Georgia Baptist women vow to "press on" in Christian commitment, missions involvement

DOUGLASVILLE — More than 900 Georgia Baptist women of all ages, occupations and ethnic backgrounds converged on this West Georgia town this past weekend to celebrate missions and renew their missions commitment. Representatives from churches in 66 associations gathered at First Douglasville for the 121st session of Baptist Woman’s Missionary Union (BWMU) of Georgia annual meeting on April 16-17. This year’s theme was “Press On.”

While many had attended the sessions for decades, it was the first meeting for at least three participants. Each vowed it would not be the last.

First-timer Teri Burkey, 45, from First Church Warrenton, didn’t even plan on attending the two-day missions encounter filled with worship, small-group conferences, missionary testimonies, fellowship opportunities and the conducting of business. Although her mother-in-law had invited her, she feared that because of her personal struggles – which have included past addictions – she wouldn’t fit in.

Yet, early on the morning the event was to start, she was unable to sleep and called her mother-in-law to say “I’m going.” Hours later, her fears had evaporated.

“Wow, what a blessing! The unity of our sisterhood in Christ has been wonderful. This has been so much fun!” said Burkey, who is part Native American.

“I can’t wait to get back home,” the seamstress continued, “to share my faith with coworkers.” Other plans include mending her relationship with her long-estranged daughter.

Overhearing Burkey’s remarks, another first-timer could not stay silent.

Margaret Dempsey

Wanda Lee, executive director of WMU, SBC, challenged Georgia Baptist WMU members to be thankful for the past, have courage for the present, and have faith for the future.

“This is the greatest thing I’ve ever done,” said Pat Danner, 63, from Arabi Church. After struggling for years rearing six children as a widow and then surviving a catastrophic illness in 2003, the licensed practical nurse sensed God had something for her to do.

“God will bring you to your knees so that you can get up and serve Him,” she explained. Already planning on joining a prayer walk team from her church going to New York City this summer, Danner gained inspiration and information to help her persevere in her commitment.

For much of her time at the annual meeting, first-timer Debbie Truelove-Petty, 42, was surprised.

“I didn’t realize how much WMU does. I see things totally different now,” said the member of Cross Walk Church in Cleveland, a congregation that will celebrate its first birthday in June. The church has only hosted two WMU meetings; eleven women, out of a congregation of about 75, attended the second meeting.

Kindergarten teacher Truelove-Petty is now energized to help lead her church to start age group mission organizations and start making a difference for Christ in her own community.

“We will start small and grow big,” said the breast cancer survivor who, like Danner, believes God brought her through crisis so that she can be used by Him. She and her husband, Gary, plan to do their part to volunteer alongside home missionaries Michael and Natalie Flake from Helen, who serve with Georgia Mountain Resort Ministries just minutes from their home.

Although the youngest registered participant, 15-year-old Sydney King from Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens is a veteran annual meeting attendee.

“I just feel like one of the women,” said the ninth grader who has come through the ranks of WMU organizations as a Mission Friend, Girl in Action and now Acteen. This summer she will be joining four Georgia Baptist women on a prayer walk through Asia.

As the first Georgia Acteen to go on an international prayer walk, the young woman could not be more ready, said her mother, Ellen King. Since she was four years old, her daughter has felt a burden for China, and she made a public commitment to mission service when she was just 13 years old at a Georgia Baptist youth evangelism conference.

There, when a leader asked her where she wanted to go, she thrust forward a piece of paper with one word written on it: Asia. Now, she said, she is “excited, anxious, and ready to go. It’s time to take the next step.” While there, she expects that “God will tell me if He wants me there as a missionary.”

As she listened to home and international missionary testimonies as well as numerous missions leaders, the teenager, along with the others in attendance, were encouraged in their missions commitment. “Missions is a lifestyle; it is who we are as Christians,” said Wanda Lee, executive director, WMU, SBC.

Barbara Curnutt, who has served as Georgia Baptists’ executive director-treasurer since 1998, exhorted participants to be forward-looking in their missions commitment.

Thankful for Georgia Baptist women such as Bertie Mae Garrett, who have been committed to missions for decades, as well as for the women newly discovering their missions heartbeat, Curnutt said, “Nostalgia can paralyze us in terms of what God has in store for the future. There is so much more in front of us.”

In their business session, participants elected new board members for 2004-05 and voted on a special projects budget as well as several designated offerings. During this year’s meeting, more than $12,000 was collected for the “Celebrate Our Missions Future” endowment fund, designated for renovations at Camp Pinnacle Conference and Retreat Center in Clayton.

Next years’ annual meeting/missions encounter is scheduled for April 15-16 at Byne Memorial Baptist Church in Albany.