Texas WMU celebrates Jesus during annual meeting

Posted: 4/25/08

Texas WMU celebrates
Jesus during annual meeting

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

WACO—Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas gathered to “Celebrate Jesus” during its annual meeting April 18-19.

In a meeting that featured seminars encouraging people to share their faith and be involved in mission work, testimonies from missionaries and sessions on prayer, leaders encouraged Texas Baptist women to celebrate Christ’s work around the globe.

Author Jennifer Kennedy Dean reminded annual meeting participants God is working through them. If Christians allow him, God’s presence will influence everything they do. God is wherever they go, she said.

Cheryl Segura Gochis, former national and state Acteens panelist, uses a cell phone as a teaching tool during the Texas WMU annual meeting.

“Jesus lives in you and can so clearly communicate with you, it’s like a direct deposit from his mind to yours,” she said.

When that happens, Dean said, people’s perspectives change. Chance encounters become divine appointments. People are able to see God working in every moment. Events throughout the day become opportunities to share God’s love.

“When we begin to act with faith in the Promiser, the world looks completely different,” she said.

Texas WMU President Nelda Taylor said the missions organization can rejoice in knowing that it has faced challenges head-on and looks forward to a bright future of helping Texas Baptists spread the gospel. Among other challenges, Texas WMU Executive Director-Treasurer Carolyn Porterfield resigned last October.

During one of the plenary sessions, Texas WMU rolled out a team of volunteers who will serve as “mission connectors”—people across the state who will encourage and facilitate mission activity.

While change continues to be the rule in Western culture, God is a constant, Taylor said. He continues to be the answer for humanity’s struggles.

“It is the time for us to reach, preach and teach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ,” she said.

In addition to the time of celebration, Texas WMU elected a new slate of officers. Conference participants elected Paula Jeser of First Baptist Church in El Paso as president; Suzy Wall of Frio Baptist Church in Hereford as first vice president; Jo Lee of First Baptist Church in San Antonio as second vice president; Margery Flowers of Fellowship Baptist Church in Marble Falls as third vice president; and Anna Zimmer of Kingwood Baptist Church in Kingwood as recording secretary.