why missions discipleship - wmu

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Missions discipleship is grounded in the command of Jesus to His disciples, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19–20 CSB).

Missions discipleship in the church provides opportunities for everyone—preschoolers through adults—to be involved in missions. Churches who provide missions discipleship encourage people to grow in their faith as they learn about missions, pray for missions, support missions, and do missions.

WMU: Making disciples of Jesus who live on mission.

Why MissionsDiscipleship Is Important for the Church“WMU helped me learn to look outside myself and recognize the needs of others and try to help them. My involvement in missions groups at an early age helped me understand other cultures very different from my own and helped me develop a worldview. Teaching missions groups showed me the power of God to change a young life into someone He could work through to accomplish His will.” —Shirley Cox

Table of ContentsHow to Start Missions Discipleship in the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Resources for the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Sample from Missions Leader . . . . . . . . . . 4

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

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WMU: Making disciples of Jesus who live on mission.

How to start missions discipleship in the church:

1. Seek out leaders. The suggested way of organizing WMU in a church is to have a WMU director and missions groups for any or all age levels. Or the WMU director, the pastor, or another church leader may lead missions awareness and involvement activities.

2. Order resources. Using WMU resources will help you plan missions involvement and share information that is timely, inspiring, and challenging. Missions Leader: WMU Planning Guide is a great overall resource to help you get started.

3. Plan. Form a WMU leadership team to plan and coordinate the work of WMU. Quarterly meetings are suggested, but each team determines the frequency of planning meetings.

4. Invite. Involve your church in missions and equip them to share Christ. Invite people to participate in churchwide opportunities and in age-level groups.

5. Work with other leaders to provide multiple opportunities. Collaborate to offer different ways to involve everyone in the church in missions. Continue to start new churchwide activities as well as age-level groups as needed. Consider how you can utilize WMU Compassion Ministries—Project HELP: Refugees, Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps, WorldCrafts, and Pure Water, Pure Love—as a springboard for missions involvement.

6. Communicate. Keep your church informed about missions activities, groups, and projects.

We’re here to help!If you have questions about starting or leading churchwide WMU, we would enjoy talking with you. Contact churchwide and associational WMU consultant Joy Bolton at [email protected] or find links to state WMU websites at wmu.com/statecontacts.

How to Start MissionsDiscipleship in the Church

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Project HELP: RefugeesMobilize your church to engage with the international refugee crisis. Resources include Bible studies, a refugee simulation, and resources to help you get involved. Visit wmu.com/projecthelp to learn more.

Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s Job Corps (CWJC/CMJC)CWJC/CMJC—one of WMU’s compassion ministries—exists to equip women and men in a Christian context for life and employment. Through nearly 200 registered and certified CWJC/CMJC sites across the nation, each year thousands of women and men gain hope for their future. Visit wmu.com/christianjobcorps to learn how you can become involved.

WorldCraftsWorldCrafts is a compassion ministry of national WMU. Its vision is to offer an income with dignity and the hope of everlasting life to every person on earth. To accomplish this vision, WorldCrafts develops sustainable fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world. Visit WorldCrafts .org for more information.

Pure Water, Pure Love (PWPL)PWPL has a threefold mission:• supply missionaries with water filters• provide the people they serve

with wells that offer clean water• supply missions teams with water

filters for use on short-term mission trips

Visit wmu.com/pwpl to learn how you can help.

Ways to Engage Your ChurchEngage your church in missions awareness and involvement. These resources will help you provide churchwide opportunities for the year and expand as needed with age-level missions groups, special projects, and other opportunities. WMU print and digital resources are available from wmustore.com or by calling 1-800-968-7301.

Missions Leader: WMU Planning Guide 2020–21Plan for an entire year! This guide introduces the theme for the year and provides suggestions for churchwide missions events, weeks of prayer and missions offering promotion, leadership tips, and much more. Order one per leader.

Print: $19.99 • W203101Digital: $17.99 • E203104

Missions Plan Book 2020–21Plan a full year filled with missions learning and doing. Written especially for small churches, church plants, language churches, and Adults on Mission (coed adult) groups, this resource can be used in multiple ways to involve people in missions. Includes 12 monthly units, each containing a Bible study, mission study, prayer page, special emphasis, and meeting ideas.

