WMU Foundation has presented national Woman’s Missionary Union with a $500,000 grant to help WMU with critical ministry-related financial needs they’ll face this year. The gift comes from Vision Fund and is the fund’s largest grant given to WMU to date, WMU Foundation announced Jan. 8.
National WMU Executive Director Sandy Wisdom-Martin said the grant “enables [WMU] to proclaim into the future: the mission matters most.”
“This remarkable gift will enable national WMU to continue current levels of global Kingdom efforts,” she added. “Last year, WMU broke records as ministries touched 49 different countries.
“The Vision Fund also supports a vast array of domestic ministries such as the Missionary Kids Re-Entry Retreat, coordination of missionary housing, a grant to develop missions camping resources, leadership development, curriculum production, consulting services and more,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful for this gift that helps us make disciples of Jesus who live on mission.”
Last year WMU Foundation received more donations for the Vision Fund than in any previous year, said David George, president of the WMU Foundation.
“We are incredibly excited to support national WMU with this gift,” he said. “We look forward to seeing how national WMU uses the funds to continue to share the gospel on both a national and global level.”
WMU Foundation noted the milestone was accomplished through several focused giving efforts, including the first annual Mission Matters Most campaign, a celebration of Wisdom-Martin’s five-year anniversary as national WMU executive director, and Giving Tuesday.
Equip, empower, enable
Since national WMU does not receive an allocation from the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s giving channel for missions and ministry, it must raise its own operating revenue from the sale of magazines and other missions education materials. The WMU Foundation supplements this revenue with grants for specific WMU missions and ministry efforts, including the Vision Fund. In 1995, WMU established the Baptist missions foundation to help support those who are helping take the gospel to the nations through a variety of funds and endowments.
“When you give to support national WMU through the Vision Fund or to any of our funds and endowments, you can be sure that 100% of your gift will go where you intend,” George said. “We aim to be very transparent as we share stories about how your gifts are impacting lives all over the world.”
Wisdom-Martin noted, “through WMU compassion ministries, leadership development and missions discipleship, we will equip, empower and enable the next generation to take their place in God’s plan. Our desire is that peoples of the earth would have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel.”
For more information, visit wmufoundation.com.
