celebrating the past present and future

This weekend I got the privilege to go to WMU (Woman's Missionary Union) Mission Extravaganza! It was an AMAZING weekend! NC WMU was celebrating their 125 birthday. I'm not a new comer to the WMU. I grew up in a traditional southern baptist church where I was involved in mission friends and GAs and I have worked at the WMU supported camp, Mundo, for the past 5 years.  The WMU has been a huge part of my life and hopefully will continue to be part of my life for a long time. I never get tired of hearing the inspiring story of  how two young, Godly, missions minded women, Fannie Heck and Sallie Jones, started the NC WMU. Fannie was 24 and Sallie was 16. They lived in a time when women didn't have a voice but God called them and they followed. Now, 125 years later, there are still women that are following God's call and continuing the dream that Fannie and Sallie had.

There  is so much I want to say about this weekend, and I know I can't possibly write it all but I'm going to try to hit the things that touched me the most.  There is probably not going to be much flow or organisation to this....just FYI.

First, let me start by explaining the theme for the weekend. The theme was "unhindered" an d theme verse Hebrews 12:1-2 It was all about throwing aside the things that hinder us, the things that blind, distract, cause us to stumble and keep us from following God's will. We celebrated the women of the past that were not hindered by sin or the opinions of others and and allowing God to work.

The second thing that really inspired me was the women there. There was WMU staff,  executive board members, region leaders, church leaders and women that just love the WMU and are active members. I was amazed at the 1,000+ women that attended. They love the WMU, support it  and invest in it. I was blessed to work side by side with some of women and get to know them, from GA leaders at a 'small town church' to the Executive Director and Board President. These women are  astonishing Godly role models. They are so passionate about missions and service and they are fearless when it comes to address issues that are taboo. The National WMU as decided for he next several years, the Project Help theme will be Human Exploitation. They are making people aware of this shocking and horrifying issue but they don't stop there. They help women that have escapes AND love the people who are still involved. It is easy to love the girl that is being trafficed or the child being exploited but it takes a very God-centered person to love the pimp that is buying the girl or the adult watching the child porn. The WMU reaches people where they are and the women of the WMU are heartbroken that this injustice is going on but they are not siting back, theya re giving a voice to those who can not speak. 


Along with a huge amount of grace, elegance, and passion, these women have a desire to see the WMU grow and thrive for another 125 years. They support and encourage the next generation  and future women that will make up the WMU. SHINE is the newest branch of the WMU. It was established about 3 years ago and is for young women. Because SHINE is so new, we are still trying to figure out our role and what we are doing but the WMU members of NC support SHINE in a huge way. I can not even being to express the gratitude I have o the women of WMU for teaching and encouraging us.


I have also had a love for WMU but this weekend affirmed that love. One night during a worship service I was sitting beside one of my friends and co-worker at camp. There were four amazing WMU staff sitting on the stage. I whispered to my friend " I want that to be us." 

http://www.wmu.com/index.php?q=missions-leader/missions-involvement/project-help-human-exploitation

http://www.wmu.com/index.php

http://www.wmunc.org/AboutUs/tabid/5258/language/en-US/Default.aspx