Monthly Archives: December 2011

Kentucky WMU Connecting Around the World

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The last few years have been remarkable for Kentucky WMU in regard to our connections around the world. Through various partnerships, we have been at work to encourage women and missions education in several countries.

Korea – Through our 2006-2010 partnership, we sent representatives to Korea in 2006, 2008, and 2010.  We hosted a KBWMU seminary student and assisted in her schooling and hospitality while she studied at Southern Seminary.  We hosted visitors to our summer camps in 2007, 2008, and 2010.  We hosted the KBWMU choir in 2007 at our Annual Meeting and for a choir tour across Kentucky. We have prayed for Korea WMU as well as North Korea.  We make a donation to an endowment fund at the WMU Foundation which benefits the work of Korea WMU and also contributed to the House of Love, a retirement home for pastors and missionaries built by KBWMU.

Tanzania – As the result of a KBC team visit to Tanzania in 2008 in which I participated, Kentucky WMU encouraged the Tanzanian Baptist Women’s Union to re-organize and start meeting again.  We provided financial assistance in 2008 and 2009 for their annual meeting.  In 2010, TBWU invited the East Africa Baptist Women’s Union to hold a regional meeting in Dar Es Salaam and invited Kentucky WMU to attend.  Linda Cooper and I went in December 2010 and participated in this meeting which included women from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.  The East Africa group had been praying about reconnecting with women in Tanzania and the invitation from the TBWU was an answer to prayer.  Kentucky WMU provided financial assistance to help the women hold this meeting.   The growth of the TBWMU led to their desire to participate in training for all Africa.  Kentucky WMU assisted two leaders from Tanzania in making a trip to Nigeria, November 16-20, 2011 for this conference.  They have returned with a list of WMU materials from Nigeria that they wish to translate and use in Tanzania.   Kentucky WMU will assist with this project.

Indonesia – After my trip to Indonesia in August 2010 to lead Bible studies for the Indonesia Baptist Women’s Union meeting, we learned that one of our Kentucky missionaries has been working on a new set of Children in Action type material for use in Indonesian Baptist churches.   We received a request to assist with printing costs and to help some of their leaders attend the Asian Baptist Women’s Union Young Women’s Conference.  We agreed to assist with the travel costs if those attending could also receive training as Children in Action leaders while they were in Bali for the conference.  This was arranged and $2,000 was provided.  We will soon provide additional funds for printing the new Children in Action materials.  You can read about the Young Women’s Conference and see pictures from the meeting.  It was exciting to us in Kentucky that Indonesia Baptist Women’ s Union hosted the Young Women’s Confernce and that the current president of the Asian Baptist Women’s Union is Sook Jae Lee, executive director for Korea Baptist WMU, with whom we have been in partnership. 

Uganda – One of the participants in the 2010 East Africa Baptist Women’s Union meeting wrote to us recently asking for assistance in their work.  At this point, she was just writing to ask about WMU work, what we focus on, and how we organize.  Because WMU principles of praying, giving, learning, and going for missions can be applied anywhere in the world, we gladly sent basic information which they can apply in their setting.

Malawi – Althought we were first contacted in 2008 about connecting with the Malawi Baptist Women’s Union, the time was not right until just a few months ago when the KBC Partnership Office began to promote Go Africa for 2012.  Scott Pittman asked Kentucky WMU to consider sending a team.  After a number of emails with missionaries and national leaders, we have decided to send a team July 4-16 to teach minister’s wives during their summer institute at the seminary. Cost for this trip is approximately $3,000 per person.  Due to the need to make travel arrangements and team assignments, applications and deposits are due by Feb. 15, 2012.  For more information, go to www.kywmu.org/malawi.

In addition to these connections, I have missionary friends in Senegal with whom I stay in touch.  They have been able to send two students to Oneida Baptist Institute and I have the opportunity to assist in arrangements for them during breaks.  We have Kentucky missionaries in other parts of the world who write to us regularly and for whom we pray. 

God is blessing the generosity of Kentucky WMU as we assist in other places.  Please keep these relationships in your prayers, praying that God will bless and direct the missions work of our Baptist sisters.