Print: $16.99 • L203120Digital: $14.99 • E203105

International Mission StudyIntroduce international missions to your church. Teaching materials for all ages are available. Each year’s International Mission Study correlates with the International Mission Board’s week of prayer in December. In 2020, the International Mission Study focuses on missions in Mexico City.

International Mission Study: Mexico City Promotion KitPrint: $13.99 • W203103

International Mission Study: Mexico City Teaching Guide for Adults and StudentsPrint: $5.99 • W204120

Missions Traveler: Mexico CityPrint: $3.99 • W204121

International Mission Study: Mexico City Children’s Teaching GuidePrint: $13.99 • W207101

International Mission Study: Mexico City Children’s BookletPrint: $3.99 • W207102

Resources for Missions GroupsResources for preschool, children, students, and adults are all available at wmustore.com.

wmustore.com

https://www.wmustore.com/refugees

http://www.wmu.com/?q=simple-page/christian-job-corps



http://www.worldcrafts.org

http://www.wmu.com/?q=article/support/national-wmu/pure-water-pure-love

https://www.wmustore.com/missions-plan-book-19-20

https://www.wmustore.com/missions-resources/international-mission-study

https://www.wmustore.com/shop-missions-resources

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Plan the Fall Quarter

Photo credit: Pam Henderson

Sample from Missions Leader

https://www.wmustore.com/shop?q=missions+leader

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wmu.com Missions Leader 2020–21

Before I was a ministry consultant with WMU of North Carolina, I was a social worker who worked with youth in programs that helped them prepare for adulthood and develop life skills. I loved working with students and getting to develop long-lasting relationships with them over the years we worked together.

Before I ever had my first group meeting with the students, my coworker pulled me aside and gave me some sound advice: “Just be yourself. Don’t try to be anyone else. Be real with them. They can spot someone fake a mile away.” She was right. Being an authentic leader was important in helping me to develop relationships with the students I was working with.

For years, I have kept that advice in the back of my mind, and I find it to be true of faith as well. Authenticity in our faith walk is essential to not only pursuing a deeper relationship with God but also strengthening our relationships with others.

“And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3–6 NLT).

More than ever before, the world is watching Christians. It is watching how believers respond to certain issues and situations. It is watching to see how we interact with people, how we respond to people, and if we are doing it with the love of Jesus that we say we have. We have to ask ourselves the following questions:• Am I loving others the way Jesus calls me to love them?• Am I reaching out to my neighbors and fostering real relationships with them?• Does my outward life match my inward heart and my relationship with Christ?• Can people tell I belong to Christ by my everyday actions and choices?

We are called to obey God’s commandments and be relentless in loving Christ and loving others. If we want to be believers who live in the light (1 John 1:7; 2:9), then we must be willing to break down any barriers hindering us from living out an authentic faith. Living out an authentic faith isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being genuine and acknowledging our need for a Savior.

Are there areas of your life or faith you need to be more authentic in?

How to use this devotional: Read 1 John 1–2 in its entirety with your group. Discuss what it means to have an authentic faith. Ask volunteers to share what this looks like in their everyday lives. Take a moment to focus on 1 John 2:15–17 and talk about how these verses contradict the messages the world sends us.

Amanda Martinsen is the leadership development consultant for WMU of North Carolina. She has a passion for missions and equipping leaders for kingdom service. She and her husband, Brian, live in Sanford, North Carolina, and have two daughters who make life a little extra adventurous and a whole lot of fun.

DEVOTIONAL

Just Be YourselfBy Amanda Martinsen

Living authentic faith in Christ

Photo credit: NAMB




Leaders of each WMU organization meet once a quarter

and begin each meet-ing with prayer and a

devotional like this one.


6 wmu.com Missions Leader 2020–21

The need for planning in organizations is relentless! Regular planning keeps the WMU leadership team focused in the same direction, helping to ensure quality events, projects, and missions discipleship. Plan for each quarter of the year in advance of the quarter. A midsummer meeting will help you be ready for the fall quarter and relentless in missions.

Be sure all age-level leaders have the needed resources for the year and know how to use them. Women on Mission Leader has excellent ideas for making meetings interesting and informative. Leader resources for students, children, and preschoolers are designed to help leaders plan engaging missions experiences. The monthly curriculum charts (pp. 14–25) will help all WMU leaders plan for the year ahead.

Study the church, school, and communitycalendars from the perspective of how WMU can be relentless in ministry. Invite a church staff member to report about fall church outreach plans.

