Julia Ketner, 25th recipient of the Dellanna West O’Brien Award for Women’s Leadership Development, takes a picture with WMU Executive Director Sandy Wisdom-Martin. Submitted.
DALLAS – Julia Ketner, retired executive director for Arkansas Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), was recently recognized for her “unwavering commitment to the Great Commission” as she became the 25th recipient of the Dellanna West O’Brien Award for Women’s Leadership Development.
Ketner received the award during the WMU Missions Celebration on June 8 at the Omni Dallas Hotel amid the gathering of the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting.
According to the WMU Foundation website, “The prestigious leadership award recognizes Baptist women who demonstrate the ability to foster leadership in women, display the potential to be leaders in their community and world, and excel in missions discipleship.” Dellanna O’Brien served as executive director of WMU from 1989 until 1999 and passed away in 2008. Upon her retirement, she was honored with the establishment of the Dellanna West O’Brien Award for Women’s Leadership Development.
In her presentation of the award to Ketner, WMU Foundation President Peggy Darby said the “award was created to recognize Baptist women who model strong leadership and empower others to lead in their communities and beyond just as Dr. O’Brien did during her lifetime.”
“Today, we celebrate the 25th recipient of this prestigious award — a woman whose life has been a testimony to servant leadership, mentorship, and missional living: Julia Ketner,” Darby said.
For more than 50 years, Darby said Ketner has inspired and equipped women to live on mission. Her legacy includes three decades of service as executive director of Arkansas WMU, countless mission trips, tireless support of disaster relief efforts, and the development of mission leaders who now serve across the country and the world. At her current church, Hebron Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ketner has planted seeds of missions that have grown into a vibrant ministry – from encouraging her church to give sacrificially to the Annie Armstrong and Lottie Moon offerings to leading the congregation of just 65 to pack over 1,300 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child this past year.
“But Julia’s influence cannot be measured in numbers alone. It is seen in the lives of women she’s mentored — women like Willene Pierce, Sandy Wisdom-Martin, Carolyn Porterfield, Vickie Lloyd, Diane Parker, Kristyn Ross and Debbie Moore — and in the countless others that she has trained to give, pray, and go,” Darby said.
Honored and humbled by the recognition, Ketner said she was surprised when she learned she would be this year’s recipient of the award. “It was the last thing on my mind,” she said. “If there is anything I have accomplished, all glory and honor goes to the Father because He was the one that called me, and He is the one that has equipped me, and the one who has sustained me. Whatever I do, He has been the one that I try to put forth and acknowledge. He is the author of all things.”
Ketner grew up in a small rural church in central Florida. She credits WMU’s Girls in Action (GA) with planting the seed and helping grow her love for missions.
“If it hadn’t been for some pastors’ wives that would come to our little church to have and lead GAs, I have no idea where I would have been,” she said. “It opened up a new world to me.” It was the beginning of learning that she had a responsibility to be on mission. A key mentor for Ketner over the years was Ruth Bagwell, former Florida Acteens director, who inspired Ketner during her summers at GA/Acteens Camps at Lake Yale, Florida, and encouraged her to consider WMU as a profession.
Ketner served as Arkansas GA/Mission Friends director from 1970-1975 before taking the helm as Arkansas WMU executive director, serving from 1975-2007.
“I am grateful that He gave me a love of people and a desire to help people understand we all have responsibility for the Great Commission,” she said. “It’s not just for those who go or are appointed as missionaries, it’s all of us. I think that is what missions education does. It equips you to see that we have a mission where we are, wherever God leads. We are to be on mission with Him.”
In one of the nominations for the award, the nominator said, “Julia is not a superhero — she’s a faithful servant who simply shows up, loves people, and leads them to Jesus.”
“‘If you are going to do something, do it right’ is the way Julia Ketner lives. She gives 100 percent – always demonstrating commitment. And her commitment to the Lord and His command to make disciples is priority,” said Arkansas WMU Executive Director Debbie Moore. “For 56 years, Julia has been my mentor, encourager, and friend. Julia’s passion for the Lord, for missions discipleship, and for involving others in His mission make her a worthy recipient of the Dellanna West O’Brian Award.”
Darby said Ketner “exemplifies the heart of this award. Her faith, humility, and unwavering commitment to the Great Commission has left a permanent mark on Arkansas, the WMU family, and the Kingdom of God.”
To learn more about Arkansas WMU, visit absc.org/wmu.
One Response
Julia deserves this award. She has influenced women, girls and men as well. Her “mission mindedness” has inspired everyone who know her. Churches have caught a mission vision due to her direct influence.
We have enjoyed and been blessed by our warm friendship with Julia over many years. She has been an inspiration to our lives.