Approximately 2,350 girls in grades 7 – 12 and
their leaders, along with some collegiate young women, gathered for Blume where
they were encouraged to appreciate their spiritual and missions heritage and
consider ways they could share Christ with others and live a legacy of
faith … even now in their junior
high, high school and college years.
Blume, a three-day missions event for teen girls sponsored
by national WMU, took place July 13 – 16 at Disney’s Coronado
Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Each general session featured high-energy music led by
Christian recording artist Cindy Johnson and her band from Winston-Salem, N.C.,
along with this year’s six National Acteens Panelists; a message from author
and keynote speaker Chandra Peele of Houston, Texas; messages from a host of
international and North American missionaries; and theme interpretation through
painting by artist Rianna Freeman of Lafayette, La.
Two of the National Acteens Panelists are from North
Carolina: Kianni Curry and Cassie Taylor, both of University Hills Baptist
Church in Charlotte. North Carolina ranked third in participants with 234,
behind South Carolina and Texas.
A focus on “living a legacy” was introduced by the 2011
National Acteens Panelists as they talked about the beginnings of WMU and the
legacy of missions they enjoy today thanks to missions advocates in WMU who
came before them.
Fan the flame
Citing 2 Timothy 1:3 – 19, the Scripture focus of
Blume, keynote speaker Chandra Peele challenged the girls to fan the flame and
not be afraid of sharing how Jesus had changed their lives.
“What gift has God put in you that God is fanning the flame
on right now?” Peele asked. “But when you think about fanning the flame, what
comes next?
“Fear,” she said. “Fear sets in and shuts you down. Satan
loves to do that because fear can keep us from all kinds of things.”
Kym Mitchell and Suzanne Reece of national WMU introduced
the Power Project, an avenue for Acteens to address human trafficking. In
January –
human trafficking awareness month – Acteens will be encouraged to
learn about the issue; look around their community for ways to educate or
minister; and love their neighbor by planning a mission action project to do
something about human trafficking.
But during Blume, girls and their leaders got a head start
as they learned about the reality of human trafficking through general
sessions, an interactive experience, and from missionary speakers who are
addressing the issue now.
Exploring cultures
WMU partnered with Disney’s YES (Youth Education Series)
program to provide an interactive cultural experience at Epcot customized for
Blume participants.
At each of the three featured countries, the girls also
spent time with a Blume facilitator for a biblical component in which they
explored the theme for Acteens this year – G3: The Power of a Girl to
Change the World. G3 encourages girls to focus on three girls: herself, a girl
next door, and a girl on the other side of the world.
Giving opportunities
Acteens were encouraged to bring hygiene items, wash cloths,
clothes, sneakers, and other items with them to Blume to sort and give to local
ministries.
With more than 24,000 donated items, the girls were able to
assemble in excess of 3,000 hygiene kits that were given to the Greater Orlando
Baptist Association (GOBA). Additional clothing and household items the girls
brought, along with nearly $1,500 in Wal-Mart gift cards they donated, went to
the Osceola Christian Ministry Center, a local center operated by First Baptist
Church of Kissimmee that ministers to the homeless and underemployed through a
variety of free services.
Participants were also given the opportunity to make a
difference in the life of another girl across the world by giving to the
Beginning of Life Foundation in Moldova, a ministry that helps prevent people
of all ages from being victims of trafficking.
Blume participants gave $20,758.19 to support the Beginning
of Life Foundation, and that total will be matched by First Fruits, Inc.