WMU of Texas seeks to support, partner with next generation of disciple-makers at Southwestern Seminary

“As I look out across this room and see young faces, what I see is our future,” said Teri Ussery, missional lifestyle strategist for the Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas, during the latest Going Global luncheon at The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Nov. 13. The World Missions Center hosted the luncheon as an opportunity for students to hear about the WMU and how to connect with them for their current and future ministries.

WMU of Texas Executive Director Tamiko Jones shared about the WMU’s long history and legacy of “praying, going, and giving.” She continued that the organization has recently taken a fresh look at how they approach their ministries to engage in local missions, establish partnerships for missions, and empower others to be “on mission” worldwide.

“It is our goal to help local churches and individuals be on mission in their local church and community,” Jones said, adding that Christians are strongest when they are in partnership for all local and global ministry efforts. “We can do more together, and we don’t always have to ‘recreate the wheel.’”

The WMU of Texas provides many wide-ranging services, resources, and curriculum, and works to partner with fellow Christians to fulfill the Great Commission, Jones said. She specifically noted that Southwestern Seminary is one of their most “treasured partnerships” and hopes to partner with the seminary more in the future to strengthen mission efforts on a state, national, and global level.

Terri Ussery addressed attendees next, expressing her excitement and eagerness to see how Southwestern Seminary students will impact the Kingdom of God.

“I love coming on this campus, and I love seeing what God is doing in this place,” Ussery said. “I’m excited that there is a future that is going to go beyond my lifetime.”

As the WMU and Southwestern Seminary strengthen their partnership, particularly through the seminary’s World Missions Center, Ussery said they want to work with students who will be the “next generation” of missionaries, church staff, and laypeople.

“WMU is here as a resource for you,” Ussery said. “We want to help you whether you are on the field, or just in the community with your church.

“We are here for you. We are a resource for you. We want to help you do what God has called you to do, which is bring people into the Kingdom.”

The WMU has long worked to acquire resources and financial aid for mission efforts through special offerings, including the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Rebekah Naylor, missionary-in-residence at Southwestern Seminary and daughter of its fifth president, Robert E. Naylor, affirmed how such offerings benefited her while serving for 36 years as a physician in India through the International Mission Board.

“We have known for all these many decades and years that as we give and work cooperatively together, we are much more effective and able to do so much more than individual churches could possibly do alone,” Naylor said.

For more information about how to get involved in mission efforts at Southwestern Seminary or how to connect with the WMU of Texas, visit swbts.edu/wmc.