EBO at Work

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This year I  have been writing a series of short articles about the Eliza Broadus Offering for the Western Recorder.  As a way of spreading the word about EBO, I plan to start posting these columns in my blog as well.   The following appeared in the Western Recorder in November.

As we observe the Christmas season when we are often more aware of the need to care for the less fortunate, the Eliza Broadus Offering is already at work.  Through NAMB appointed career and MSC missionaries, Kentucky Baptists are reaching out to people in need across our state.

 The KBC Mission Service and Ministries Department supports Mission Service Corps and career appointed missionaries, coordinates with regional ministries, promotes prayer and provides other services to churches and missions leaders.  This year the Eliza Broadus Offering will provide $164,000 for these ministries.  This includes funds for appointed missionary personnel serving poor communities of Kentucky ($100,000); Church and Community outreach initiatives ($20,000); Missions Mobilization ($30,000); Literacy Conference ($1,000); Retreat for NAMB Career Appointed and NAMB Mission Service Corps missionaries serving in Kentucky ($3,000); and Mountain Missions Baptist Centers building repairs ($10,000).

 But these funds cannot be provided in full unless they are given.  Your generous gifts to the Eliza Broadus Offering are needed more than ever to help make these ministries possible.

 You can go a step further in your support of state missions through Adopt a Missionary.  By adopting one of our Kentucky missionaries, you can do some extra things like:
Prayer– this is their number one need!
Communicate– a telephone call, letter, or email can offer much needed encouragement.
Send Something – a birthday or holiday care package will let them know you are remembering them on this special day.
Visit – make arrangements to visit the ministry site and assist them in their work.
Invite – missionaries love to tell about their ministry and how God is working. Let them share with your church, small group, or missions organization.
Meet a Need – there is always a shortage of ministry resources. What does your missionary need that you or your church group could provide?

Learn more about Adopt a Missionary at www.kybaptist.org/adoptamissionary. Or call: 502-489-3530 or 866-489-3530.  View a listing of Kentucky missionaries, including pictures and other information at www.kybaptist.org/missionaries.

Chain Reaction is both the theme and goal of this year’s state missions emphasis.  Through  praying, giving, and adopting missionaries, you can start a chain reaction across our state!

In Support of the Cooperative Program

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It has been said that the Cooperative Program represents the logic of Southern Baptists and missions offerings the heart.  A great analogy and one worth pondering a bit. 

In recent months you have heard much about the importance of the Cooperative Program and our desire as Kentucky Baptists to do More for Christ. This emphasis is an encouragement to individuals and churches to do more for Christ, to raise CP giving. Our goal is that every Kentucky Baptist would give 10% of income, and that every Kentucky Baptist Church would give at least 10% of congregational income through the Cooperative Program.

 CP changes lives.  It allows the International Mission Board to appoint missionaries and develop strategies to share the gospel.  It supports the North American Mission Board and the church planting efforts that are taking place across our nation. CP also provides for the ministries of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and all of the training and services that KBC provides to our churches.

 Just as we teach tithing to the members of our churches, corporate tithing as churches models at another level what we believe.  As churches, it is easy to become preoccupied with the ministry needs where we are, forgetting our responsibility to others and failing to rely on God to provide for local needs. Just as we teach individuals to live on 90%, giving 10% of our church offerings through the Cooperative Program is a way for congregations to practice tithing and model living on 90%.

 Missions offerings then come along side of our CP funds, stretching them further. Because basic administrative expenses are provided through CP, missions offerings are used to send more missionaries, provide supplies and other ministry expenses. Special projects to share the gospel are funded through our missions offerings.  From tin roofs on mud brick churches, missionary transportation, Bibles and other resources, missions offerings make every CP dollar go further.

 Some congregations have committed to give more than 10% through the Cooperative Program.  Thank you! Others are seeking to grow to the 10% level. Thank you! 

 As we give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions at the Christmas season, may we be mindful of how we are “His Heart, His Hands, His Voice.”   Together we can do More for Christ!

(This column is from the December issue of Kentucky Notes, insert to the Western Recorder on November 29, 2011.  To read the entire Winter issue of Kentucky Notes, go to: http://www.kywmu.org/clientimages/36717/kynotes%20winter11.pdf)