Texas WMU celebrates 125 years of missions service
Posted: 11/18/05
Texas WMU celebrates
125 years of missions service
By Teresa Young
AUSTIN Woman's Missionary Union of Texas celebrated the mission organization's 125th anniversary with a program weaving history and service.
The program relayed much of Texas WMU history through dramatic vignettes presented by Janna Walker and her daughter, Caroline, of First Baptist Church in New Braunfels.
While looking through an attic trunk of family heirlooms, the pair shared WMU's history, from the organization's founding in October 1880 by Fannie Breedlove Davis to the present-day leadership.
| Janna (right) and Caroline Walker of New Braunsfels illustrate the history and heritage of Woman's Missionary Union of Texas through dramatic theme interpretations. (Photo by Eric Guel) |
Between historical vignettes, speakers described missions experiences. Minette Drumwright Pratt of Fort Worth told about helping to organize an international prayerwalking venture in 1994.
David and Laurel Fort, missionaries to West Africa, spoke about their work ministering to and encouraging other missionaries in their region.
“We have the privilege of visiting with families and seeing what God is doing,” said David Fort. “God is at work in the spiritual darkness of West Africa, and the light continues to shine.”
Charlotte Watson, minister of missions at First Baptist Church in Georgetown, shared a testimony about partnerships missions.
“Being missions-minded isn't enough today,” she said. “The challenge is being missions engaged and sending people to the frontlines of mission work.”
Lupe Koch of Fort Worth, president of the Texas Baptist Nursing Fellowship, described her recent experiences ministering to evacuees from Hurricane Katrina, working in San Antonio's First Baptist Church on a triage team. She spoke about the blessing of using her vocation to serve God and encouraged other nurses to get involved.
“Continue to share your light, so Christ can be seen in you,” Koch said.
Karen Hatley of Lorena, a board member for WorldconneX, spoke about how the information age is making missions easier for many. Connections to missionaries are available through e-mail and cellular phones, and solar-powered DVD players are available for showing gospel films in remote locations.
Texas WMU President Nelda Taylor-Thiede concluded the program with her vision for the organization, which she summarized as the “three stars” of prayer, preparation and people.
“WMU has been about relationships, and that is more important now than ever,” she said. “Go out and let your light shine for him.”