By Debbie Moore, Arkansas WMU Executive Director
Arkansas Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) is so thankful for the privilege of serving Arkansas Baptists in the areas of missions discipleship and missions support. We are grateful for what God has done and for what He allowed us to be part of in 2023:
- Scholarships were provided by Arkansas WMU to Emma Glenn, Williams Baptist University; Mallorie Carozza, Ouachita Baptist University; and Sabreena Thompson, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Each student received $1,500 for the 2023 school year.
- Christian Women’s Job Corps (a ministry initiative of WMU) provided job and life skills training to over 45 women through the four sites in Arkansas. Seven participants prayed to receive Christ in 2023.
- Arkansas Hispanic WMU provided mental health training for 57 participants in Southwest Arkansas. Training was led by Sister Libo Krieg from WMU of Texas. Hispanic WMU saw a record attendance during Annual Meeting at Indian Springs Baptist Church in Bryant. Two hundred and sixteen participants were trained and encouraged in missions education and support.
- Thirty-six Arkansas Baptist State Convention churches requested starter packs from Woman’s Missionary Union. We celebrate the start of new missions groups which means more preschoolers, children, students, and adults being discipled in missions learning, praying, giving, and going.
- Fourteen Arkansas Baptist women connected with women from Northern Africa and the Middle East in Brooklyn, New York, by sharing Christ’s love and the hope we have in Him alone. Arkansas WMU gave $5,000 to our Brooklyn Arab American Friendship Center partners to help with operational expenses.
- Pure Water, Pure Love (a ministry initiative of WMU) partnership in Liberia, West Africa. Arkansas WMU gave $25,000 to help provide clean water for multiple villages and schools through the international ministry of Rev. Eddie Gibson, a product of Southern Baptist missions work in Liberia.
- Partnership with Nigeria (West Africa) WMU. Arkansas WMU gave $5,800 to build a cement-block wall around the WMU-sponsored medical clinic so the government would allow the clinic to officially open and operate. Nigerians are being treated for physical needs and receiving spiritual help in Jesus’ name.
- Arkansas WMU Missions Celebration/Annual Meeting joined with Arkansas Baptist Women Conference at First Baptist in Russellville for a full day of worship, fellowship, and missions focus. Sandy Wisdom-Martin, national WMU executive director/treasurer, was a special guest speaker.
Arkansas WMU looks forward to 2024 as we continue focusing on making disciples of Jesus who live on mission.
*Arkansas WMU will continue helping ABSC churches start missions discipleship groups for any / all age-levels in the church.
*A new Christian Women’s Job Corps site will begin in Beebe.
*Arkansas Baptist women will serve on short-term trips at the Refugee Sewing Society in Clarkston, Georgia and at the Brooklyn Arab American Friendship Center in New York.
*Arkansas Hispanic WMU will network with Hispanic WMU organizations in other states to continue growing missions education and involvement among our Spanish-speaking congregations.
*Training will be provided for individuals, churches, and associational leaders at Missions U, a training event hosted by the ABSC missions team.
*Arkansas WMU will partner with Travis McCormick, missions discipleship consultant for men and boys, for Connect Student Missions weekends and Engage Missions Camp.