BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–WMU enrollment increased 12.3 percent from the previous year to a total of 963,114, according to the 2002 Annual Church Profile compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources. This number represents significant growth compared to the past several years.
“We are very excited to see a renewed interest among Baptists in missions education and missions involvement,” said Wanda Lee, executive director-treasurer of WMU. “It is encouraging to see an increasing number of churches implement and develop WMU age-level organizations that provide an opportunity for Christians to better understand and be personally involved in the mission of God.”
An increase in WMU enrollment was evident across the United States. Thirty-two out of 41 states or conventions with WMU organizations showed growth over 2001. The ACP report reflected the greatest increase in the number of participants in Texas, followed by Alabama, Virginia, Florida and Mississippi. Rounding out the top 10 were Missouri, North Carolina, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Indiana.
In terms of the greatest percentage of growth, the top 10 states or associations were: Caribbean area, 286 percent; New England, 104 percent; Illinois, 57 percent; Indiana, 54 percent; Michigan, 54 percent; Arizona, 48 percent; Alabama, 42 percent; Wyoming, 39 percent; West Virginia, 36 percent; and Alaska 35 percent.
In addition to missions organizations, WMU also experienced increased participation in an array of ministries that offer hands-on missions opportunities, such as MissionsFEST and FamilyFEST missions experiences through WMU’s Volunteer Connection, for example, as well as Christian Women’s Job Corps and Baptist Nursing Fellowship.
“Volunteer Connection is often an entry point for those who want to be involved in missions and service,” said Kristy Carr, WMU’s Volunteer Connection specialist. “Many times volunteers come away from these opportunities with a new or renewed yearning to learn more about missions, support missions and be personally involved in sharing the love of Jesus.”
Founded in 1888, Woman’s Missionary Union is an auxiliary of the Southern Baptist Convention that seeks to equip adults, youth, children and preschoolers with missions education to become radically involved in the mission of God. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., WMU is a nonprofit organization that offers an array of missions resources including conferences, ministry ideas and models, volunteer opportunities, curriculum for age-level organizations, leadership training, books and more.
WMU’s age-level organizations include Women on Mission, Adults on Mission, Acteen, Youth on Mission, Girls in Action, Children in Action and Mission Friends.
For more information on Woman’s Missionary Union, visit www.wmu.com or call (205) 991-8100.
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(BP) logo posted in the BP Photo Library at https://www.bpnews.net. Logo title: WOMAN’S MISSIONARY UNION.