The suggested agenda is simply a guide for planning. Include items from others on the WMU leadership team as well as church staff. Include the agenda in print or email reminders about the meeting.

Devotional: Just Be YourselfReview the Relentless theme passage, Hebrews 10:32–39, taking note of the watchword verse (Heb. 10:39). Using the devotional on page 27, share thoughts encouraging the WMU leadership team to be relentless in living out authentic faith in Christ. Use the missionary prayer calendar for the day found in Missions Mosaic or at wmu.com/prayercalendar. Lead in prayer for the missionaries to be relentless in sharing the gospel and living for Christ in the places they serve.

State Missions EmphasisDiscuss plans to promote state missions using resources from your state convention or state WMU. Encourage all age-level groups to include a state missions emphasis and special study if available. Plan ways to pray for state missions and highlight the state missions offering. Find suggestions on page 34.

Global Hunger SundayUsing ideas from GlobalHungerRelief.com and page 35, share information about Global Hunger Sunday. Discuss ways your church can raise awareness of global hunger and receive an offering for hunger relief.

Week of Prayer for Baptist AssociationsShare information about your association through a brochure, calendar, etc. Discuss ways you can emphasize associational missions. Note the ways your church is involved in your association and any from your church who serve in a role in your association. Recognize them in a service or church newsletter. Find plans on page 37.

Baptist Women’s World Day of PrayerExplain the significance of this day of prayer to your leadership team. Plan a day of prayer observance (see page 38 for tips) or make plans to participate with your association. Find program ideas and a prayer guide at bwawd.org.

Fall MinistriesAsk a church staff member to report on fall outreach plans. Discuss ways WMU can help and be involved. Ask about unmet needs where WMU could plan and lead a ministry to share the gospel. Pray for the community. Be relentless in ministry and sharing Christ in the community.

Joy Bolton is the WMU churchwide and associational lead strategist for national WMU.

Leadership Team Meeting PlansBy Joy Bolton

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Suggested Meeting Agenda• Lead devotional and prayertime.• Hear reports from leadership team members

and church staff.• Finalize plans for quarterly emphases:

• State Missions Emphasis• Global Hunger Sunday• Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations• Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer• Fall Ministries

• Set date for next leadership team meeting.



7wmu.com Missions Leader 2020–21

There are few things I enjoy more than listening to a good story. A good story-teller can keep my attention and make me want to know more. I love hearing background information, specifics about what happened, and, especially, how God is at work. As WMU leaders, we have opportunities to tell what God is doing in and through missions. How can we be sure to tell the good story?

RECORDS AND REPORTING

Tell Your Church’s Unique StoryBy Pat Ingram

Gather Information Gather information, including specifics, and plan to use every opportunity to share what God is doing. It’s much easier to plan ahead than to look back and try to remember details. As this new church year begins, take time to decide what information you will need and how you will get that information. What missions discipleship groups do you have, and how many are involved? When and where do they meet? How will you know who and how many participated in missions projects? Who will you minister to, and in what way? For instance, if you participate in Christmas in August, then you will need to know who received the items, how many and what kind of items were collected and by which groups, and how the items were delivered to the missionary. Were the items prayed over? How will the items be used? Pictures and testimonies from those participating can be a part of the story. Make plans ahead of time to gather the information needed. Your church is unique and has a good story.

Tell the StoryWho needs to hear the story?• Your WMU leadership team can be the first to hear

the story. What has been accomplished? Whatwent well? What can be improved? Were therechallenges that need to be addressed?

• Your church leadership and congregation will alsoenjoy hearing how God is working. Take everyopportunity to share and use a variety of waysto communicate the information. If your churchhas a newsletter, ask to provide a regular report.During business meetings, take the opportunity toshare more than just statistics. Tell the story, usingpictures and verbal testimonies. Computer slidepresentations are easy to prepare and can be usedin many settings. If your church has a website, askto have a missions page and use the informationyou gather to share up-to-date reports. Focus onWMU is a wonderful time to tell the story of whatGod has done and what He is still doing.

• Your associational and state WMUs need to hearthe story too. Statistics are important, and theyneed them. However, good stories of how God isworking can be an encouragement to associationaland state leaders as well.

It is a privilege to be a part of God’s story through missions discipleship. Sharing the story motivates others. It’s one of the ways God uses us in His kingdom. How will you tell the story?

