Texas WMU unanimously elects new leader

DALLAS—The Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas board of directors unanimously elected Sandy Wisdom-Martin Aug. 14 as the organization’s next executive director- treasurer.

Wisdom-Martin, who has served as Illinois WMU director since 2001, will assume the role in mid-September. She follows Nelda Seal, who has served as Texas WMU’s interim director since June 2008.

Sandy Wisdom-Martin has been chosen as executive director-treasurer of Texas Woman’s Missionary Union.

As executive director-treasurer-elect, Wisdom-Martin said she looks forward to walking alongside and ministering with Texas Baptist women. She is excited about investing herself in the women and girls in Texas, just as women throughout the years have invested themselves in her, she emphasized.

“I am just overwhelmed and grateful for the trust WMU has put in me,” said Wisdom-Martin, who also served as Cooperative Program missionary for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1991 to 2001. “I look forward to serving, walking together on this journey.”

Gloria Mills, president of Texas WMU, said she sensed God moving throughout the personnel committee’s search for a new executive director-treasurer. She strongly believes God led the committee to Wisdom-Martin and Wisdom-Martin to Texas.

“I can see God’s hand in every step of this process,” she said. “I have loved the way our personnel committee worked. They stayed true to the principles that they set out for themselves. Even under pressure, they stayed true to those principles.  I don’t think we could have done any better than Sandy. I am thrilled beyond measure.”

Seal praised Wisdom-Martin’s heart for missions and sharing the gospel with people locally, nationally and around the world. She is prepared to help the women of Texas in efforts to expand God’s kingdom in a multitude of ways.

Wisdom-Martin has led conferences and spoken in numerous states. She is an Acteens leader in her congregation, Springfield Southern Baptist Church in Springfield, Ill. She has taught Sunday school for several age groups and led foreign mission trips to Ghana, France and Bulgaria.

“She is God’s person for this time,” Seal said. “She has the experience and heart for Woman’s Missionary Union work. God in his own timing has provided us new leadership.”

Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer-elect of Texas Woman’s Missionary Union, has led Illinois WMU since 2001. She is pictured with her husband, Frank Martin, and their 11-year-old daughter, Hannah.

In recommending Wisdom-Martin for the position, National WMU Executive Director-Treasurer Wanda Lee called her “one of the most capable state leaders I have ever known.”

“These are important days in the life of WMU and especially Texas WMU,” Lee wrote. “I have prayed that you might find a leader that could take you into a bright future building on the great work of your interim, Nelda Seal. I am honored to be allowed to submit Sandy’s name for your consideration.”

In her recommendation of Wisdom-Martin, Former National WMU President Kaye Miller commended her vision and integrity, writing that “she walks closely with the Lord as she strives to follow his leading in all that she does.”

“It is my joy to recommend Sandy Wisdom-Martin for the position of WMU executive director,” Miller wrote. “I can think of no one that could do a better job at leading Texas WMU than Sandy. She is creative, visionary, a leader, disciplined, relational, focused and these are just a few words that describe my friend Sandy.”

Wisdom-Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southern Illinois University in 1987 and a master’s degree in social work from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1990. She and her husband, Frank Martin, have an 11-year-old daughter, Hannah.