As the need for gospel ministry continues to grow, Louisiana
Baptist women recently were reminded that God can do unbelievable things through
ordinary, faithful lives
The troubled state of affairs in Louisiana is “beyond
belief” – but that is no reason for Louisiana Baptist women to be
discouraged in their work, Nelda Seal insisted recently.
As the need for gospel ministry continues to grow, Louisiana
Baptist women recently were reminded that God can do unbelievable things through
ordinary, faithful lives
The troubled state of affairs in Louisiana is “beyond
belief” – but that is no reason for Louisiana Baptist women to be
discouraged in their work, Nelda Seal insisted recently.
And this surely is no time to falter in that work, added Seal,
Louisiana Baptist womens missions and ministry director.
“What are our possibilities?” Seal asked women attending
the recent Louisiana Baptist Womans Missionary Union annual meeting at
Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport.
“It is beyond belief what we can do through trust in God.
… We are to walk by faith and believe in the impossible.”
Trusting God to work through ones life was a persistent
theme during the recent two-day meeting, attended by some 400 women from across
the state. The theme of the gathering was “Beyond Belief: What God Can
Do,” based on Matthew 19:26. Presentations focused both on what is being
done and what remains to be accomplished through the power of God.
In her address to close the annual meeting, Seal acknowledged
the remaining challenge is daunting. She cited a litany of concerns about Louisiana
– but also reminded women that they have the opportunity to meet the needs.
Seal noted:
”It is beyond belief that in Louisiana almost 50
percent of our population would be considered illiterate – they cant
read Gods Word – and that WMU has the knowledge and ability to change
this. What will we do?”
”It is beyond belief that a large segment of our
female population is unemployed or underemployed, resulting in poverty and all
the ills that accompany it and that WMU can help some of them through Christian
Womens Job Corps.”
”It is beyond belief that, in our state, children
need food, clothing, shelter, medical care and stories of Jesus and that WMU
can meet those needs through ministry projects.”
”It it beyond belief that each year we in Louisiana
know that about one-half of our state is lost … and that we in WMU know the
savior and can give a witness but fail to do so on a regular and consistent
basis.”
”It is beyond belief that, year after year, we
as Louisiana voters elect legislators and government officials who are friendly
to the gambling, alcohol and drug cartels. We tolerate fraud and corruption.
Where are the Christians on Election Day, and how do we vote? Our power is beyond
belief in the voting booth.”
In the face of such needs, the challenge is to follow the example
of Jesus and work to heal, feed, clothe, teach and touch others, Seal said,
adding that God holds his children accountable in that task.
However, Seal also reminded Womans Missionary Union members
that they are “peculiarly equipped” to minister.
“It is beyond belief we would miss this opportunity. Jesus
offers more than salvation – he offers a way of life that is beyond belief.
…
“We must believe with our hearts what we believe with
our heads,” Seal insisted. “Surely, God must look down from above
and say: It is beyond belief that they dont believe me or trust
me to do the unbelievable. ”
In one presentation, five panelists spoke of how they have
trusted God in their ministries around the state. These included two Acteens
from Woodridge Baptist Church in Shreveport who already have participated in
four mission trips.
Others spoke of storefront and crisis ministries and work with
the Christian Womens Job Corps, a Womans Missionary Union effort
to help educate and train needy women so they can escape the cycle of poverty.
All of the panelists emphasized their dependence on God to
empower the various efforts – and the possibility of other women doing
the same.
“We dont have a building,” Jo Purvis said of
the Christian Womens Job Corps effort in Bogalusa. “We dont
have any money. We just did it through prayer and volunteer women who were willing
to reach out and help a woman who needs a helping hand. … You can start it
in your town as well. … It can be one woman – one mentor and one woman.
… Anybody can do Christian Womens Job Corps.”
Seal agreed as she dialogued with the panelists.
“One of the best-kept secrets of WMU are the varied ministries
that were involved in,” she noted. “It is truly beyond belief
at all the many things that take place through the hands and the hearts and
the minds of members of Womans Missionary Union. … God leads all of
us to share and to do things that are beyond belief for the ordinary person.”
State Womans Missionary Union President Linda David echoed
the same idea in her remarks, citing examples of God at work in churches, as
well as individual lives.
“I know about Gods power,” said David, a member
at First Baptist Church of Broussard. “I know that he has great power.
But what amazes me is how he uses that power through very plain, ordinary human
beings.”
David used herself as an example, confessing that she was very
shy as a child and that no one would have thought it likely she would be one
to speak at a public meeting or to travel to Africa and share the gospel with
strangers.
“I know I never thought I would do those things,”
she said. “But the Lord knew. … God knew that he had a special plan.”
Likewise, God touches the hearts and lives of others, empowering
them to engage in ministry so that others can hear the gospel, David reminded
meeting participants.
“(For instance) God … touched the hearts of women like
you years ago and urged them to start missions work in South Louisiana so that
the Cajun people could know about a savior,” she explained. “And those
seeds that were planted years ago bore fruit in people named Boudreaux and Langley,
Bertrand, Callais, Guillot.”
God continues to work in churches as ordinary people are faithful
and allow God to use them, David said. She told of a recent service in her church
in which she shared a story about witnessing to a man named George in Africa.
She told how she asked George if he was saved. He said no.
She asked George if he knew how to be saved. He said no.
David said she then shared the gospel with George and led him
through the sinners prayer.
Following the testimony, David said her pastor preached a simple,
evangelistic message. Then, at the time of invitation, six adults came forward,
each saying they wanted to be saved.
“I dont know what happened to George,” David
continued. “I dont know if he went to church as I encouraged him
to do. I may never know this side of heaven.
“But I believe his story helped change the lives of six
people in Broussard that Sunday. And that is the power of God.”
That same power can work in individuals lives as well, David
said. As an example, she told how she and a group of leaders tried to get Christian
Womens Job Corps started in Broussard. Their efforts clashed and finally
failed, she noted.
However, later, one women felt led to take up the cause, David
noted. Indeed, she was unable to attend the annual meeting because she was receiving
training as a Christian Womens Job Corps coordinator.
“One person, through Gods power, is going to do
it – what seven of us couldnt do,” David said.
She also told of another church member, who had to go into
the hospital for unexpected heart surgery, which caused him to miss scheduled
visitation at the church.
However, he made up for it by sharing with one of his intensive
care nurses, David said. “This is Gods power, working in just quiet,
ordinary people. …
“Dont forget that God has many things to do, and
he can use ordinary people like you and I to do it,” David continued.
“In fact, thats about the only way he does things
– is through his people, his servants who are willing to do it. And he
can do more through us than we can ever imagine.”
During their annual meeting, women:
Re-elected David to a third one-year term as state president.
They also elected Jan Gaudin from Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville
as vice president; re-elected Marguerite Young from First Baptist Church of
Lake Charles as recording secretary; re-elected Linda Edwards from Fellowship
Baptist Church in Jena as assistant recording secretary; and re-elected Mary
Wilson from First Baptist Church of Shreveport as scholarship committee chair.
Were introduced to this years four Louisiana Baptist
Acteen panelists – Heather Blackman and Jessica Edwards from Pleasant Hill
Baptist Church in Pollock; Melody Blackwell from Suburban Baptist Church in
New Orleans; and Cara Beth Walker from First Baptist Church of Minden.
Honored national Womans Missionary Union President Janet Hoffman
with a banquet. Hoffman was elected to the national post last summer. She is
a member at First Baptist Church of Farmerville. National Womans Missionary
Union Executive Director Wanda Lee spoke at the banquet.