LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Loving God with “all you are” was the central message during the Live the Joy of Missions WMU Conference, based on Luke 10:27: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”
More than 825 participants from 35 states and Puerto Rico attended the national WMU event at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., Oct. 17–20.
Andrea Mullins, New Hope Publishers, developed the central Scripture passage in each general session by citing a person in the Bible who demonstrated what it means to love God with all of one’s heart, soul, strength, and mind; and what it means to truly love one’s neighbor.
During the first general session, Edna Ellison, speaker and author of “Deeper Still: A Woman’s Guide to a Closer Walk with God,” explored the first part of this command —loving God with all one’s heart — and challenged participants to examine their hearts and delve deeper into prayer.
“God calls us to go deeper (in prayer),” Ellison said. She also challenged participants to let revival start with them. “Be prayer warriors not problem worriers,” she encouraged. “Won’t you dare to let God change the world through you?”
The following evening, Geoff Hammond, president of the North American Mission Board, continued with a focus on prayer. “God chooses impossible situations to demonstrate his power through the prayers of his people,” Hammond asserted.
According to Hammond, reaching the 300 million people in the United States for Christ is one of those situations that may seem daunting.
“Will God allow us to reach the world but not minister to our own neighbor?” Hammond asked. “No. North America desperately needs a group of powerful pray-ers to pray for our nation. We must undergird our work with devout prayer and align ourselves with the principles of God to reach North America.
“I’m praying for a spiritual awakening and church planting movement. Nobody knows how to love and pray like godly women. I pray you will leave this meeting praying more.”
Norman Blackaby, co-author of “Called and Accountable: Discovering Your Place in God’s Eternal Purpose,” focused on loving God with all one’s strength and the importance of being faithful with all that God has entrusted to each person so that his purposes are fulfilled.
“The true joy of missions comes not from our satisfaction, but because we walk with him and allow him to love others through our life,” Blackaby continued. “The challenges in missions are always overcome by joy that comes with living the mission.”
On Thursday afternoon, conferees were the hands and feet of Christ as they poured into the Little Rock community to serve. Avenues for service included prayerwalking downtown North Little Rock, apartment complexes, fire and police stations, and the state capitol; surveying unchurched areas; visiting nursing homes to give manicures and pray with residents; reading to elementary school children; and helping out in local ministries such as the Ronald McDonald House and The Rice Depot, a food bank ministry that serves the state of Arkansas.
“Thank you for loving our city,” said Kaye Miller, president of WMU and member of the host church, at the conclusion of the event. “Missions isn’t an option. The Great Commission is a mandate. We pray that as you leave here you will go back to your place of service — your mission fields — and love your neighbor.”
Additional features of the event included missions workshops, some led in Spanish and Korean; observation of the 100th anniversary of the WMU Training School; a WorldCrafts Village and bookstore; the second annual WMU golf tournament; and Kyle Matthews in concert on Friday night.
