Texas WMU celebrates families involved in missions globally_111504

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Posted: 11/12/04

Newly elected Texas WMU President Nelda Taylor Thiede (right) poses with past presidents (left to right) Maurice Johnston, Millie Bishop, Gerry Dunkin, Mary Humphries, Jeane Law and Kathy Hillman at the WMU Annual Meeting in San Antonio. (Nan Dickson Photo)

Texas WMU celebrates families involved in missions globally

By Teresa Young

For Texas Baptist Communications

SAN ANTONIO–With “Celebrando la familia en misiones … Celebrating the family on mission” as its theme, the Woman's Missionary Union of Texas 124th annual meeting presented the stories of families working to spread the gospel around the world.

Cheryl Gochis of San Antonio opened the WMU meeting at First Baptist Church in San Antonio with a testimony, noting stamps in her passport that marked missions involvement and education for her family and her parents.

“You have a passport, too, and tonight's stamp will read 'Celebrando la familia en misiones,'” Gochis said. “My prayer is that you will consider what that stamp will mean to you after today and after this meeting.”

Earl W. Johnston admires the period costumes worn by (left to right) Jeane Law, Wilma Reed and Barbara Baker in honor of the upcoming 125th anniversary of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas.

Outgoing WMU President Kathy Hillman of Waco said, “As Christians, we claim many different families–our biological families, our church families, the Baptist family and the Christian family worldwide–and tonight we celebrate those families on mission.”

WMU Executive Director-Treasurer Carolyn Porterfield pointed to the Old Testament story of Abraham, noting how obedience to God resulted in blessings to future generations and how knowing God is part of his followers' spiritual DNA.

“Being on mission is not just what we do; it's who we are,” Porterfield said. “Who will be blessed because of your obedience in the mission?”

Porterfield detailed WMU's staff reorganization completed in the summer, aimed at helping churches strengthen leadership in missions education, organize missions involvement and spur missions growth.

In keeping with the theme, participants heard from two South Texas families who are on mission in various ways.

Mike and Karen Perkins serve as houseparents at South Texas Children's Home in Beeville and have become involved in mission work in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, through New Life Baptist Church. Seeing the need for food in the poverty-stricken area, the Perkinses challenged Royal Ambassadors and Girls in Action at their former church to collect packages of ramen noodles to be distributed to the colonias in Mexico.

The Matson family of Victoria became involved in the project when Charlsa, an 8-year-old GA, decided to request that guests to her January birthday party bring noodles rather than gifts. The group gathered more than 600 packages and later became part of a churchwide challenge that resulted in 3,000 packages donated for the Nuevo Laredo residents.

Testimonies from two missionaries to Asia, identified as Kandy and Kathy, demonstrated the importance of mission work as families in areas closed to evangelical witness. Members of First Baptist Church in Lubbock, both women shared the vital role their home church has played in their missions endeavors, serving as prayer support and welcoming them while on furlough.

Nelda Taylor Thiede of Gonzales described her experiences on a prayerwalking trip to New York City and told about the need for other Christians to join in similar opportunities.

In her final address, Hillman shared about a 10-day visit to Athens, Greece, for the Olympics, where she and fellow WMU members worked as volunteers in First Evangelical Greek Church, providing a hospitality center near the games. The trip involved many opportunities to share the gospel and witness, especially with face painting and clowning, provided by WMU board member Suzy Wall of Hereford.

“What a celebration it was as the worldwide family of faith joined together there,” Hillman said of a worship service in the church. “I find myself wondering: Do we carry God's message with the same fervor as those carrying the Olympic torch, or do we watch as bystanders?”

Participants at the WMU annual meeting also elected officers for 2005, naming Thiede, a member of First Baptist Church in Gonzales, as president. Thiede has served in numerous positions in her church and as associational WMU director and state vice president. She also has served on the boards at Highland Lakes Encampment, WorldconneX and the Texas Christian Women's Job Corps advisory council.

Other officers are Edna Wood of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, named recording secretary for another term; Shirley McDonald of Green's Creek Baptist Church of Dublin, first promotional vice president; Nina Pinkston of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, second promotional vice president; and Frankie Harvey of Nacogdoches Bible Fellowship, third promotional vice president.

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