Bardstown—This year’s annual meeting of Kentucky Woman’s Missionary Union included hands-on ministry, a history-making celebration and heartfelt words from missionaries serving in the commonwealth, Costa Rica and areas of the world so closed to the gospel, it is risky to name the countries in print.

The ministry projects, and absence of hundreds of Girls in Action and Children in Action to close the event, changed the meeting’s format, but the focus remained on sharing the gospel in word and deed at home and far away.

“Sisterhood,” a drama ministry based in Kentucky, illustrated the meeting’s theme based on Colossians 1:10: “Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Performers portrayed “worthy” women of the Bible including Sarah, the wife of Abraham; the Samaritan woman at the well mentioned in the Gospel of John; and the wives of Noah’s sons, Ham, Shem and Japheth.

During the business session of the meeting, held at Parkway Baptist Church in Bardstown, members re-elected for a third term Pat Reaves of Louisville as president, Sandra Duguid of Hopkinsville as vice president, and Cheryl Hatfield of Willisburg as recording secretary.

Kentucky natives Ken and Beth were commissioned to the African mission field in 1984. Today, they serve in North Africa and the Middle East.

Ken told WMU members and guests that in 24 years of service, he, Beth and their children have moved 26 times and learned four languages. They have served in countries where political unrest is the norm and racial tensions go far beyond what is experienced in the U.S.

Adapting to different cultures and climates, battling disease, insects and other challenges, the couple persevered even after one of their sons died of an asthma attack as they served in Africa.

Adding to their grief was the loss, by death or flight, of nearly all of one country’s professing Christians during a time of intense persecution. “We began with 150 and ended with four,” Ken recalled.

From there, he said, the couple purposefully began seeking believers in persecution, and asking, “God, do you know what you’re doing?”

Ken said they met believers under daily scrutiny and pressure to renounce their faith, yet “they beg us, ‘don’t pray for the persecution to cease.’”

Ken explained, “The No. 1 cause of persecution in the world today is people coming to Jesus.” Instead of relief, the Christian minority asks for prayers that they might stand strong under the abuse.

Ken concluded his message saying, “WMU, please know you are paying us too much.” He described a scene in one African region where a group of people came to Ken and Beth saying, “We heard a rumor that you brought God to our country. Would you come and bring God to our village?” The joy of sharing Christ with people who have never heard the gospel before is compensation enough, Ken declared.

“What have we done to deserve such joy?” he asked.

Gary and Sis Tufts, Southern Baptist missionaries to Costa Rica, said they are grieving for their home of 23 years now that they are back in the U.S. for a three-year stateside assignment.

“We’re thankful for all you’ve done,” Gary Tufts told Kentucky WMU, “but the task isn’t done. There are 244 unreached people groups in our region” between Mexico and Panama. Multiply that figure by 11 international missionary regions and it is evident, “there’s a lost world out there,” he noted.

To ensure that every person on earth has the opportunity to accept Christ as their savior, Tufts challenged those gathered at Parkway Baptist to tell God, “I’ll go anywhere, anytime and do anything you tell me to.”

Kentucky Baptists have several options in response to that prayer including teaching English to South Korean children and teens July 31-Aug. 17. Last year, nine Kentucky Baptists led a series of language camps in South Korea, using Bible stories as the foundation of the curriculum. Members of the team reported on their experiences at the annual meeting. To learn more about the language camps, visit WMU’s Web site, www.kywmu.org, or call (866) 489-3534.

Another option is MissionsFEST at Boones Creek Baptist Association April 26-May 3. Kentucky Baptists will welcome volunteers from other states and undertake a series of community projects including improvements to the association’s camp.

According to associational clerk Twyla Sheffield, a barber and/or hairdresser is needed, as well as volunteers who can speak English and Spanish. Additional volunteers also are needed for general labor. For details, contact the association at (859) 744-0037.

“Today, first and foremost, we want to have a celebration,” declared Kentucky WMU Executive Director Joy Bolton as she announced that Kentucky Baptists exceded the $1 million goal for the 2007-08 Eliza Broadus Offering for state missions. (See sidebar story above.)

Another celebration was the demise of proposed legislation in this year’s Kentucky General Assembly related to casino gambling.

Bolton and other Kentucky Baptist women joined fellow believers in publicly denouncing the plan because of the ill effects gambling has on individuals and families.

“We prayed. We wrote letters. We showed up” at the capitol, she said.

In an effort to keep Kentucky Baptists informed about the work of WMU, Bolton encouraged members to visit the organization’s page on Facebook.com and to read Bolton’s personal weblog and additional blogs about missions and news, including prayer needs in South Korea.

Absent from this year’s meeting was a Saturday event for Girls in Action and Children in Action. According to Kentucky WMU Associate Executive Director Brenda Price, leaders decided not to have the children’s event, in part, because of the strain it places on the host church’s resources.