Womans Missionary Union Auxiliary To S C Baptist Convention

Camp La Vida: This year at Camp La Vida we had decisions made that reflect lifelong commitments of children, youth and adults that will influence them and the world. We will not know the impact that these lives will have upon the world in sharing God's love until eternity but consider it one of the major impacts of our work. The 2018 summer camping season theme at Camp La Vida (CLV) was "Unshakeable." There were 1,262 campers, 34 program guests, and 42 staff for the camping season. A total of 120 decisions were recorded: 67 campers made professions of faith in Jesus Christ; 26 rededicated their lives to Christ; 37 committed to full-time mission service; 12 to full-time Christian service; and 38 other decisions were made. Campers contributed gifts to the Cooperative Program. Camp La Vida's social media following has grown to 1,471 followers on Facebook, 487 followers on Instagram, and 62 followers on Pinterest. During non-camping season, we had two work days held in April. There were 70 people representing several churches who came to work. Their work helped prepare camp for the coming season.

Leadership Training & Missions Growth: In January 2016, SC WMU began a more hands-on, intentional approach to leadership development. Each field service staff was assigned a region, and is responsible for on-going contact with the associational WMU directors in their region. This approach was continued in 2018 and continued to include 4 regional training events and a total of 207 leaders attended. WMU field staff met with WMU directors in their regions monthly or quarterly and attended WMU events in their regions. Twenty-one WMU Specialists were trained. A specialist is a person with experience in the office, age level, or specialty in which they are serving. In addition, they have completed extensive training in the work of WMU. Specialists are available to speak in churches/associations, lead conferences, and teach North American/international mission studies, state missions emphasis, and other studies. State WMU staff assisted associational WMU leadership with WMU Spring Meetings which were held during the spring. The purpose of these meetings is to provide missions inspiration and information and to conduct WMU business, which includes electing associational WMU leadership for the new church year. The majority of the associations included a presentation from a retired or active international or North American missionary as a part of their program. Meetings were held in 40 of the 42 associations. Leadership development continues to be one of the greatest needs that we have in WMU in South Carolina, and the WMU staff continues to seek new ways to reach the most leaders to ensure we have quality, trained leaders. We continue to see churches start or restart WMU organizations each year. National WMU and SC WMU work together to put the needed resources in the hands of churches as they begin these new organizations. Everything we do in WMU includes and gives support to growth. This includes specialists, conferences, consultations, coaching, website information, mail-outs, newsletters, and responding to requests for assistance which come from churches and associations.

WMU Missions Celebration & Annual Meeting: The 115th WMU Missions Encounter & Annual Meeting was held at First Baptist Church, North Augusta, SC, March 23-24, 2018. At least 393 persons registered, representing 42 associations. The theme for the meeting was embrace. This meeting provided access to missions opportunities that are taking place in South Carolina communities, in North America and around the world. Leaders and members of our organization are encouraged, inspired and educated to be involved in missions. The results are seen throughout the year as they implement these projects in their own neighborhoods and share their support through prayers and gifts with missions around the world.

Missions Discipleship Experiences: In 2018, there were several unique experiences for SC WMU. One event GAs and their leaders participated in GA Day, one held in the fall another in the spring. A total of 382 engaged in the events. At Super Saturday, GAs and their leaders hear missionaries as well as participated in GA Journey and other missions learning experiences. They were challenged to continue to make a difference in their communities through GAs. Last year, SC WMU encouraged churches to gather backpacks for the Appalachian ministry and sent over 2,976 backpacks to Kentucky. The needs are great in this area of our country, and churches could take part by personally delivering them to share with a church in the Appalachian area or sent them through SC WMU. They were presented at an evangelist event for the children as they learned about Christ's love for them.