Pat Ingram is a missions and ministry consultant with Alabama WMU. She loves telling the story of God’s work through WMU.

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We know missions is for everyone, but the reality in most churches is not everyone is involved in missions. This is the time to look at missions discipleship through new eyes.

Invite a friend or two who are not in WMU leadership to have coffee or lunch. If possible, include someone who is not part of a missions group but has some interest in missions. Share your heart for involving more people in missions groups and projects. Get these friends’ perspectives on what is currently being done and what they would like to see.

When you meet, listen. Realize you may hear some things that are painful but true. Don’t be defensive, but rather ask for suggestions. While the ideas may be very different from what you currently are doing, don’t dismiss them. And never respond with “We tried that before and it didn’t work.” Just listen and pray.

As you meet with these friends, if an idea for missions involvement is generating interest, ask if they would be willing to help initiate a suggestion. Encourage them to ask their friends to help. Invite them to a WMU leadership team meeting to share the idea and plans.

Spread the WordMake sure people in your church know about the missions groups and opportunities. Bring your promotion up a notch by creating a church WMU yearbook. Include all missions groups, when and where they meet, and a description of what they do. Provide a calendar for the year that includes your specific church WMU activities as well as associational, state, and national WMU dates. Include a description of annual missions emphases and offerings. Keep in mind many people do not know the history of the offerings or how they are used. Include information about mission action project opportunities and supporting missions through prayer.

Be relentless this year in making disciples of Jesus who live on mission!

MISSIONS GROWTH

Look at Missions Discipleship through New Eyes

By Joy Bolton

Do More

• Start a weekly prayer group formissions.

• Adopt one international missionaryand one North American missionary forspecial prayer and personal support.

• Post missions prayer requests in thechurch bulletin.

• Text or email missions prayer requeststo adults and students in your missionsgroups.

• Do a special presentation aboutmissions in a worship service.

• Invite children to present a skit aboutmissions.

• Plan a churchwide mission actionproject that includes collecting items,going to the ministry site to work, andsharing the gospel. Report with picturesin a worship service.

• Use technology to have a video call witha missionary during a worship service.

• Include an explanation of each missionsoffering in the church newsletter, socialmedia, etc., at the appropriate time.Include the history of how the offeringstarted and how it is used now tosupport missions.

• Provide an evangelism trainingopportunity for all missions groups.

• Invite a missionary speaker to yourchurch and create ways for the speakerto connect with all age groups.


WINTER


Missions Leaderincludes details of

what WMU has to offer and how your church can

participate in missions discipleship for the

coming year.



Few experiences rival visiting an amusement park. A day at the park• accelerates our heart rate as roller coasters speed

along a track;• expands our view as thrill rides take us high above

the park;• tantalizes our taste buds with the promise of

delicious snacks;• challenges our physical and mental abilities with

games of skill and chance;• surrounds us with people from all walks of life.

In many ways, a visit to an amusement park offers an appropriate metaphor for the life of a follower of Christ. Sharing the gospel at home and abroad is all at once exciting, terrifying, challenging, and rewarding.

Use this kickoff event to prepare your church to experience the “thrills and chills” of a relentless life lived on mission for Jesus.

Before the Event• Pray for the event and the missions efforts of

your church in the coming year. Pray church andcommunity members would be inspired to greaterinvolvement in missions this year.

• Choose a date and location for the event.• Invite representatives from all missions groups in

your church to help plan the event. Provide theRelentless theme information to planning teammembers.

• Seek out volunteers to aid in setting up andimplementing the event. Ensure chairs, tables, andother equipment are available; gather supplies foractivities; and engage helpers to set up and staffeach station. Ask students to help with technology-related activities.

• Ask leaders to provide a list of supplies neededfor age-level groups, such as pencils, pens, Bibles,scissors, construction paper, magazines withpictures to cut out, craft sticks, and glue or gluesticks. Then provide collection boxes for thesesupplies before and during the event.

• Ask a team member from each group to prepare apromotional flyer for his or her group, includingdates, times, and events planned for the year, alongwith supplies needed. Encourage team members touse images from their groups or of similarly agedpeople to highlight the age of the group. (Canva.com is an easy-to-use website for making flyersand includes a variety of free photos and clip art.The basic plan is free, and images not included inthe free plan can be purchased.)

Promotion• Display promotional materials for the emphasis

ahead of time.• Promote your event across social media platforms.

