SPRINGFIELD — Women from across the state were encouraged to be "unhindered!" in their service to the Lord at the Missouri Woman’s Missionary Union/Women’s Ministry M-Counter weekend April 15-16.
Author and speaker Sharon Hoffman demonstrates how women sometimes fill their lives with rocks. (Photo by Vicki Brown)
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Using the "unhindered!" theme, Hoffman shared personal experiences and stories gleaned from others to challenge her listeners to throw off sin, to hold nothing back from God and to continue to run the race God has set out for each believer.
She encouraged women to "go home as a gift to be a godly influencer," instead of forgetting what they learned throughout the weekend. "Some women finish the race, but their light went out before they got there," she said.
Hoffman closed the annual event by giving women 10 ways to run their race for the Lord.
Missionary speakers from the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board and the state convention shared stories from and information about their work. IMB missionaries included Jason and Dorothea Lee, currently on stateside assignment from Senegal, West Africa, and Julianne George, a former IMB Journeyman to South Asia.
Alicia Wong represented NAMB, where she serves in the women’s evangelism department.
Representing ministries in the state were Nadeine Gold of Mountain Country Ministries in Branson; Vince Blubaugh, MBC development and communications director; and Robbi Haynes, director of recruitment and marketing for the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home.
Dorothea and Jason Lee, IMB missionaries to Senegal, share their experiences with M-Counter attendees. (Photo by Vicki Brown)
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Attendees had four opportunities to participate in breakout sessions, including workshops led by missionary participants. WMU age-level leadership conferences, personal growth and discipleship workshops and issue-oriented sessions, such as human exploitation and marriage, also were offered.
Missouri WMU also held its 87th annual meeting, electing several new board officers and hearing an update from MBC Associate Executive Director Jerry Field. They also honored Beverly Richardson as Emeritus Missionary of the Year.
One hundred ten women arrived a little early on Friday to participate in nine mission projects, including sorting clothing and food at Greene County Baptist Association’s Grand Oak Mission Center, gardening at Grand Oaks and cleaning at the Baptist Student Center at Missouri State University. They also sorted school supplies at Crosslines, a ministry of area churches in Greene County; cleaned a dorm at Boys and Girls Town; worked at the area Habitat for Humanity’s latest home; packed items for Convoy for Hope, a national organization; made salvation bracelets for a mission trip to Mexico; and sorted items M-Counter participants brought to the meeting.
Next year’s M-Counter is set for April 20-21 at First Baptist Church, Jackson.
