LOUISVILLE—A special showing of the new movie, “The Insanity of God,” and collection of “Buckets of Love” for Baptist Global Response are among the featured events of the 113th Kentucky WMU Annual Meeting, April 8-9, at First Baptist Church of Madisonville.
“The Heart of the Story” will be the focus of the two-day event, which begins on Friday at 9 a.m. and concludes on Saturday at noon.
Linda Cooper, president of National WMU, will provide theme interpretations in the general sessions. She is the first national WMU president ever elected from Kentucky.
Wayne and Barbara Myers will tell about work in Swaziland, including the impact of hospice care buckets in sharing the gospel.
Terry Sharp, who works with Urban Mobilization Strategies with the International Mission Board, will share ways to reach internationals living in the United States.
Ron and Marilyn Leonard, along with Molly the Therapy Dog, will tell about their work with military families and those suffering from PTSD.
Ruth Ripken, featured in “The Insanity of God,” will introduce the movie in the Friday evening session. The movie is based on the book by Nik Ripken and shares the stories of believers from around the world who have not only survived, but thrived under persecution.
Benita Decker, minister of music at Farmdale Baptist Church in Frankfort, will lead music in all sessions, accompanied by Melody Stafford. The Childress Family, a local gospel group, will present a 30-minute concert on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
A variety of missions conferences will be offered on Friday at 11:15, 12:15, and 1:15 p.m., and on Saturday at 9 a.m. Participants can also eat a boxed lunch, visit displays, and go to the book store during the conference.
Participants may assist with collection projects for two ministries. Kentucky WMU is collecting completed hospice care buckets in cooperation with Baptist Global Response. Each bucket contains items to help a family provide care and comfort to a family member with AIDS. Participants may drop off buckets at the church on arrival. Following the meeting, BGR will ship the buckets to a country in Sub-Sahara Africa to be distributed by missionaries and nationals. A complete shopping list and project information can be found at: kywmu.or/bucketproject.
Food items are also being collected for Breaking Bread Ministry, a free meal outreach program in Madisonville. Items such as cereal, dried beans, boxed potatoes, canned tuna and chicken, saltine crackers, soups and peanut butter have been requested.
There will be a special time for children with the Leonard’s and Molly the Therapy Dog on Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
The final session will begin at 10 a.m., when the Kentucky Missionary of the Year Award will be presented, followed by a commissioning service for new Kentucky missionaries. Ron Leonard will share a closing challenge.
Following the Saturday morning session, a time of prayer will be held at the collection truck for the buckets and those who will receive them.
An offering for Kentucky WMU ministries to missionaries and Missionary Kids will be received during the meeting. Kentucky WMU provides Christmas gifts to Kentucky-born international missionaries as well as a fall and spring gift to Kentucky MKs who are attending college in Kentucky. Those unable to attend the annual meeting but who want to support the ministries to missionaries are encouraged to send a gift for the offering or mail to the Kentucky WMU office.
A boxed lunch will be available on Friday, and Baptist Nursing Fellowship will host a dinner at the church at 5 p.m. Pre-registration is required for all meals and preschool child care. Contact Kentucky WMU for registration information or download an informational brochure at www.kywmu.org/annualmeeting. Online registration is also available.
Joy Bolton, Executive Director-Treasurer of Kentucky WMU is excited about the 2016 Annual Meeting. “Not only do we have a great program, but there will also be the excitement of being one of the first sites in the country to show the new Insanity of God movie. You will enjoy the fellowship, music, and missions inspiration. Come see what the WMU tag line ‘missions for life’ is all about!” (WMU)