If your church has a Facebook page, create aFacebook event and encourage members to sharethe event with friends and family members.

• Include the event on the church calendar,in worship bulletins, in email or postalannouncements, and in other communicationschannels used by your church.

• Publicize suggested items to bring (see sidebar) inthe invitations.

During the Event

ConcessionsPrepare a few carnival-style snacks representative of this year’s focus countries, cities, and organizations (see pages 14–25). Examples include beignets or sugar-coated fried doughnuts, egg rolls, pizza, chicken-on-a-stick, roasted peanuts in the shell, and banana chip snack mix.

MidwaySet up an assortment of carnival games, such as ring toss, bean bag toss, basketball shoot, duck pond, and others. Engage college students from your church or members of your local Baptist Collegiate Ministry to work the games during the event.

Carnival: Introduce the Thrill of Missions

By Carrie Brown McWhorter

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KICKOFF EVENT


Churchwide events like this

one are reasons to celebrate.



Main Stage• Set up a theater experience in a separate room near

the main event or in a designated area of yourcarnival space.

• If someone in your church or community is fluentin sign language, ask him or her to prepare aninterpretation of one or two of the theme musicselections.

• Ask your worship team to prepare a dramaticinterpretation of one of the songs.

• Seek out volunteers to sing songs or playinstruments from other countries.

• Create a playlist on Vimeo or YouTube featuring avariety of videos from the International MissionBoard, North American Mission Board, and themissionaries, ministries, and countries/citiesfeatured this year. Play the videos on a continuousloop during the event.

Picture SpotUtilize the unique skills of your members by setting up one or more booths to create a keepsake of the event. Consider face painting, caricature drawings, sand art crafts, or a photo booth with props.

Or engage students who can contribute their technical expertise. Suggest using a smartphone app to transform a normal photo into a cartoon or caricature. (Clip2Comic & Caricature Maker and MomentCam Cartoons & Stickers are two examples.) Snap a picture of each participant, add the cartoon/caricature filter, and then send the photo via text or email or post to social media (with permission). Include a message to thank each person for coming to your event.

Hall of Missions• Print pictures and brief descriptions (using

a 24-point font or larger for readability) ofmissionaries and missions organizations yourchurch supports. Include maps or photos of citiesand countries featured in upcoming studies.

• Display the photos and descriptions museum-styleon the walls or on a table in a hall, entryway, orother area participants will pass through.

• If there are missionaries in your church orcommunity, invite them to be guides for thisactivity. Encourage them to plan a display withmementos from their work and to wear traditionaldress from the countries they served.

Age-Level Missions Supply DriveChurch members of all ages will enjoy collecting and donating supplies to be used in missions groups this year. Compile a list of needed supplies based on suggestions from age-level missions leaders. Provide the list to church members through Sunday School and other small groups and in the church bulletin or newsletter. Ask children’s missions groups to decorate collection boxes ahead of the drive using the carnival theme. Make collection boxes available a few weeks ahead of the kickoff event if possible. For ease of sorting and distribution, consider smaller decorated boxes or bins labeled for each item (e.g., a box for glue and glue sticks, a box for scissors, etc.).

Carrie Brown McWhorter is missions team leader at her church and enjoys planning events, especially those involving games and snacks.

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Do you know a farmer? I do. Something I’ve learned about farmers is their very livelihood depends on their harvest season. From the seeds they plant to the care they give each crop, these laborers are focused on that crop. A few weeks ago, I heard of some cotton farmers in Texas whose cotton bales were slashed, causing major financial repercussions. They chose to fight for their crop and the vandals were charged. The harvest season for these farmers is critical.

When Jesus told the disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matt. 9:37 ESV), He was telling them to look at the people around them; they were “like sheep without a shepherd”

(Matt. 9:36 ESV). Who would take care of these sheep and fight off their harassers? When we look at the communities in our state, what does the harvest look like? Are there workers for harvest season?

Through the various missions and ministries promoted through your state convention and state WMU, your gifts provide the means to advance the gospel in a unique way. Your state missions offering provides an avenue where more laborers can come together to work the harvest.

So how can you mobilize your church members and prepare their hearts for this season of giving? Prepare. Share. Participate.

The Harvest Is ReadyBy Liz Encinia

State Missions Emphasis | September

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Three Months Out | Prepare• Be intentional about praying

and seeking God’s will inleading the state missionsemphasis in your church.

