One of the great honors of my role with the Kentucky Baptist Convention is being invited to bring greetings to various gatherings of Kentucky Baptists. We are doing incredible gospel-advancing work together and it is always a joy to celebrate how God is using those efforts and to spur each other on to even greater faithfulness.
That was the case recently when I was asked by Dr. Liz Encinia to speak at the Kentucky WMU Annual Meeting in Hopkinsville. There was strong attendance, and it was an inspiring evening as we worshiped Christ, heard from various speakers and commissioned Kentucky Baptist missionaries for gospel-advancing service.
Kentucky WMU has been serving for more than 140 years. Its work is focused on the mission of helping Kentucky Baptist churches embrace the Great Commission and cultivate a missional culture. In other words, its mission is the Great Commission in the context of educating and encouraging Kentucky Baptists to be faithful to that mission.
There is much to celebrate about Kentucky WMU. Here are five things I appreciate most:
1. It rings the bell for gospel-advancing work. You cannot talk to WMU leaders without hearing fresh stories from the mission field about how our missionaries are sharing the name of Jesus with those who have never heard. In Hopkinsville we heard National WMU President Connie Dixon share personal stories as well as updates on some of our Southern Baptist missionaries. Kentucky WMU is relentless in its promotion of the Great Commission.
2. It raises money to fund gospel advancement. The book of Philippians is a thank you letter from the Apostle Paul to the Philippian church for its financial support of his ministry. He is grateful for the church’s partnership and wrote a letter to say that. Every Southern Baptist missionary could write a letter to the WMU expressing gratitude for its tireless efforts to raise funds for gospel-advancing work. In Kentucky, the WMU helps churches promote the Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong and Eliza Broadus offerings as well as our missions funding standard — the Cooperative Program. The Eliza Broadus Offering is already at $1,200,000 in Kentucky — which is currently six percent over the prior year.
3. It teaches missions at every opportunity. WMU is known for missions education. It operates out of a conviction that the Great Commission is personal. Every Christian is responsible to carry out Jesus’ mission both individually and corporately. With recent research showing that less than 50% of churchgoers can define the Great Commission, there has not been a more important time for missions education. Kentucky WMU is faithful in this area.
4. It models servant-leadership. Dr. Liz Encinia is leading WMU with clear vision and great enthusiasm. She has picked up where her predecessor left off, built a strong and talented team of servant leaders and is helping Kentucky WMU carry out its mission in fresh and creative ways. Every organizational leader must do three things constantly and consistently: advance the mission, solve problems, and care for people. Dr. Encinia is doing all three with excellence.
5. It fulfills its calling with faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 4:2 reminds us that, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” WMU has been given a stewardship of missions education and missions giving promotion among Kentucky Baptist churches and it carries out its work faithfully.
I left the meeting in Hopkinsville encouraged that Kentucky WMU is as strong as it has ever been and is tenaciously fulfilling its unique role in our missions partnership. I am thankful for Kentucky WMU and the good work it does to advance the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ here in Kentucky and around the world.
Dr. Todd Gray 