June 11, 2001

Billy Kim tells WMU America needs revival
___By Jennifer Bryant & Stella Prather
___Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine
___NEW ORLEANS--"America is the greatest nation on earth, and God blesses America more than any other," Baptist World Alliance President Billy Kim told Woman's Missionary Union.
___Yet America needs "God's criteria for revival," he added. "Hope is in Jesus Christ."
___Kim was one of the keynote speakers for the WMU annual meeting June 10-11 in New

BILLY KIM, president of the Baptist World Alliance

Orleans. Other speakers were Rhonda Kelley, author and wife of the president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Bible study leader Daniel Sanchez of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a host of international and North American missionaries.
___Focusing on the event theme, "Beyond Belief," Kim told the standing-room-only crowd that America is a blessed country. It controls more than 50 percent of the world's wealth but has less than 6 percent of the world's population. He said America grows all possible crops in her soil, and wherever the American flag is flown, it represents peace and freedom.
___"But now let's look at the state of the nation," said Kim. America has more pregnant teenagers, violence, crime and suicide than many other countries. Alcoholism, homosexuality and adultery have become accepted.
___"The world watches America, and America watches TV. Farmers get paid for not farming, teachers get paid for anarchy. If (America) forgets God, she'll have to face the wrath of God. We need people who know how to pray for revival in this nation."
___Kim, pastor of the 15,000-member Central Baptist Church of Suwon, Korea, emphasized the important role women in Korea play in the growth and revival of his church. Sixty percent of his members are women, and 90 percent of the cell-group leaders are women.
___"They have a prayer meeting at 4:30 every morning, 365 days a year. I hope I'm not getting in trouble advocating women at the Southern Baptist Convention," Kim said. "But that's why Korean churches are experiencing revival.
___"If the United States wants to see revival, mothers and daughters need to get on their knees," he urged.
___Joining Kim on the program was the 50-voice Korean Children's Choir. Dressed in colorful, authentic clothing of their homeland, the children danced and sang Korean songs while offering renditions of "America the Beautiful" and the "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
___In her address, Kelley encouraged the women to ask for faith, then add to their faith and remain faithful in their everyday lives.
___"We have to move beyond belief and add to our life of godly giving," she said. Sharing the biblical story of the Samaritan woman at the well, Kelley emphasized that individuals must see how important it is to have a relationship with God.
___But first, people must ask for salvation, Kelley said. "We need to ask for grace that we don't deserve. If we believe and repent, then we'll have the promise of eternal life."
___Only then can Christians add to their faith, she said. "We should add Christian character, but we should do it diligently and for a reason. Give your life in Christ all the energy you can and realize the importance of virtue."
___After adding to faith, Christians should apply their faith, Kelley said. "Use the gifts God has given us so we can minister in his name more effectively. We are to be out there doing his work.
___"We are a work of God, but we are also workers of God. We are saved by faith, but we

KOREAN CHOIR

are saved to serve," Kelley added. "We should pray for his power, proclaim his Word and live out faith by service. He calls each one of us to serve in different ways. Make a commitment to understand the importance of speaking of Jesus in a lost and dying world."
___A highlight of the annual meeting was the theme interpretations presented by popular author Barbara Joiner and retired WMU Executive Director Dellanna O'Brien. They shared inspirational stories of how God is working in the nation and world.
___Bible studies by Sanchez featured a look at biblical women who have been "strengthened by God and filled with the fullness of the Father." Sanchez highlighted the lives of Mary, Priscilla and Aquilla and Joanna.
___Mary, he said, personified Christian qualities. She was selected by God, saluted God with praise and served her God.
___"We have to recognize her spiritual fitness. Gentle and lowly Mary was chosen because of her total devotion to God," Sanchez said. "She expresses her unselfish joy, and she praised God as if prophecy had already been fulfilled while she was carrying Jesus. She could not surround him with wealth or a formal education, but she gave him a home, trust and love. Obedience is one of Mary's traits and she submitted to God's will."
___Aquilla and Priscilla were a team in every sense of the word, Sanchez added. The married couple "shared the trials, the joys and blessings of ministries. They loved each other but loved the Lord more," he noted. "May we be inspired by their example."
___Sharing a missionary testimony, International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin thanked WMU for their support of the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Robert Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, thanked the women for support of the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.
___In her president's address, Janet Hoffman likened the "beyond belief" historical journey of WMU to the personal journey of Abraham. Reminding the women that God called Abraham to leave his own country and family to go to a place God would reveal to him, Hoffman said Abraham's journey was a "journey with a purpose, a journey of faith and a journey of promise."
___Since it earliest beginnings, WMU has been on a journey with a main purpose of missions, Hoffman said. Today, "our journey continues ... with that same purpose."
___By faith, Abraham went into the unknown. Likewise, many WMU leaders, by faith, have ventured into uncharted waters, including tackling racial reconciliation and age-level missions education. This faith continues today by women all across the country who are launching new ministries to win the unchurched, she said.
___"We are not there yet because of the countless people ... who are still in darkness. Our journey continues until Jesus comes."
___WMU Executive Director Wanda Lee interviewed several women involved in WMU ministries, including Christian Women's Job Corps, Baptist Nursing Fellowship and Acteens. Taking a look at the "various faces of WMU," Lee said, "Whatever our abilities, God uses them in a unique way. God has called each one of us to be his hands and feet in this world, making a difference in the lives of people."
___Lee also recognized Southern Baptist literacy pioneer Lillian Isaacs, this year's recipient of the Dellanna O'Brien Leadership Award, for her role in literacy missions.
___In a business session, WMU members unanimously re-elected Hoffman, of Farmerville, La., for a second term as WMU president. Yolanda Calderon of Ripon, Calif., also was re-elected for a second term as recording secretary.



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