Engaging young women in missions
Printer-friendly versionby Julie Walters
(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) - Dec. 28, 2009 - The WMU Foundation Executive Committee granted $15,000 from their operating revenue on Dec. 16 to support national WMU’s efforts to involve young women in missions and WMU.
These funds will help advance two significant efforts already developed by WMU—www.mymissionfulfilled.com, a Web site designed to appeal to women in their 20s and 30s as they seek to develop a missional lifestyle; and fulfilled 2010, a free, printed piece in a magalog format that challenges younger women to be on mission in their home, church and world in tangible ways.
“This younger generation of women has grown up with a social conscience and a desire to be involved in social justice issues,” asserted Jean Roberson, ministry consultant and leader of WMU’s adult resource team. “The fulfilled magalog and mymissionfulfilled.com are two ways that WMU helps these women to recognize that being active in social justice issues and changing their world for Christ is actually missions and missional living. We try to connect faith and action through Bible study, prayer, learning about how God is working with these issues domestically and internationally, and providing concrete ways they can be involved.”
Roberson added that WMU is reaching these women where they are—online. On the interactive Web site, www.mymissionfulfilled.com, and through other social media such as Facebook, You Tube, and Flickr, women are invited to share their thoughts on articles, ideas, and issues in their lives.
“Our hope is to create a community where women can be energized by one another and by the online content to be active for Christ where they live,” explained Roberson.
Sylvia DeLoach, chair of the WMU Foundation, praised WMU for their focus on reaching younger women, and added that WMU has always focused on involving new generations in the mission of God.
“We hope this grant will serve to further those efforts and enhance them in ways that they could not have pursued without the additional funds,” DeLoach said.
Instilling hearts for missions in youth and young adults is also a focus of national WMU president, Kaye Miller. Prior to being elected as national president in 2005, Miller led Acteens and Youth on Mission at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., and continues to minister to young women.
“Young adults in churches across the country truly want to make a difference in their world for Christ,” Miller said. “I’ve seen their passion, their commitment … they want to positively affect change, and WMU offers multiple avenues for them to do just that. We are grateful to the WMU Foundation for this grant which will help engage more young women in missions and help them grow in their faith.”
--30--
The WMU Foundation is guided by a 17-member board of trustees and was created in 1995 to support the mission and ministries of WMU. Through more than 125 funds and endowments, the WMU Foundation provides grants, awards, and scholarships to further the work of WMU at every level—church, associational, state, and national—as well as overseas. For more information about the WMU Foundation, visit www.wmufoundation.com.
