Action leader, state Acteens consultant, state WMU president and, most recently, 13 years as executive director of New Mexico WMU. She also works with Christian Women’s/Christian Men’s Job Corps and is a certified Spiritual Leadership Coach.
Active in volunteer missions service around the globe, Dixon has served on mission teams to Africa, China, Thailand, England, and Canada as well as Alaska and Hawaii.
“God has used Woman’s Missionary Union to stretch me, to push me outside of my comfort zone and to grow me in so many ways,” she said. “I know that God has got mighty plans for Woman’s Missionary Union.
“I am excited to get to be part of that and to help children and adults understand that they’re a part of God’s great mission.”
Wisdom-Martin is confident that Dixon is the right person at the right time for this key leadership role.
“Every experience in Connie’s life has led to this moment in time,” Wisdom-Martin said. “She will embrace it with great courage, guided by the Spirit of God.
“We will all learn so much from her. I can’t wait to see how God uses her unique giftedness in this role.”
Attendees also heard reports from missionaries including Itamar Elizalde, a North American Mission Board Send Relief ministry coordinator in Puerto Rico; NAMB church planters Jacob and Francine Zailian, and IMB church planters and trainers Carlos and Lily Llambes.
In other business:
Shirley McDonald of Texas was elected national recording secretary for 2021-2022.
Cindy Walker of Minden, La., received the Dellana West O’Brien Award for Women’s Leadership Development in honor of the former national WMU executive director. Walker has led Girls in Action and Acteens at First Baptist Church in Minden for a combined 50-plus years, has served on the WMU Foundation and has exhibited a commitment to missions and missions education, WMU said in announcing the award.
Kina Jones, a graduate of Begin Anew (formerly the Christian Women’s Job Corps), was presented the Sylvia Bentley Dove Award. Since earning a GED through CWJC at the age of 50, Jones has launched a cleaning business and serves as a Begin Anew volunteer.
WMU spotlighted national Acteens panelists including Kayla Moore, a member of Durham Baptist Church in Lewistown, Mo.; Hope Howard, Retama Park Baptist Church, Kingsville, Texas; and Rana Seddik, Freeman Heights Baptist Church, Garland, Texas.
– with reporting by Baptist Press