• Gather a team of people inyour church to lead out in theemphasis and set your churchgoal.

• Contact your state conventionand state WMU to identifywhich promotional materialsand study guides you can useto strengthen your offeringemphasis.

• Schedule a churchwide eventor missions project in whichall ages can take action andcontribute.

Two Months Out | Share• Engage your church and

spur excitement about theoffering. Find promotionalideas on your stateconvention’s or state WMU’swebsite.

• Cast the vision behindthe theme. Provideopportunities for churchmembers to learn aboutthe offering and why theyshould participate.

• Share the videos in yourSunday services leadingup to your week of prayeremphasis or giving Sunday.

Emphasis Month | Participate• During the week of prayer, consider

substituting Sunday School materialor Wednesday night curriculum withthe coordinating emphasis studyguides.

• Encourage church members to usethe prayer guide and pray daily forthe featured ministries and countlessothers doing whatever it takes toadvance the gospel in your state.

• Encourage your church family togive sacrificially for the sake ofthe gospel. Remember reaching astate goal should never be the solereason you give. Give sacrificially tomake Him known. Give to supportkingdom work in places you can’tgo. Give so people can hear thegospel and find hope in Christ.

The harvest is ready, and we need some laborers ready to pray, learn, give, and serve during this season.

Liz Encinia serves as executive director of Kentucky WMU.




What do I know of hunger? As a baby, I faced some significant health issues, and for a long time, I wasn’t able to keep food down. Doctors grew concerned about malnutrition and its possible effects on my body and brain development. Even then, my experience with hunger wasn’t based on poverty or a lack of access to healthy food.

Knowing I could have suffered severe and lasting consequences from malnutrition, I am now more sympathetic to the issue of hunger. But should that be the only reason I care? As a follower of Christ, I am called to put my faith into action as I care for my neighbors locally and globally.

Since 1978, Southern Baptists have been following through with the call to provide food to those in desperate need while proclaiming the gospel. Global Hunger Relief (GHR) was the initiative birthed out of this movement and is now a collaborative partnership between seven Southern Baptist organizations, including WMU.

GHR uses 100 percent of its funds for meeting hunger needs. But it goes beyond offering life-sustaining resources. The international and North American missionaries who use these funds from GHR extend tangible resources along with the gospel. I once had a professor in seminary paint a picture of how sharing the gospel and our resources go hand in hand. He said hungry people can’t hear the good news if their stomachs are growling. In the Middle Eastern country where I serve, 85 percent of a particular group of refugees lives below the poverty line and struggles to meet basic needs. Opportunities to extend daily bread and share about the Bread of life abound.

Each year, Southern Baptists continue to raise awareness about global hunger. October 11 is this year’s Global Hunger Sunday. Your church can join

millions of other Southern Baptists in learning more about, praying for, and giving toward this gospel-centered cause. Check out the resources available through WMU (wmustore.com/globalhunger) and GHR (GlobalHungerRelief.org/resources) to educate your church about hunger.

LearnOn a Wednesday night in October, host an experiential hunger meal. Find plans adapted in an age-appropriate way for preschoolers through adults in WMU’s downloadable resource Understanding Global Hunger: Churchwide Event (also available in Spanish).

Pray• Pray for people who live with constant hunger to

have their physical and spiritual needs met.• Pray for missionaries to have an opportunity to

share the gospel as they work to meet hungerneeds, the wisdom to recognize that opportunity,and the boldness to take it.

• Pray for the gospel to advance through hungerministries.

SupportProvide Bread Banks for Global Hunger Relief to families and individuals in your church. Encourage them to give sacrificially to the offering for Global Hunger Relief. Challenge them to give what they would spend on a meal for their family or a trip to the grocery store.

Do and TellOffer church members an opportunity to serve in a local hunger ministry during this month. But don’t just distribute bags or plates of food. Talk with those who are receiving the food, and most importantly, listen to them and look for openings to share Christ’s love.

Ena Redding lives in the Middle East. She blogs at EnaRedding.com.

*Name changed.

Provide Food While Proclaiming the Gospel

By Ena Redding*

Global Hunger Sunday | October 11

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As children, my sister and I were told to stick together because there is strength in numbers. Yes, safety was a key motivator, but it also increased our effectiveness. Is that not also true of Baptist associations? Associations consist of churches of varying sizes, demographics, needs, and leadership styles with one common goal: to impact their local area (and the world) for Christ. Working together empowers the churches and the association; there is strength in numbers.

