Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

National WMU board meeting kicks off with effort to ‘reset, reimagine and reinvigorate’

  • January 7, 2023
  • Jennifer Davis Rash
  • Featured, Latest News, Woman's Missionary Union
Willie McLaurin of the SBC Executive Committee catches up with Linda Cooper, chair of the SBC credentials committee, prior to his breakout session at the National WMU January Board Meeting on Jan. 7.
(Photo by Jennifer Davis Rash/The Baptist Paper)

National WMU board meeting kicks off with effort to ‘reset, reimagine and reinvigorate’

Nearly 200 people from across the nation — and a few from around the globe — made their way to the National Woman’s Missionary Union office in Birmingham for the annual January Board Meeting this weekend.

Activities kicked off the afternoon of Jan. 7 with a variety of breakout sessions, affinity group meetings and preliminary business meetings of the national WMU board, which is made up of state-level WMU presidents and executive directors.

Following the meeting theme of Regather, the breakout sessions all built off the ideas of reset, reimagine and reinvigorate.

Steps to ‘reignite your passion’

Leading the session on “Reignite your passion” was Willie McLaurin, interim president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. He shared seven steps:

  1. Deepen your intimacy with God.

“Healthy Christian leaders develop and maintain a close, vibrant relationship with God,” he said, pointing to Revelation 2:4. “Intimacy with the Lord is critical. … Intimacy in prayer, Bible study and worship. It is important to stay consistent.”

  1. Discover a vision of what could be.

“You need a clear vision of God’s plan for your ministry,” McLaurin noted, pointing to Ephesians 2:10. “When you understand God’s vision for your life, it gives you the strength to know what to say no to. We are saying yes to a lot of good stuff and leaving a lot of the God stuff on the table.

“Could it be that the reason our passion burns away is that we are trying to please man rather than trying to please the Lord?”

  1. Develop a passion for reaching people.

“God expects believers to care passionately about the lost,” he said, noting 2 Kings 7:9.

“We’ve got to be in the people business. We’ve got to slow down. … God has a passion for people,” he added, mentioning Romans 12:11.

“The needs are massive, and people are hurting and searching and looking. … There are so many opportunities to really advance the gospel.”

  1. Sacrifice for God’s Kingdom.

“Healthy believers are willing to make sacrifices for God’s kingdom,” McLaurin said, using the message from Luke 9:23.

“Sacrifice strengthens our resolve … builds our faith … requires trust and is contagious,” he added.

  1. Persevering through difficulties.

Pointing to the meeting’s theme Scripture, Romans 12:12, McLaurin said, “Believers stay on task even in difficult situations … but difficult situations have a way of taking our passions away.

“Our vision must be based in reality, which includes difficult times, and difficult times require perseverance.”

  1. Strengthen your people skills.

“Effective ministry is largely determined by one’s ability to work well with others … and the Great Commandment is about loving others.”

Along with Philippians 1:7 and Proverbs 27:17, McLaurin referenced the Golden Rule: “treat others as we wish to be treated.”

“Difficult people may be demanding … but pick your battles wisely,” he shared. “And listen to critics without being broken by them. They can sometimes be right even if abrasive or angry.

“We are called to be influencers and to influence the influencers. We are called to motivate people.”

  1. Enjoy the journey.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, ‘Rejoice.’”

“Create a climate of contentment,” McLaurin noted. “Count your blessings … adapt to your circumstances … and take the journey with your family, friends and fellow ministry leaders.

“Stay fresh on the journey. Learn something new every day. Get some rest and relaxation. Finish strong.

“Follow the model of Jesus, who was engaged, then disengaged and then reengaged.”

Meeting continues through Jan. 9

More breakout sessions will be available Jan. 8, but the main items on the schedule are a morning and afternoon general session of the executive board as well as presentations by the North American Mission Board and International Mission Board.

Sandy Wisdom-Martin also will share her national WMU executive director’s challenge Jan. 8, and national WMU president Connie Dixon will share her challenge during the final general session Monday morning (Jan. 9).

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Amendment on women pastors falls short again
    Amendment on women pastors falls short again
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family
    SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC
    Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Amendment on women pastors falls short again

Messengers voted 3,421 to 2,191—60.74 percent to 38.90 percent—in favor of a motion to “clarify” only churches with male pastors are considered in “friendly cooperation” with the SBC.

SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family

Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas voted to affirm all eight resolutions brought to the floor — with some debate — but with only one amendment, deemed friendly.

Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC

Messengers to the SBC annual meeting in Dallas voted 3,744 (56.89 percent) to 2,819 (42.84 percent) on June 11 to reject a motion introduced by Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., to abolish the ERLC.

Lifeway aims to ‘build things’ to come alongside churches as they make disciples

In his report to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 11, Ben Mandrell said Lifeway’s role is to “build things for the body of Christ,” not to be one-size-fits-all.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel