PA/SJ WMU seeks ‘hope for our world’ at annual meeting

Representatives of WMU across Pennsylvania/South Jersey gathered on Nov. 4 at Red Land Baptist Church in New Cumberland, Pa., for the annual PA/SJ WMU meeting.

November 9, 2023
Macala Mays

By Theresa Krieg | WMU PA/SJ Executive Director

NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa., (BRN) – PA/SJ Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) met Nov. 4 at Red Land Baptist Church in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, for their annual meeting. The theme for the event was Hope for our World.

Over 60 women and men attended the 53rd celebration of WMU in the states of Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Fanny Grote was re-elected as PA/SJ WMU President, and Jada Baker was elected as the Recording Secretary during the business session.

Linda Cooper, president of Kentucky WMU and past National President, returned this year to lead in the general sessions. There were also six small group sessions available during the day. Three dealt with health issues led by Dr. Alberta Morgan and Pam Ammons, while Linda Cooper held a session on prayer and Alice Worrall (pastor’s wife) led a Bible study on hope.

WMU Leadership team members led three additional sessions. Fanny Grote led a session on Annie Armstrong, while Kathy Sheldon led a session on what missions looks like in the local church and Theresa Krieg led a session on helping strangers to find hope.

The group also wrote note cards to single and young International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries that will be sent to them. Prayer Cards were available for them to take home and they were encouraged to pray for their chosen missionary daily. There was also a time of prayer dedicated to missionaries that were having their birthday on Nov. 4.

New to this meeting was a special track for 6-12 grade girls. There were three girls that attended this brand new meeting. They heard from a former missionary, a current missionary and enjoyed a Bible Study with a youth pastor’s wife. They also participated in a missions project. These girls joined the final session and shared their mission project with the total group.

Those that joined were challenged to be on mission. The challenge came in the form of a statement shared by Linda Cooper: “We must be available for God to use us and must remember that God doesn’t call the qualified…He qualifies for the call.”

To learn more about what the PA/SJ WMU does or the national WMU visit wmu.com.

Macala Mays

In 2022, Macala Mays stepped into her current role as Associate Editor of BRN United and Podcast Producer for the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey (BRN). Before taking this position, she worked as a contracted Podcast Producer in 2021 and a freelance writer in 2020 for the BRN. During her time with the BRN, Macala Mays has produced three different podcast series, including 50 Stories of Transformation (2021-2022), The #LovePASJ Podcast (2022), and Celebrating Cooperative Missions (2023). She also has written over 60 articles for the BRN and has been nationally published by The Baptist Paper and Baptist Press. She is also a member of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA).

Prior to working with the BRN, Macala interned at the State Capitol of Tennessee in the Publications Division under the office of Secretary of State. She also remotely wrote news for TalkErie, a radio station in Erie, Pa., and previously worked as a News Director/Producer for WJET-TV in Erie, Pa.

Macala Mays holds a master of arts in communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) as well as a bachelor of arts in journalism/public relations from EUP. During her graduate years, Macala worked as a Graduate Assistant and helped manage the on-campus radio station. She also served as a managing editor for the university’s newspaper, which led to an interest in music journalism.
Macala and her husband, Robbie, live in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where they attend Big Woods Bible Church and Robbie serves as the Associate Pastor of Campus Ministry. Both Robbie and Macala find great joy in discipling and walking alongside college students at Lock Haven University.