2024 IMPACT REPORT

WMUV TURNS 150

The Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) of Virginia celebrated 150 years this year! It was on September 7, 1874, that Baptist women in Virginia organized to work with God as co-laborers in the mission’s enterprise. Our celebration was held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at our beloved CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center.

Our theme was Roots & Wings. There were over 230 in attendance including our speaker, Sandy Wisdom-Martin, Executive Director/Treasurer of National WMU. Our president, Lucianne Warren authored a litany for all former presidents to read responsively in worship. The worship experience began with a prelude by Allison Allgood followed by congregational singing of the traditional WMU song, “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations.” It ended with a contemporary melody led by Lauren Tucker, a young woman who is also a camp counselor. The contemporary song called, “Send Me” displayed the continuous courageous progression of the WMU women in Virginia to not shrink back but to move forward in service! Jocelyn Henry-Whitehead, a former WMUV board member and harpist, offered praise for the present when she graced the worshippers with a song that she had written and composed called, “WMUV: Influence the World for Christ!” Abigail Girl, Eva Contreras, read scripture with a focus on our future and our executive director/treasurer offered a charge to those gathered. This celebration included a mission fair, a museum exhibit, and a historical fashion show. Heidi Craft of the Dover Baptist Association led the event planning. A 459-page history of WMU of Virginia (1874 – 2024) was written by Fred Anderson entitled, Roots & Wings: Rejoicing in the Days the Lord Has Made.

CROSSROADS CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER

2,915 INDIVIDUAL GUESTS

370 CAMPERS

20 YOUNG ADULTS IN A LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

$10,000 AWARDED IN CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS

$15,000 AWARDED IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

On the heels of the pandemic outdoor spaces have been coveted by many. CrossRoads is a place to experience God. In 2024, conference guests totaled 2,915 people, while summer camp engaged 370 children. Sowing into the lives of young people, twenty young adult leaders were discipled through a leadership program. Most of these young people usually enter the ministry field. Ten thousand dollars of scholarships were awarded to assist families in paying the cost for their children to attend summer camp. Through the WMUV Alma Hunt Allocations, $15,000.00 in college scholarships were awarded to our summer camp staff.

This year we accepted Reverend Sara Hubble’s resignation as Operations and Pastoral Director of CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center. In the fall, she became an associate pastor at the Freemason Street Baptist Church in Norfolk. Sara has led us well. She hosted guests with the utmost professionalism, shared throughout Virginia Baptist churches, trained and pastored young leaders in camping ministry, and organized a stellar camping program. We are grateful for her five-plus years in ministry.

In late fall, Reverend Kenny Daniel, pastor of the Colonial Beach Baptist Church and Camp Council Representative to the Board of Trustees, accepted the call to serve as the new Operations and Pastoral Director. For over seven years, Kenny served as a camp counselor and leader at CrossRoads. His seminary experience included a one-year internship in Christian camping ministry in the state of Wisconsin.

ALMA HUNT OFFERING

The AHO is cooperative giving that allows WMU and the BGAV to engage in ministries that provide missions education and involve people in hands-on ministries. WMUV staff lead in the facilitation of the production of promotional materials sent to churches. This year, our focus testimonies in the prayer guide highlighted the ministry of men/boys, children, and HOPE: Mental Health. We hosted a Brazilian soccer team to co-lead outreach ministries with local churches and community non-profits in the Roanoke area. The Children’s Council coordinated Mom & Me where elementary-aged daughters retreated with their moms as they learned about missions. The HOPE: Mental Health Team led an educational awareness conference on mental health and the church’s response for pastors and key leaders in the Dan River Baptist Association in Halifax County. The Alma Hunt Offering brings Virginia Baptists together as we keep our focus on missions!

PARTNERSHIP MISSIONS

• KENYA

  This year concluded the formal medical mission’s partnership with the Mully Children’s Family in Ndalani, Kenya. Dr. Lynne Stockman former president of WMUV, led the teams for three years to serve the Mully Children and the community surrounding the family property. In 2024, the team of medical professionals treated 1786 patients, dispensed 5641 prescriptions, treated 323 dental patients, distributed 577 readers and 189 prescription glasses, and 19 Kenyans accepted Christ! National WMU published about this ministry in the July issue of Missions Mosaic magazine.

• PERU

  The work of WMUV in Cajamarca, Peru is in its second year of a three-year partnership. Outreach includes meeting human needs such as feeding many hungry families, distributing protein-rich bread to schools, leading Bible school programs in the public schools in some of the most isolated areas tucked away in the Andes mountains, and supporting clean water projects. Lucianne Warren, current president of WMUV, is our Peru Partnership Team Leader. As clean water is an issue for these communities, our outstanding missional girls called Abigail Girls, raised funds for a well that will be installed in an isolated community outside of Cajamarca!

THE LOCAL CHURCH

Despite the rapidly changing church and denominational landscape, Virginia Baptist women are yet mobilizing the entire church to be on mission. Women are facilitating outreach opportunities in their churches that engage members to feed the hungry, help in literacy work, pray, and give to missions. No doubt, there are less churches with traditional WMU groups with the rural churches more likely utilizing the traditional model. The new audiences in WMUV are not privy to the traditional model but are connecting in areas of interest to be on mission that includes praying, giving, and going, as well!

ANNUAL MEETING 2024

As the Nominations Committee of the Board of Directors sought nominees for president, they were unsuccessful in securing a commitment for 2025. Officers of WMUV must be elected each year. Presidents are elected each year as well at the WMUV Annual Meeting held each November. Presidents can serve up to four years. As no one accepted the nomination to serve as president, after giving the required 30-day notice, the body voted to affirm Lucianne Warren to serve another year as president. We offer praise to the Lord that two potential nominees agreed to be mentored in 2025 in preparation for consideration in 2026.

LOOKING AHEAD

As our leaders have been strategizing since 2017 to rebrand WMUV, it is highly plausible that this will happen in 2025, as we have celebrated 150 years in 2024; we will now frame WMUV for the next generation by doing business under a new name. In 2025, CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center will celebrate its 40th Anniversary next year. The Camp Council is diligently working to make this a memorable event. Right now, WMUV Missions Strategists and volunteers are eagerly planning for the WMUV events for 2025 to include Mom & Me, SHINE, Women’s Getaway, Sisters Who Care Conference, and more! As I have announced my retirement from WMUV effective January 31, 2025, I will continue to serve as the Interim until the WMUV Search Team concludes the search for the next leader of WMUV.

Respectfully Submitted by: Valerie Carter Smith, Executive Director/Treasurer