WMUV – Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia

By Edith H. Fisher

The word remarkable means worthy of notice and each year WMUV acknowledges five GA or CiA groups, known as the Remarkable 5. These groups are recognized for their cooperative missions efforts in changing the world.

This year the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Children in Action in Lovingston, Virginia has been selected because they are making a difference in their community and around the world. The Children in Action actively visit the home bound and “take church to them as they share Bible stories, sing songs, pray together, and fellowship with the people who are unable to leave their homes for church,” is how Billie Taylor, the CiA leader, describes the group’s favorite missions project. The boys and girls are also learning about the power and importance of praying for the missionaries and their work.

Loving others. Praying. Helping others. Having fun. Sounds like a remarkable Children in Action group!

Alma Hunt Amazing GA 2012 – Hermitage Baptist Church, Church View, Virginia

By Edith H. Fisher

Hermitage Baptist Church Girls in Action is one of the WMUV 2012 Remarkable 5 and is also the Alma Hunt Amazing GA group for 2012! It is appropriate that a recognition and scholarship for a GA or CiA group that is actively learning about missions and going into their community to help others be named for Miss Alma Hunt, a strong supporter of missions education. The Hermitage Girls in Action group embodies Miss Alma’s desire for children have the opportunity to learn about missions and the opportunity to do missions.

Each month the girls participate in a missions project. A few of their projects include collecting canned food for the local food pantry, collecting a Mile of Pennies for the Lottie Moon Christmas offering, organizing a nickel challenge with the Mission Friends, Acteens, and RAs for the State Children’s WILD project, and playing Bingo with the residents at a local Nursing Facility.

Janice Richardson, the Girls in Action leader, describes the group of 14 girls as “full of energy, challenging, and a blessing to watch as they grow and learn to serve the Lord.”

What do the Hermitage GAs have to say about Girls in Action:

“I like to read Bible verses.” (Annabelle, 9)

“I like making friends and learning the GA Pledge.” (Emily, 7)

“I like it being an all girls class.” (Amber S., 9)

“I like GAs because it’s fun, I like World Ventures, and you get to see your friends.” (Amber D., 9)

“I like GAs and World Ventures.” (Emma, 7)

“I like doing World Ventures.” (Katelyn , 9)

“I like to pray.” (Allison, 7)

“I love to pray!” (Kloe, 7)

“I like to read.” (Abi, 7)

“I like to help with GAs.” (Katie, 12)

Fourteen girls on a mission to make a difference in the world. Remarkable and Amazing!

This past weekend 150 teenage girls and their leaders gathered at Eagle Eyrie for Shine(formerly called Acteens Weekender for Girls).

Planned and led with the assistance of seven student leaders, Shine truly gave the teenage girls a chance to be themselves and reflect on missions and their relationship with God.

The theme of “Community” allowed them to explore what it means to be created by God and to be in community with God and others.

The music during worship was led by The Sonflowerz, and up and coming duo of two sisters from Colorado. They’ve also opened for Third Day, among other popular Christian bands, so the fact that they played at Eagle Eyrie is pretty awesome.

Alice Cates was the worship pastor and challenged the girls to really understand and live out what it means to be in Community. Her words were powerful as she shared her heart with them.

The enthusiasm of the girls was evident all over campus; the dining hall bustled as the girls made new friends (and proceeded to play the cup game!). Several soaked up some sun during free time as the weather was absolutely gorgeous. In addition to worship and free time, the girls enjoyed breakouts, Bible study, and fun community-building games.

Kristen White, WMUV Student Mission Coordinator and leader for this retreat, pointed out that during “even” years, the weather for Shine was beautiful; during the last couple “odd” years, the weather was cold, rainy, and miserable.

We’re thankful that the weather was great, but even more thankful that the retreat went well. We pray that Shine 2013 will break the cycle and also have great weather!

The Kedron GAs presentation on how they used their scholarship money to help people in their community.

Ordinary Life, Extraordinary God…..it’s a beautiful exchange

The cool, crisp air and beautiful fall leaves provided a wonderful backdrop for over 800 women (and a few brave men) who gathered for the Women’s Get Away, November 4-6. Jo Saxton and Sally Breen of 3D Ministries challenged us to examine the labels that define and limit our ordinary lives, and allow our extraordinary God to make an exchange to restore our identity as the ‘Azar’ we are created to be, and release us into the fullness of His calling. Contrasted to Rachel and Leah whose relationship was characterized by competition and comparison, Ruth and Naomi inspire us to engage in discipling other women through rescue (helping), relationship (serving) and redemption (moving from loss to life).

 TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST OF THE MESSAGES, CLICK HERE.

The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident as we worshiped our Lord through the stirring music played by Keith Tan, and listened to the testimonies of Valerie Carter and Marilee White. Breakout sessions and the Human Exploitation tour inspired us to ‘join Jesus Christ where He is at work in the world’. Indeed, we were greatly blessed by those who came from Panama and India, as well as other states in the U.S. And a great celebration occurred when we exceeded our goal with Stop Hunger Now and packaged 20,118 meals!

Will you invite your ‘extraordinary God’ to reshape your ‘ordinary life’ to be the woman He has created you to be? We are here to walk the journey with you toward wholeness and purpose, for it is a beautiful exchange.

While walking on the path down by the river and taking pictures, I asked God to help me to be satisfied with all the blessings He has given me and not always comparing them to others and what they have, like my house, my car, my job, money, etc. I told God “I want to have a thankful heart and not always wishing I had more”.

I was looking for the perfect leaf to take a picture of and could not find one. They all had some kind of flaw, a hole from a bug or part of it was torn or just not perfect like I was looking for. Then not far from where I was standing a leaf floated to the ground, from above, and I thought “God just sent me the prefect leaf I have been looking for”. But when I picked it up it was not perfect at all, in fact it was downright ugly! Then I felt God telling me, “That leaf is one of my creations just like you and everything I make is “perfect”, just the way I want it to be”. Tears flowed from my eyes as I felt His love and His confirmation that I was “perfect” in His eyes. Is that not just like a loving Father, to see only the beauty and none of the flaws, or sin in my life!

Then I looked up at all the beauty on the mountains, the trees displaying all their fall colors of orange, red, yellow, burgundy, and green and the thought came to me that all those trees were made up of “imperfect” and even “ugly” leaves but when they are all together in just the right place and season, where God has placed them, they make a masterpiece of God’s handiwork that no man can match. I felt God telling me “I have placed you here in this time and place so I can make a masterpiece out of your “imperfections and ugliness”. When we let go and let God, He can do great things with our lives.