ATLANTA — “You have made my day so special. I will never, ever, ever forget you,” said the small elderly woman emphatically. Confined to a wheelchair and living in a nursing home, “Ruby” pointed directly at each woman surrounding her in a semi-circle and continued, “I love you and you and you …. I love everyone of you, and I will never forget you or this day.”

Their eyes moist with tears, the women who had stepped out to minister and bless others on this overcast Saturday suddenly found themselves ministered to and blessed.

Visiting a local nursing home with “goody bags” was just one of four hands-on missions projects at the Sisters Who Care Summit held Feb. 2. Other participants sorted clothing at a shelter for those in need; still others prayer-walked communities or set out to share the gospel.

This year’s Sisters Who Care Summit, held at New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Pozie Redmond serves as pastor, attracted approximately 135 women representing approximately 14 churches. The annual, one-day summit provides an opportunity for African American women to learn about, be equipped for, pray for, give to, and participate in missions.

 

Family

In addition to the hands-on missions projects, the summit offered worship services, topical workshops, and a resource/display room and bookstore. In conjunction with the women’s summit, a Pastors Who Care emphasis led by Albert Johnson, pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Austell, encouraged and equipped African American pastors in their missions leadership.

“My vision for Sisters Who Care is for greater involvement among women in predominantly African American Georgia Baptist congregations. We need them; we need their perspectives; we need their gifts,” said Barbara Curnutt, Georgia Baptist WMU executive director-treasurer.

“We are family.”

During Saturday morning’s worship service, Carolyn Fountain, who has served as a North American missionary for approximately 25 years alongside her husband Leroy, told participants, “We as African American women have been missionaries all our lives because we have always reached out to those in need.” She challenged women to be aware of and open to God’s call in their lives, saying, “God has equipped you to be His arms around the world.”

Keynote speaker Sarah Keys, who serves on the national Sisters Who Care advisory council, reflected on the 2008 summit’s theme, “Embrace the Call.” She asked, “What is it that you have that God can use?” and urged attendees to “embrace with joy” every ability or gift and experience in their lives as something unique God can use as the women are on mission for Him.

 

Reflecting on the past, future

An offering, taken during the morning worship service, was earmarked for House of Dawn, Inc. and WMU National Heart Fund.

To celebrate Black History Month, Jalea Brooks from Atlanta’s Christian Fellowship Baptist Church shared a reflection on Nannie Helen Burroughs – “a servant who embraced her call.”

Sponsored by Georgia Woman’s Missionary Union and Women’s Enrichment Ministry, this year’s summit was planned and conducted by a three-person volunteer advisory council: Barbara Morris, chairperson, Greater Solid Rock Baptist Church, Riverdale; Esther Grissom, Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, College Park; and Marveen Johnson, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Austell. Morris also serves as chairperson of finance for the Georgia WMU executive board. According to Curnutt, plans are underway to increase the number of women serving on the Sisters Who Care advisory council as well as to include a Sisters Who Care representative on the WMU executive board.

“My desire is that the Georgia WMU would reflect the ethnic and language diversity within the congregations in our state – to be a true reflection of that diversity. I believe women are the best individuals to provide that model of unity,” said Curnutt.

The 2009 Sisters Who Care Summit is scheduled for Feb. 7 and will be held again at New Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.