Southern Baptists will observe the Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations on October 18–25. Visit ameresources.org for resources to enhance this annual event that encourages Southern Baptists to pray for the work of their local association.

Pray for Your AssociationPray for the association’s leaders as well as the churches’ leaders to have a clear vision and a cooperative spirit. Pray for the finances of the association and wise use of the funds. Pray for programming that strengthens the work of the churches. Pray for an eagerness among the people to be on mission. Prayerwalk the property owned by the association, whether it’s an office, camp facilities, or other properties. Involve all age groups in praying.

Learn about Your Association’s WorkTo pray effectively, learn about the work of the association and its churches. Obtain specific prayer requests from the associational mission strategist. Ask him about his vision for the association and what is needed to move in that direction. Examine the association’s newsletter or website purposefully to discover prayer needs to share during your church’s prayertime. Invite someone to share a testimony of the value of personal involvement in the association. Participate in events hosted by the association. Ask the association’s missions team leader how to pray for the team. Befriend the leaders of sister churches and glean prayer requests from them. Listen attentively as others pray for the association.

Support Your AssociationInformed pray-ers support the work of the association. It should not be surprising that insightful praying breeds involvement. A neighboring church needs child-care workers for a couple’s event, a small church is struggling to get enough workers for Vacation Bible School, a college-town church needs volunteers to help on move-in day. Volunteer to help. A church is seeking prayer warriors for its missions team, a church is discouraged and needs fervent prayer, a church is searching for a pastor. Become a prayer partner. A sister church is hosting a cleanup day at a city park; leaves need to be raked at the association’s office. Gather a group and lend a hand. Working together, side by side, individuals enhance the work of the association. Indeed, there is strength in numbers.

Jeanette Cloyd, an avid missions volunteer, ministers alongside her husband, who is the associational mission strategist for Greater Wabash Baptist Association in Illinois.

Recognize the Strength in NumbersBy Jeanette Cloyd

Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations | October 18–25

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In your mind’s eye, envision seven women in lovely flowing gowns surrounding the globe. They face the earth and hold hands with one another. Each woman is wearing the color of her continental union: Africa is purple; Asia, light blue; the Caribbean, green; Europe, dark blue; Latin America, yellow; North America, orange; and the South West Pacific, red. A beautiful sight!

You have just pictured the mission of Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Women. As Baptist women on the global scale, we link arms and stand as one to draw together Baptist women across the world, promoting understanding and sympathy for the suffering of so many. We do not hold up the world; only God can do that. Instead, we hold one another up around the world.

Since 1948, BWA Women has grown to include seven continental unions, 151 countries, and many Baptist women’s organizations. On the annual Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer, we have the privilege of supporting women through prayer and an offering, both of immense importance.

Below are two examples of observing the day of prayer on the first Monday in November. The size of your church or women’s missions group will determine how you adjust the following suggestions.

The 7-by-7-by-7 ChallengeInvite seven women to invite seven guests to attend the day of prayer observance and give at least $7 to the offering. Before the meeting date, assign seven women, or seven groups, a continental union and ask them to bring a dish from this area of the world to the meeting. Begin with an intercontinental meal.

A month before your meeting, ask seven women to research seven facts about each continental union.

Share these facts in your meeting. Discuss and list seven prayer concerns derived from

your discussion. Spend the remainder of your meeting time in prayer for

those needs.Go to bwawd.org to

download the prayer guide for continental prayer needs and find additional resources.

Prayerwalk the WorldAt least one month ahead of

your Day of Prayer observance, assign seven people, or preferably

seven groups, to research and design a table display representing a

continental union. During that time, ask them to find pictures, clothing, food, or items

that illustrate each continental union by custom, religion, etc.

Set up seven tables around your meeting space and give groups or individuals 30–45 minutes to decorate their table. Be sure to utilize the continental union’s assigned color (given above) for the tables.

Prayerwalk the continental unions, pausing at each table to pray for women living in that area. Again, utilize the prayer guide. Ensure each table has a basket or an offering plate to receive offerings. Advise your women ahead of time of this opportunity and ask them to divvy up their offerings into seven envelopes, one for each table.

Let these suggestions spur your creativity as you celebrate the day of prayer.

Dianne Swaim writes from North Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a hospital, hospice, and palliative care chaplain.

