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WMU’s WorldCrafts offers way of supporting missions


INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–Wanda S. Lee, executive director-treasurer of the national Woman’s Missionary Union, and Janet Hoffman, national WMU president, highlighted WorldCrafts during their report to the Southern Baptist Convention June 15 in Indianapolis.

Hoffman reminded participants of WMU’s purpose: to help Christian believers understand the mission of God and then discover ways to be radically involved in that mission.

“For 116 years, we have challenged you and your church members to understand that each of us has a personal responsibility to carry out the Great Commission,” she said. “In addition to providing a framework in the church for understanding this through Mission Friends, GAs and other missions organizations, WMU also provides many ways for people to be actively engaged in missions.”

One of those ways is WorldCrafts, one of WMU’s fastest growing ministries. Through WorldCrafts, WMU imports handcrafts from all over the world. Lee said WMU started the ministry in 1996 and initially worked with just one vendor, an International Mission Board worker in Thailand who worked with a local ministry called Thai Country Trim.

Today, WorldCrafts imports approximately 260 items from 27 countries through 48 different vendors and provides income to more than 1,600 artisans living in poverty.

“The impact of WorldCrafts is long-lasting and far-reaching,” Lee said. “It is truly a privilege to see and hear how God is using this ministry, in partnership with our missionaries, to meet the financial or physical needs as well as spiritual needs of the people groups whom they serve.”

A new video featuring some of the crafters along with testimonies from two international missionaries, one in Thailand and one in Tanzania, conveyed the strength and impact of this ministry. The video, running slightly over six minutes, is available as part of the fall WorldCrafts party kit.

“Each year, hundreds of missions-minded people have found that hosting a WorldCrafts party is a wonderful way to encourage others to be involved in missions,” Hoffman said.
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For more information about WorldCrafts, visit www.wmu.com.