By Allison Kinion -

What happens when 3 Indiana WMU leaders join with 180 missions leaders from around the United States, including representatives from the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, and the Woman’s Missionary Union? One word: MISSIONS! In spite of the unusual snow and ice storm that hit the southern part of the country, missions leaders gathered together to celebrate what God is doing through Southern Baptists to reach the world for Christ. These are just a few highlights from this incredible gathering at National WMU’s headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama:

12 missions leaders from around the United States arrived early to complete their coursework to be certified in Mental Health First Aid. National WMU’s "Project Help" emphasis has provided many resources to help our churches minister to those struggling with mental health challenges and crises. They have created curriculum and units of study for all ages, as well as offered opportunities to educate individuals and churches online through their course offerings.


[Kevin Ezell (L) and Gordon Fort (R)]

IMB and NAMB leaders happily reported record offering receipts for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering ($206.8 Million) and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering ($74.7 Million)! We also were blessed to hear from IMB missionaries from Brazil and a NAMB Send Relief Missionary Chaplain from Hawaii, who works in Disaster Relief.


National WMU reported giving nearly 2,000 water filters to our IMB Missionaries through the "Pure Water Pure Love" Grant, making it possible for them to have safe, clean water on the field where they serve. They also were able to give grant funds to 5 countries, Texans on Mission, North Carolina Disaster Relief, South Carolina Disaster Relief, and Send Relief. "Pure Water Pure Love" was also able to purchase 3 tanker trucks to help bring much needed water into areas ravaged by recent disasters.

The International Mission Board introduced a new way to get our young adults on the mission field sooner with the Explorer 3000 Project. This project will send young adults into unengaged regions to begin mapping and charting a future course to reach unengaged people with the gospel of Christ.


In an effort to spur on the churches in our convention to give more money to the Cooperative Program, National WMU set off to create a visual representation of what can happen when all of us work together. Men, women, boys, and girls from all around the United States, mailed in popsicle stick pallets to join them all together to make a house boat similar to the one the Friesens, our IMB missionaries on the Amazon river in Brazil, live on. It was an amazing feat to accomplish with over 30,000 popsicle stick pallets mailed in. 
The Indiana WMU leaders who were able to attend walked away from the weekend convinced more than ever that we truly can do more together than we can do on our own!

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Allison serves as the WMU Director for the Crossroads Association.