August 6, 2001
MINNESOTA BAPTIST PASTOR George Ray (top), formerly of Grand Junction, Colo., leads the dedicatory prayer at the installation of Carolyn Porterfield as executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU.
Texas WMU turns to next generation
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___WACO--Woman's Missionary Union of Texas passed the torch to a new generation of leadership at Texas Leadership Conference in Waco July 26-28, installing CarolynPorterfield as executive director-treasurer.
NEWLY ELECTED officers of the Korean Woman's Missionary Union are President Jung Suk Chung of Korean First Baptist Church in Dallas, Vice President Mun Hee Kim of New Vision Baptist Church in Dallas and Secretary Hyang Do Kwak of First Baptist Church in Arlington.
___Texas WMU's current officers, past presidents, language leaders and staff consultants joined in Porterfield's installation service. George Ray, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Rochester, Minn., and former pastor of Porterfield's home church in Grand Junction, Colo., led the prayer of dedication.
___Joy Fenner, who retired in February as executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU and is beginning a one-year stint as interim executive director of Tennessee WMU, offered a challenge and encouragement to her successor.
___"My prayer for you is that you stay focused on the reason we exist as Woman's Missionary Union of Texas, and that you have a real joy in the journey," Fenner said.
___"Declaring His Glory ... Fulfilling His Plan" was the theme of the annual training event, and it was the heart of Porterfield's remarks to the meeting.
___"The gospel is for all people, and WMU's purpose is to declare God's glory for allpeople," Porterfield said.
OFFICERS of the newly reorganized Texas Baptist Nursing Fellowship are President Linda Garner of Dallas, First Vice President Judy Morrill of Mesquite, Second Vice President Gloria Goodwin of San Antonio and Service Coordinator Janet Newsom of Marshall.
___She challenged the Texas Baptist women to "take a risk" on young women in their churches by investing in their lives and mentoring them. She urged the women to look at missions education as a future-oriented process and a cooperative venture.
___A Texas couple (their names have been deleted for security reasons), who serve with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board in Taiwan, called on members of Texas WMU to see the emerging generation of teenagers and young adults as a potential mission force.
___The couple characterized the young people as a "Joshua generation," ready to advance on mission into the world.
___"The next generation on mission has a passion for worship and a heart that beats for the nations," they said. "This generation wants a true, relevant relationship, not only with parents or people who can be parents to them, but also with Almighty God who directs their every step."
___They encouraged members of Texas WMU to become mentors to women in the emerging generation, guiding them to become women of prayer and women who are rooted in the Bible.
___"The next generation will attach themselves to you if, and only if, they see the fervency of Christ himself in you. They don't do things halfway," they said.
___"They are hungry and thirsty for truth. They will go. Prepare them."
___
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