BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–Jean Cullen has been named as mission involvement specialist for Woman’s Missionary Union, with responsibilities for four prominent WMU ministries: Christian Women’s Job Corps; International Initiatives; Project HELP; and Pure Water, Pure Love.
Cullen, a native of Jefferson City, Mo., earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., and a master’s in social work and a certificate of theology from the Carver School of Church Social Work at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
“We are delighted and blessed to have Jean’s dynamic leadership to direct and coordinate these thriving ministries,” said Wanda S. Lee, WMU executive director-treasurer. “With great expertise in social work coupled with a strong passion for international missions, Jean is a visionary who will greatly enhance our efforts.”
Cullen participated in international missions work mainly in the United Kingdom through the Baptist World Alliance Youth Congress. She also worked with WMU on a part time basis for 10 months prior to accepting the full time position. Before that, she was a youth minister at First Baptist Church in Vincent, Ala., where she served for three years.
Cullen has extensive international social work experience. Working with Growing Great Kids, Inc.’s Healthy Family program, she provided intensive training for site supervisors who worked to prevent child abuse in at-risk families. She also supervised two home visitation programs targeting child abuse prevention and homelessness prevention. Cullen maintains her Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Alabama and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
“Because the international growth potential of CWJC is tremendous, we are excited that Jean will now coordinate the direction of CWJC as well as International Initiatives,” said Carol Causey, director of WMU’s missions resource center. “We have already trained two international missionaries in CWJC leadership and will continue to seek opportunities to serve women both internationally and in the United States through these ministries.”
WMU MINISTRIES
Christian Women’s Job Corps was born out of a vision of WMU leadership in 1994 and established as a WMU ministry in 1996. In six short years, CWJC has grown to approximately 130 sites across 21 states. This vital ministry helps women possess basic life skills for self-sufficiency, engages them in weekly Bible study, and partners them with a mentor for one-on-one encouragement and accountability.
The purpose behind WMU’s International Initiatives ministry is to mobilize Christians beyond borders and boundaries to share the love of Christ. International Initiatives volunteers seek to positively impact issues that pertain to women, such as poverty, sex trafficking and health care.
Project HELP, launched in 1995, identifies a social and moral issue and then ties in national projects to address it over the course of two years. Projects are geared to share the Gospel by meeting both physical and spiritual needs, mobilizing WMU resources and developing ministry models to meet the needs.
Since 1997, WMU’s Pure Water, Pure Love ministry has provided water filters to international missionaries. WMU receives donations for filters from WMU organizations in churches, Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible Schools, individuals and various church groups.
Additional WMU ministries include Volunteer Connection, Baptist Nursing Fellowship and WorldCrafts. For more information on any of these WMU ministries, visit http://www.wmu.com/getinvolved/ministry or call (205) 991-8100.
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(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: JEAN CULLEN.
