September, 2006—August, 2007

Hamilton County WMU was one of three Associations in Tennessee to be recognized for their planning and progress during the 2005-2006 church year. Again during the 2006-2007 year we have exceeded the requirements for recognition.  Following the theme emphasis of the year “Live the Call” we have:

1.  Welcomed the following newly organized groups to the WMU family:

        Covenant Baptist, WOM and Mission Friends; Love Fellowship, YOM and CIA;

        Faith United, WOM and YOM; and Ooltewah, CIA.

2. Planned and carried out the following Associational Mission Action Projects:

        Mission trips have included four one day mission trips to the Copper Basin Crisis Center, an International Mission trip to Mexico, and a trip to the Adult Group Home in Hermitage. The week in Mexico resulted in more than 20 professions of faith and the start of two new home Bible Studies.  There were also a number of decisions made through the Bible Studies  and personal witnessing at the Crisis Center.  We collected  paper items for the Adult Home, yarn and children’s books for prison ministry, eye      glasses for mission trips and HaCoBA, plus UPC labels for a van for the Hale Ministry. Our Project HELP: Poverty, was to collect food and funds (over $4,000) for HaCoBA in “Feed the Need—Hands Across Tennessee”.

3. Promoted Missions on a Churchwide basis by:

        Providing teachers and a list of speakers for the three weeks of mission emphasis. Mission studies were conducted for the churches in certain areas at their request. We also, provided the International Mission Study on Nigeria for grades 1-6 for the entire Association.

4. We have led out in prayer by:

        Encouraging all churches to have a Prayer Walk in their community for the schools, participating in the World Day of Prayer, and encouraging our women to stand in the gap and pray for the people of Thailand as well as daily prayer for our missionaries.

5. Other activities have included:

        Two World-Craft Parties, an Intergenerational Tea for GA/CIA, The Secret Pal Project and “Revelation Brunch”, plus activities with the ethnic/languages cultures in our area.

6. On the Administrative side we had:

        Quarterly Expanded Leadership Team meetings. The September meeting included training. The November planning met in two different locations to make them more accessible to everyone and the February meeting was a breakfast. The Annual Meeting, under the theme “Dinner and Mission Theater” featured four mission dramas.  An all day Planning Meeting to set goals and make action plans for the upcoming year was conducted in May. Seven from our association attended the training offered by the state staff. Our leaders served on the Associational teams and participated in the regular meetings of the Executive Committee.

7.  We saw our Hamilton County WMU Foundation grow to about $15,000.

8. The Baptist Nursing Fellowship has worked weekly at the HaCoBA checking blood pressures, giving out glasses and caring for simple needs.  In addition to regular meetings they have  assisted in various health fairs.

All of this was possible because of the commitment and dedication of the members of the Leadership Team and the cooperation of the churches.  A big “thanks” to each one.  In addition to what we did as an association, each of the 62 organizations  was involved in :

        Praying for Missions, Learning about missions, Supporting missions,

        Doing Missions , Seeking to develop spiritually toward a missions lifestyle and

        Participating in the work of the church and the denomination. 

May the Lord continue to guide and bless as we work together to “collectively or as individual members, work to take the love of Jesus Christ to persons outside the church”.  This is Missions.                       

Carol Henson, Director