Texas WMU hears missions challenge, missions reports

November 18, 2002

Texas WMU hears missions challenge, missions reports
___By Teresa Young
___For Texas Baptist Communications
___WACO--"God will use you ladies for the fulfilling of the Great Commission within this generation," world Baptist leader Billy Kim predicted during the 122nd annual meeting of the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas Nov. 12 in Waco.
___Kim, president of the Baptist World Alliance and the Far East Broadcasting Company, wrapped up an afternoon brimming with stories of faith, ministry reports, music and performances by the Far East Broadcasting Company Children's Choir.
___Citing statistics of U.S. drug abuse, teen pregnancy and crime, Kim called WMU members to prayer. "In times like these, we need women who know how to pray, to pray that God will bring this nation back to its knees," he said. "Today, we are busy organizing instead of agonizing on our knees before God."
___Kim described traveling to America during the Korean War and eventually accepting Jesus Christ as his Savior, then returning to Korea to preach the gospel.
___WMU members must work together to reach

other lives for Christ, he insisted, saying, "You have a tremendous responsibility, but to whom much has been given, much is required."
___Diana Garland, chair of Baylor University's School of Social Work, told about families who embrace missions endeavors. She based her report on seven years of research on families and faith in America.
___"Almost two-thirds of families are pirating family ministry into churches," Garland said. "Someone recruited them to do a church job, and they've turned it into a family job. They know it's important to be in ministry together."
___Ann Mooney reported on restorative justice ministries from her work as unit supervisor for the Female Sex Offender Treatment Program at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Hilltop Unit in Gatesville.
___"Restorative Justice Ministry is to help an individual be in a right relationship with the heavenly Father, with herself and with others," she said.
___A family serving as missionaries to the Middle East, who could not be identified due to security issues, presented a skit about their work in the area where missionaries cannot enter the country except under vocational auspices. The family explained their use of sports as an international language that allows them to "attract people and share our lives so we can share Christ."
___Texas WMU Executive Director Carolyn Porterfield presented highlights of WMU work around the state, including 83 professions of faith recorded from participants in the Christian Women's Job Corps; 18 people serving and witnessing among visitors to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City; and a team of students who spent 28 days touring overseas and listening to Christians in several countries.
___Although this work is amazing, the glory still belongs to God, Porterfield insisted.
___"The mission does not belong to us. It is God's," she explained. "It was his vision first to win the lost, and we need to keep fulfilling the vision."
___WMU President Kathy Hillman told about a Texas Baptist family's commitment to missions in China and continued ministry after returning to Waco. She also shared the story of Baylor graduate music student Xia Heng of Beijing, who has found a second family with the Texas missionary family and has come to know Christ her Savior. Heng then sang "Lord, Let Me Be a Servant" before the offering for WMU's WorldTouch endowment was taken.
___In a brief business session, WMU members re-elected Hillman for another term as president and approved a slate of new officers. Hillman is a member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco and has held multiple positions in WMU in her church and association, as well as holding the office of promotional vice president for the state WMU and other leadership roles in the state.
___Other officers are Earl Ann Bumpus of First Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, recording secretary; Laura Harris of First Baptist Church in Belton, first promotional vice president; Shirley McDonald of Huckabay Baptist Church in Huckabay, second vice president; and Deborah Henke of First Baptist Church in Fredericksburg, third vice president.
___Officers of Texas Woman's Missionary Union elected during the 122nd annual meeting are Earl Ann Bumpus of First Baptist Church of Mineral Wells, recording secretary; Laura Harris of First Baptist Church of Belton, first vice president; Deborah Henke of First Baptist Church of Fredricksburg, third vice president; Kathy Hillman of Columbus Avenue Baptist Chuch in Waco, president; and Shirley McDonald from Huckabay Baptist Church near Stephenville, second vice president.

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