During the 2019-2020 EBO emphasis “Equipping to Go,” our desire was to champion and highlight the importance of equipping the saints for the work of the church. Whether we help with community ministries, serve in ministry at church or build friendships in our neighborhood, we all have the opportunity to strengthen our skills and learn new tools to help us as we go and make His name known.

The Apostle Paul explains to the church in Ephesus about the unity and diversity within the body of Christ (Ephesians 4). In fact, his words stress the gravity of the responsibility to not only keep unity within the church family, but to also work together to strengthen the work of the church for the sake of the gospel. Paul also points out those tasked with the responsibility to equip the saints for the work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5).

For generations, WMU has sounded the alarm for missionary support. Whether it was Lottie writing a letter urging for more missionaries, Annie drumming up support from Southern Baptists, Eliza educating the next generation of female missionaries or that beloved WMU lady from your church calling the church to pray — we all have a role in missions support.

WMU roles in the local church have changed over the years. Whether or not your church has a full-blown missions program, my hope is that you will not lose the person who “sounds the alarm” for missions support and gospel urgency.

I will host an online WMU missions leadership development course Aug. 17-21 called Rock Solid: Foundations for Missions Discipleship Leader. This five-day online webinar will challenge participants to rethink the function of WMU in the church, encourage desired characteristics of WMU leadership and reset the foundation for missions engagement. We will explore the concepts of leadership styles, missions discipleship techniques, mentoring relationships, accountability and how they intersect with mobilizing the church for missions. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kywmu for more details throughout the summer.

Pastors, if you currently do not have WMU presence in your church, I urge you to pray that the Lord would reveal a woman in your congregation who can take up the mantel of “sounding the alarm for missions.” She might just be waiting for that tap on the shoulder and invitation to serve in missions.

Please email liz.encinia@kybaptist.org or call 502-489-3423 for additional questions.

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Liz Encinia is executive director-treasurer of Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union.