BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) — Despite a major winter storm that impacted travel across the country and brought a blanket of snow to Birmingham, approximately 180 missions leaders gathered for the national Woman’s Mission Union’s (WMU) board meeting Jan. 11-13 in Alabama.

The theme was “It Became to Me a Joy,” which is the title of this year’s WMU emphasis book. Each of the three general sessions focused on a different chapter from the book: The Struggle is Real, You are Not Alone and Joy in Relationships. In addition, nearly 30 breakouts were offered on a variety of topics such as special needs ministry as a mission field and growing and mobilizing strategic prayer for missionaries.

Gordon Fort, senior ambassador for the president at the International Mission Board (IMB), brought the Sunday morning sermon and gave a report from IMB. He told how the Lord brought his parents together and led them to serve on the mission field.

“Now with my daughter and son-in-law on their way to serve with IMB, thank you, WMU, for praying for and supporting the third generation of my family on the field,” he said.

Both Fort and Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (NMAB), thanked WMU during their reports for championing record giving over the past year through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

“We are in this together,” Ezell said to those gathered. “It’s truly a partnership, a friendship, and we are grateful.”

Joy in the struggle

Gay Williams, co-director of Hawaii Baptist Disaster Relief and NAMB-endorsed chaplain with Send Relief, shared about how God provided as she and her husband John ministered in the wake of 2023’s massive fire in Maui.

“As we went to serve in Hawaii, we had learned all about hurricanes but then a fire broke out on Maui,” Williams said. “John and I had worked two major fires when we served in Colorado. God had prepared us. (Like us) you will be able to serve the Lord in a way that only you are qualified for.”

Don and Maria Friesen, who serve as church planters with IMB in Brazil, shared about the challenges of being apart from family while serving but how there is joy in the struggle.

“When our youngest daughter was expecting our grandson, I missed being with her throughout her pregnancy,” Maria shared. “But then a woman from our community who was expecting a baby about the same time our grandson was due allowed me to walk with her through her pregnancy.” 

During her address, national WMU President Connie Dixon highlighted the importance of relationship — with God and with others.

“God, who is the creator of joy, did not make our joy dependent on our circumstances or out of reach,” Dixon said. “Instead, He created joy to be a result of our relationship with Him. That is why you see some people who seem to have everything and lack joy, while others face painful seasons and remain joyful. The joy of the Lord is not based upon what is going on in your life. It is a daily choice. Choose joy!

“When we are struggling, we can feel isolated,” Dixon continued. “If you feel isolated, you are not alone. God understands and He is with you, even when you cannot see or feel His presence. He is with you.”

Dixon lamented a decline in community over the decades.

“Although the level of connectedness between people in our society has dropped, their need for connectedness has not,” she said. “We want to be in community, and we all need friends. We need to be a friend to others like Jesus was. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He showed love for others by serving them. He was always compassionate. He respected people. He listened to people. He encouraged people.”

Engaging younger audiences

A panel of young leaders was assembled to share thoughts on ways to engage younger audiences in missions through WMU.

Marisol Sandoval of WMU of Texas, when asked to share some of the misconceptions about younger age groups, replied, “I hear people say, ‘Young people don’t care about God.’ But it’s more that they don’t know God, and they don’t even have a basic knowledge of the Bible.”

Sandoval went on to say that in general, younger adults are led more by their feelings than the truth of the gospel. Also, they want community but don’t necessarily want to be part of an organization. Many in Generation Z or Gen Alpha will not come to know Jesus from a pastor because they aren’t in church.

“We need to invite them into our lives and activities so they can see our faith and actions, and through those relationships, we will have opportunities to share Jesus,” she said.

Giles Fort of national WMU discussed what kinds of activities or events would interest young people. They “respond to authenticity,” he said.

“ Be humble and authentic,” said Fort. “If you have a struggle, you have to share it, and they will respond. Younger people see polished, curated content all the time online so the threshold for ‘professional production’ is lower than ever. What they expect from an event is something authentic that is in touch. They will respond to interactions with believers who can communicate, ‘This (my faith and relationship with Jesus) is real to me.’”

Zach Pratt of national WMU said a 20-year-old today can glean more about different ideologies from YouTube in one hour than a 20-year-old in 2005 could experience in a lifetime.

“Because young people are accustomed to hearing competing ideologies,” Pratt said, “we don’t need to shy away from teaching the hard truths; they are searching for it.”

Joy in relationships

Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of national WMU, drew three points from Scripture to talk about having joy in relationships.

1. Pursue restoration. 

“Do the hard work to make things right with others sooner rather than later,” Wisdom-Martin said. “Just as God is working in my life with the stupid things I have done, I have to recognize His work in the lives of others. If I harbor resentment, that is denying the Creator God His healing and restorative work in someone else. Build a bridge. Extend an olive branch. Start healing.”

2. Use gifts you’ve been given by God for Him as an act of worship.

“This is a beautiful expression of what happens when we value each other and serve with the gifts we’ve been given in community focused on the mission of God,” she said. “As you surrender your work and service to Him, you will find joy in relationships with those with whom you serve.”

3. Keep our lives pure and holy and sacred.

“And yes, we will fall short,” she said. “When we do, we confess our sins. You can’t have joy in relationships when your own life has been defiled by unconfessed sin.”

During their business session, the executive board approved:

• A recommendation to amend the WMU Base Design for Royal Ambassadors (RA) that lays out RA as an organization for boys and young men in grades 1 through 12 rather than just boys in grades 1 through 6. Challengers, which has been the name of the WMU missions organization for young men in grades 7 through 12, will now only be the descriptor of those in grades 7 through 12 under the overall umbrella of RA. 
• A 2025 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal of $210,000,000.
• A 2026 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goal of $80,000,000.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Julie Walters is corporate communication manager for national WMU.)