Laura Bramlett announced as next Arkansas WMU executive director

Laura Bramlett speaks to attendees of the Arkansas WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting on Saturday, Sept. 20, at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Laura Bramlett has been named the next Arkansas Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) executive director. 

Bramlett’s appointment to the position was announced during the 2025 Arkansas WMU Annual Meeting and Missions Celebration that took place in conjunction with the Arkansas Baptist Women Conference on Sept. 20 at Geyer Springs First Baptist Church in Little Rock. The announcement followed the news of Debbie Moore’s retirement from the position.   

“It has been my pleasure to serve for the last eight years as executive director of Arkansas WMU. I’ve been blessed to serve on the state convention missions team under the excellent leadership of two Godly men, Dr. Bob Harper and Dr. Sam Roberts, both of whom support the work of Woman’s Missionary Union,” Moore said. “I have prayed for the last few years for God’s provision of a leader who will move Arkansas WMU forward in the years to come. God has answered my prayer. And on Wednesday, Oct. 1, I will begin a new role as a volunteer. I’m committed to helping our new executive director as she assumes the responsibilities of leading Arkansas Baptists – adults, students, children, and preschoolers to continue making disciples of Jesus who live on mission. She will work closely with Dr. Sam and the missions team to promote and encourage missions discipleship and involvement in the almost 1,500 churches across our state convention.”    

Moore called Bramlett a true example of an intentional missions leader. Bramlett’s husband, Daniel, serves as pastor at First Baptist Church in Hope. The two believe in living on mission and helping their faith family grow missionally as they learn, pray, give, serve, and make disciples. 

Missions discipleship is a key component to “growing missionaries” in the local church. First Baptist in Hope does not have the traditional WMU organizations for children, but Bramlett faithfully teaches children every Wednesday evening by incorporating the WMU children’s missions curriculum (Missions Journey: Kids) into their existing children’s program. Children are learning about Southern Baptist missions and missionaries; learning the importance of praying for missionaries; developing an awareness of giving to help support missions work; and listening to God’s voice and striving to be obedient to His commands.  

Additionally, Bramlett leads a weekly Bible study for women in the Hempstead County Jail in Hope. She is making disciples of Jesus who live on mission by involving other First Baptist women in the jail ministry, Moore said. Bramlett meets with women individually, as well as in small groups, for conversation, prayer, and to encourage spiritual growth and missions involvement. “She is very careful to make sure that prayer is the main work of every outreach ministry of the church,” Moore said. 

Furthermore, Bramlett has served the last four years (2021 – 2025) as Arkansas WMU president. She has participated in national missions with the state WMU teams who serve annually in Brooklyn, New York, with Arab women ministries and in Clarkston, Georgia, with refugee ministries. She also served through international missions with an Arkansas Baptist State Convention team of pastors’ wives in Brazil.  

Bramlett and her husband were also members of the Arkansas WMU Adults on Mission exploratory team that traveled to Liberia, West Africa, April 1-12, 2025. She previously served as an IMB Journeyman in South Africa.  

Moore said the Bramletts’ children, Riley (16) and Ella (13), are growing spiritually and learning from the example of their parents just how important it is to say “yes” to Jesus and obey His Great Commission.  

“Laura knows that serving and sharing Jesus is a lifetime commitment. Her desire is to abide in Him, live to please Him, and lead others to know, love, and serve Him,” Moore said. She also noted Bramlett will be the first married Arkansas WMU executive director since Dixie Jackson.  

“I can think of no one that is better qualified, has a greater heart for helping Arkansas Baptist churches mobilize to make disciples for Jesus … than Laura,” said Dr. Sam Roberts, Arkansas Baptist State Convention Missions Team leader, during the meeting.  

The theme for the Arkansas WMU Celebration and Annual Meeting was “Joyful Surrender.” Featured guests were Connie Dixon, National WMU president, and Susie Helton, director of Refugee Sewing Society (RSS) in Clarkston, Georgia.  

Lisa Jones was named the new Arkansas WMU president. Jones grew up in Stamps, Arkansas. At the age of 20, she gave her life to Christ and consecrated herself to His service wherever He would lead. Shortly after, she met her husband Todd at Stamps First Baptist Church. She and her husband served two terms in Botswana, Africa, as IMB missionaries and are currently members at Immanuel Baptist Church in Magnolia, Arkansas. They have three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, and an 11-year-old daughter.  

“Lisa loves and is committed to following Jesus. She is devoted to praying for and discipling others to live on mission with Christ,” Bramlett said. “We’re so thankful for Lisa, and I just know that she will be an incredible president.”    

The group also took time to celebrate Julia Ketner, retired executive director for Arkansas WMU, who in June at the National WMU Missions Celebration at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting was recognized for her “unwavering commitment to the Great Commission” as she became the 25^th recipient of the Dellanna West O’Brien Award for Women’s Leadership Development.    

In honor of Moore and her love of missions and discipling others, Bramlett announced the creation of the Legacy of Hope Moore Mission Fund. The fund will provide scholarships to Arkansas Baptist women who serve on an Arkansas WMU sponsored mission trip.