Hold Up Women’s Work around the World in Prayer

By Dianne Swaim

Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer | November 2

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Anna Mary Byrdwell is a beloved leader by many in Kentucky and beyond. After 37 years of service with Kentucky WMU, she was honored upon her retirement, and the testimonies had a similar theme: “I am involved in WMU leadership because of Anna Mary Byrdwell.” What was her secret?

Anna Mary was a people watcher. She observed people over time and took note of their interests and skills. She paid attention to little things. Whatever people did at church or in the community, she was an encourager.

When leadership needs came up, Anna Mary did not approach people simply to fill a position. Rather, after watching for a while, she would slip up beside someone and say, “I’ve been watching you, and you are really good at . . .” She would compliment the person and encourage her or him to use this ability in missions and serving the Lord. If there was a leadership opportunity, she would take a similar approach and cast the opportunity as a way to use skills in missions and serve the Lord.

If someone declined, Anna Mary always thanked the person for considering the opportunity and encouraged her or him to be open to future service. Many found themselves saying yes the next time Anna Mary encouraged them to consider leadership.

Anna Mary called her approach to seek out leaders “Right leader, right job.” She was convinced that when we match people with the right job for them, they will be the right leader for the job.

Determine Leadership NeedsBefore enlisting leaders, determine the needs. Consider the following:• What churchwide leadership roles are needed for

effective WMU work in your church? Considerspecialized assignments requiring special skill sets.

• What missions groups do you currently have, andwhat leaders are needed?

• What missions groups do you need to start, andwhat leaders are needed?

Follow your church’s leadership enlistment plan. This may include a WMU leadership selection committee or a church nominating committee.

Determine which leaders currently serving will continue and where new leaders are needed. Pray for God’s wisdom in observing people and approaching them with opportunities for service. Ask for suggestions from church staff and other leaders.

Talk personally with each potential leader, presenting the leadership role as an opportunity to serve the Lord. Provide information about the role and materials that would be helpful. Do not ask for an immediate answer, but rather give the person time to pray and review the materials. Follow up in a few days, and respect the answer given.

Provide Training and ResourcesEven experienced leaders need to review in preparation for a new church year. Meet with leaders individually or in groups by organization to review materials and discuss responsibilities. If leadership conferences will be available in your association or state, make plans to attend together. Attending training with other leaders adds to the excitement and encourages sharing ideas.

Take time to walk through the resources with leaders. Point out things you think are very helpful. Ask experienced leaders to share leadership tips with new leaders. Encourage leaders for each organization to plan together regularly.

Show web resources from wmu.com. Encourage leaders to visit frequently to see information and resources added throughout the year.

Present online courses through ChristianLeaderLearning.com as a way to keep growing as a leader. Courses may be taken individually, or arrangements can be made for a group study.

Promote continued leadership development with the WMU leadership team.

ENLISTING AND TRAINING LEADERS

Right Person, Right Job: The Art of Enlisting and Training Leaders

By Joy Bolton

SPRING




Give Ongoing Support and EncouragementAnnual and regular planning are vital for supporting and encouraging leaders. As you review the church calendar, discuss plans, and make assignments, leaders get excited about the year ahead. Planning together is a great tool for encouragement and retention.

Check in with leaders regularly. Celebrate with them things that went well. Pray for and with them in areas that are challenging.

Make sure leaders have adequate help. Extra people just to be in the room can help keep active children focused and assist with everything from crafts to games to response activities. Many children need adult attention, and extra leaders can help provide personal attention.

Notes of appreciation, fast-food gift cards, special bookmarks, and other tangible items are a way to express your thanks. Dollar store surprises can mean a great deal.

Serve the Lord through WMUWhen the right leader is serving the Lord in the right job, leadership is a rewarding experience. It can still be challenging at times, but always fulfilling. A leader serving in the place that is a match for skills, experience, and passion confirms God’s direction and finds joy in service. God’s Mission. Our Passion. WMU!


Enlistment Checklist

Prayer for process and people

Review of church leadership enlistment plan and requirements

List of needed positions

List of continuing leaders

List of prospective leaders

Resources for missions groups/leadership positions

Missions Leader: WMU Planning Guide for each leader

Review of web resources, including exclusive content for Missions Leader

Church calendar and date for planning

Information about associational and state training

Information about online leadership courses



why missions discipleship - wmu

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