I am a member of the Woman’s Missionary Union of First Baptist Church of Camilla. In fact, I am currently the Assistant WMU director and Girls in Action Director. I have been Acteens Director and Mission Friends director. My Mom was WMU Director for many years. I grew up in the church and benefited from these organizations greatly.

We use the prayer calendar at every meeting and take praying for missions very seriously. When we are struggling to meet missions goals, we cry and get out our checkbook. We pray, blog, e-mail, and meet about missions. We cry when missionaries tell us they are working with children who only eat every three days. We secretly share stories from our missionaries to the Tuareg and do not post the stories on the Internet so Muslim extremists will not kill or harm our missionaries.

WMU ladies are not perfect. They are the salt of the earth. They are hard working. They are prayer warriors. They are in love with Jesus Christ.

Our church WMU is growing and we have an online missions group of which I am the blogmaster. We do many things. We always have submitted to our pastor even when he asked us to “lay off” the missions goals. We read our prayer calendars, missions prayer requests, and more.

I nor WMU is perfect. However, the Woman’s Missionary Union remains the strongest giver to the Southern Baptist Missions programs that is out there.

I am concerned at the SBC Executive Board in recommending that the SBC consider taking control of the Woman’s Missionary Union.

Jesus Christ chose to reveal himself to women first after He rose from the dead. The men didn’t believe the women, either! We are “joint heirs” with Christ.

Jesus has said the first will be last and the last will be first. Men are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. They are to put their wives ahead of them in sacrificial love. My husband does.

So too are leaders to lead. We are to be servants to one another. Those in leadership are to serve and love those they serve. They are not to Lord over them and hurt them. We all strive to be like Jesus!

We must remain firmly planted in God’s word in how we act. We must also remember that we are being watched. I read on a blog tonight (that I will not link to) that any woman who would be in the SBC is ignorant and second rate.

Thus, I am doubly wounded. I am wounded because I am hurt by the SBC’s insinuation about the WMU I love. I am equally hurt because of the disdain that is now on WMU women because of SBC actions. It is the women of SBC who lose. We are to be protected! We are to be cherished!

I can only find the AP article and nothing on the SBC or WMU websites.

We must learn to cooperate, agree, love one another, and spend time reaching others for Christ.

Where is this lack of cooperation and communication coming from? Can our leaders not model the behavior they preach from their pulpits?

Matthew 23 says
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,^[a]that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’

This should strike great fear in the hearts of many for Jesus was talking about the people who were to kill Him in just a few days times. We must be careful against whom we fight!

I do know this — there are many of us SBC’ers at the grassroots who love Christ with all of our hearts. He has spared cities for far less people. I believe that He will begin to deal with those who err.

I am a nothing in the SBC realm of things but I can and will go directly to the top. God is the master over every board member and every pastor and every decision maker. Beware getting in trouble with Him. It is with fear and trembling that we should approach every such issue that can cause division! Beware to him who causes such division!

If I am wrong, God will deal with me and I will change. Those who fight against God will be broken, myself included!

Watch what happens at the top levels of the SBC as the people of God begin to pray for justice IF they are in err.

Dear Lord, I am sorry for my fleshliness. I am sorry that I am hurt and in pain over this matter. I pray that You will guide the WMU and the SBC to act in Christlike manner. I pray that we will shed the distraction and focus on the purpose and calling of Jesus Christ. May we search the Scripture and hold true to the Bible above the doctrine of men. We must either believe the Bible in whole or not at all. Bring us back to you in Holy Submission. May men and women treat one another with the dignity, respect, and service that you require in your word. Forgive us for selfishness. I am sorry for my failures today and desire to please myself. Have mercy on me as I fail. Have mercy on our leaders when they make mistakes. Guide and bless us and let your will be done in this matter, whatever it is. In Jesus name. Amen.