Texas WMU seeks ‘unhindered’ pursuit of Christ

GEORGETOWN—God is calling his followers to run ‘unhindered’ in the race marked for each of them, Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas leaders said during the organization’s annual meeting, April 9-10 at First Baptist Church in Georgetown.

Newly elected Texas WMU officers are (right to left) President Gloria Mills of First Baptist Church in Henderson; First Vice President Merle Cross of First Baptist Church in Gilmer; Second Vice President Irma Alvarado of First Baptist Church in Donna; Third Vice President Lynette McBride of Central Baptist Church in Hillsboro; and Recording Secretary Barbara Helms of First Baptist Church in Clarendon. (BGCT PHOTO)

Often, people are saddled with anger, grief and discouragement, said featured speaker Veronica Ellison, who experienced these trials after her pastor father was killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. She was able to let go of those feelings by turning to her faith. There, she sensed God calling her to embark on the journey he has marked for her as in Hebrews 12. 

“He wants us to be free,” she said. “He wants us to shed those heavy things.”

That race can be a long and sometimes difficult one, Ellison noted. But God wants his followers to run a marathon, having the endurance to trust God to pull them through obstacles.

Keo Chan, who serves as a Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board missionary with her husband, Henry, knows too well how long and difficult that race can be. When she was a young child in Laos, Communist leaders threw her father into a work camp, leaving Chan, her mother and siblings to fend for themselves.

Her father escaped the camp by swimming across the Mekong River into Thailand, but he could not return to his homeland. Chan and her family did not know where he went, but they feared they never would see him again.

After six years waiting, Chan’s mother decided she would lead her family to Thailand in search of her husband. They walked three nights and then crossed the Mekong River.

“My God, I know, totally closed the eyes of the soldiers,” Chan said, describing how God protected her family.

Chan’s family searched a Thai refugee camp for their patriarch to no avail. Eventually, they encountered one of his friends, who explained the father had moved to another refugee camp and then onto the United States where he was attempting to save money to reunite his family.

Veronica Ellison, keynote speaker at the Texas WMU Annual Meeting in Georgetown, described how God released her from anger, grief and disappointment after a drunk driver killed her father. (BGCT PHOTO)

In 1981, after years of separation, the family came back together in Amarillo. When Chan arrived, her father was waiting for her with his arms outstretched and tears rolling down his face.

Nora Lozano, associate professor of theological studies at Baptist University of the Americas, said having the endurance to run the marathon of faith requires unwavering focus upon God. For contemporary Christians to remain strong in their faith, they must cling to God and rely on him to strengthen, guide and carry them.

“Today is our time to take the torch and run the race with our eyes fixed on Jesus,” she said.

Texas WMU ran that race during the annual meeting by donating about 2,000 books for children in need along the Texas-Mexico border and building about 70 bookshelves through a joint effort with Literacy ConneXus. Meeting participants also gave more than $3,906 for mission efforts through WMU.

Texas WMU supports 70 sites for Christian Women’s Job Corps and Christian Men’s Job Corps, where people can attain job and life skills, as well as hear and embrace the hope of Christ.

Texas WMU is planning an event for parents of current missionaries and is examining a potential partnership between Chilean Baptists and Hispanic WMU of Texas.

Each year, women gather for the Sisters Who Care retreat, an event designed to strengthen the faith of African-American women. Texas WMU also has continued expanding its resources for Asian congregations that speak a variety of languages.

These efforts continue Texas WMU’s commitment to sharing the gospel throughout the state and around the globe, said Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of Texas WMU. The organization continues focusing on praying and financially supporting missions and is increasing its hands-on missions opportunities.  This year, it has several mission trips planned and is partnering with Buckner International to build a home in the Rio Grande Valley.

In business, meeting participants overwhelming elected a slate of officers. They are President Gloria Mills of First Baptist Church in Henderson; First Vice President Merle Cross of First Baptist Church in Gilmer; Second Vice President Irma Alvarado of First Baptist Church in Donna; Third Vice President Lynette McBride of Central Baptist Church in Hillsboro; and Recording Secretary Barbara Helms of First Baptist Church in Clarendon.

“We should be telling … (God’s) story as we go, everywhere we go,” Widsom-Martin said. “That’s what we’re about.”

“You have a story. God was at work in your life before you were even born. Be ready to share that story.”

Carolyn Porterfield, Texas WMU multicultural consultant, said she believes it is critical for Texas Baptists to remain committed to the cause of Christ. About 11 million people across the state have no connection to a church. The state’s population is increasingly diverse, creating an environment where Texans can make an impact on the world by sharing the gospel with their neighbors.

“Now is not the time to stop running our race to make Christ known,” Porterfield said.