By Lindsey Carraway
Writing Specialist
BRANDON, Miss. — Participants left the 2026 Equipping Leaders Weekend encouraged and equipped with resources for the road ahead. “Meant for the Mission,” the theme of the August 21-22 conference and the WMU focus for the next two years, reminded ministry leaders that God called them to a path He already paved by a sacrificial price He readily paid.
“The mission of God is not sustained by effort alone,” said Linda Cooper, Kentucky WMU President and guest speaker at this year’s Equipping Leaders. “Jesus anchors it in relationship, abiding in Him. When we remain connected to Christ, our lives begin to bear fruit. Not temporary results, but fruit that lasts.
“As a WMU leader, you’re not simply guiding people through curriculum. You’re shaping lives for the mission of God. Curriculum is a tool. Discipleship is the goal. Every gathering is an opportunity to form a biblical worldview, cultivate our heart for missions, and lead people toward action.”
The weekend was hosted by the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board’s Women’s Ministry/WMU and Multicultural Ministries departments and held at Brandon Baptist Church, Brandon. Members of Brandon Baptist graciously prepared and served Friday night’s dinner for the 240 participants who registered for the conference. The next day, volunteers of the MS Baptist Disaster Relief served fresh breakfast out of their mobile kitchen, as well as a delicious lunch in the church.
Joanne Bell of Joanne Bell Ministries led the worship time during the Mississippi WMU Annual Meeting on Saturday. Her evident talent and worshipful faith uplifted attendees in the audience.
Throughout the conference, Kristy Carr, National WMU Senior Hub Manager, interviewed IMB missionary families serving in Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Carr also walked attendees through her amusing and useful “Muppet Theory,” which helped participants to figure out their strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Through understanding the different types of leaders, Carr encouraged participants to apply the theory to their church’s ministries as a way to grow in collaboration with other leaders.
Emerging Leaders
New this year, the conference offered a special emphasis called “Emerging Leaders” for high school and college-age girls sensing a call to serve the Lord in the local church or on the mission field. Braelyn Weaver, consultant of the MBCB Women’s Ministry/WMU department, led a panel of mission-minded ladies in leadership, discussing the challenges and lessons they have learned in their roles.
“Be careful not to identify yourself by your spiritual gift,” said Miah Spencer, BSU summer missionary and student at Mississippi Christian University. “Tie your identity to the Giver alone.”
Brantley Martin, BSU leader and student at Mississippi State University, shared, “Don’t be led by expectations. Trust God to take you where He’s leading without needing to know the details.”
“Run to find a mentor. Don’t walk,” said Beth Bowman, Women’s Ministry director at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison. “Find a godly woman who will walk with you and speak truth in your life. Give her permission to call you out.”
“God is not asking you to be an expert,” Kelly Collins, missionary in residence, assured. “He’s asking you to be obedient.”
Weaver encouraged attendees to “put your ‘yes’ to God on the table and let it go. God will do something with it.”
Panelists agreed that some of the most important traits of a godly leader are:
- A teachable attitude: Someone willing to learn and grow in their understanding of God, ministry, and the people they serve alongside. Someone who openly admits their need to grow and seeks out opportunities and people to help them do that.
- A humble life: Someone who reflects the humility of Christ as exemplified in Philippians 2. Someone willing to figuratively and literally “take the trash out” when the spotlight is off and everyone has gone home.
- An undeniable integrity: Someone who holds to the same godly principles no matter the situation, whether they are on a stage, at home, in a crowd of people, or alone with the Lord.
- A compassionate heart: Someone who sees people’s needs and is moved to lead and help them.
Mississippi WMU Annual Meeting
The 2026 WMU annual meeting began with the election of 2027 officers and board members, as well as recognizing those who faithfully served this year. Terrie Harwood, president of the Mississippi WMU, was reelected for 2027 by the WMU executive board. Ann Rials, children’s specialist with the Mississippi Women’s Ministry/WMU, accepted the position of vice president. Elaine Eavenson was nominated as secretary of the Mississippi WMU board for 2027.
Looking back on 2026, Harwood noted a few of the many victories Mississippi WMU celebrated:
- The success of Christian Job Corps trainings aided in the building of a new ministry site on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- Over a thousand children took part in Missions Madness events across Mississippi and learned that God already has a missional purpose for them right now.
- Summer camps at Garaywa Camp and Conference Center welcomed 988 campers, 27 of whom made professions of faith in Jesus Christ. “That is why we do what we do,” Harwood affirmed.
- A group of seven WMU women, including Harwood, went on mission to the Dakotas to lead a women’s conference and prayer experience with the Dakota Convention.
- Mississippi WMU was represented at the National WMU Mission Celebration in Orlando during the annual Southern Baptist Convention in June. WMU women from across the nation, including Mississippi, served at a community block party with First Baptist Church, Leesburg, Fla., “putting into practice exactly what we talk about: prayer, serving, and sharing the living mission.”
- Her personal privilege of Harwood speaking at the New Choctaw Baptist Association’s WMU prayer conference where she enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship and a beautiful worship service sung in Choctaw.
“Now this weekend,” said Harwood, “I look around and see part of over 240 people who registered for Equipping Leaders. Two hundred and forty people who have come to be encouraged, challenged, and better equipped to return to their churches and communities and continue the work God has given them.
“‘Meant for the Mission’ is not just the theme of an event; it’s who we are called to be. Whether we’re serving at a block party in Orlando, praying with women in Mississippi, teaching a child about missions, helping someone learn to read, serving at camp, or faithfully giving an offering, every one of us has a place in God’s mission.”
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