as the assistant director of enrollment services for admissions. The experience she gained through working closely with young, collegiate women at the University of Mobile will serve her well in her new position at Alabama WMU. “We are thrilled to have Ashleigh as a member of the Alabama WMU staff,” said Alabama WMU Executive Director Candace McIntosh. “She brings with her a fresh perspective and enthusiasm that we believe will help bridge the gap with young women in our Alabama Baptist churches.” Ashleigh was recently married to Mark Coats of Mobile, and they reside in Pike Road, Ala. Ashleigh can be reached at acoats@alsbom.org or 800.264.1225 ext. 278.

wisdom

Touchinglives

globally

FindingfellowshipPassingit on

Seeking

In this issue...

Caring

Promotional poster for EquipMissionary Family Joins WorldSong Summer StaffTwo Alabama Acteens Named National Panelists

May 2014 Volume 15, Issue 1

Meet Our Newest Missions & Ministry Consultant

Ashleigh Coats recently joined the staff of Alabama WMU, and, although many of you have already met her out and about around the state, we’d like to take a moment to formally introduce her! Ashleigh serves in the newly-created role of Missions and Ministry Consultant for Young Women. Some of her responsibilities at Alabama WMU include:

• determining best practices to disciple young women in missions and ministry

• working to assist local churches and associations to implement these practices based upon their unique needs

• helping to move young women toward a lifestyle of missions and ministry• identifying and developing young women as leaders throughout the state• and collaborating on the planning of Renew, Alabama WMU’s annual state-

wide event for women. “I am delighted to join the Alabama WMU team,” said Coats. “The young women of Alabama are part of the largest generation in American history and have incredible potential to make a big impact for Christ in their communities, state and world.” She added, “The methods for reaching these young women may be new and somewhat different, but the mission and message don’t change. We want to challenge, equip and empower young women to fulfill the Great Commission, just as Alabama WMU has done for the past 125 years.” Originally from Enterprise, Ala., Ashleigh comes to Alabama WMU from her alma mater, the University of Mobile, where she was employed for the past three years

Ashleigh Coats

Alabama WMU Missions & Ministry Consultant for

Young Women

Mytestimony

Wow, a lot has changed in my life since I joined the Alabama WMU staff 10 years ago! One of the biggest changes was enter-ing the realm of motherhood. Sure changes your whole perspective, doesn’t it? It wasn’t long after becoming a mother I felt the need to apologize to every church leader I’d ever had from the 7th grade through college - especially my Acteens leaders. It’s a wonder those ladies still speak to me today after some of my teen-age antics! But those ladies were patient, continuing to invest in me week after week, year after year. I remember their names: Debbie, Bonnie, CeCelia, Linda, Mom, and more importantly, I remember their impact. And now that I’m a mom, I appreciate them more every day. One of those same ladies is now teaching my six-year-old daughter in Mission Friends. My six-year-old daughter who would rather do anything, seriously anything, in the world than chores actu-ally asked to do chores to earn money to give through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering this year. And often, she is the one reminding me we need to pray for our missionaries. What an enormous blessing! So as we reflect on Alabama WMU’s past 125 years, thank you, leaders. Even when it seemed like we weren’t listening or we just swiped a Sharpie across your favorite shirt or we just sneezed in your face (again), please know you were making an impact. A big one. An eternal one. And for that, we are eternally grateful.

Brittney Gardner serves as Alabama WMU’s communications specialist.

We are happy to welcome the mother-daughter duo of Hope and Kaley Stephens to the Summer Missions Camp staff at WorldSong Missions Place, Alabama WMU’s camp and retreat center in Cook Springs, Ala. Originally from Alabama, the Stephens family served in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe with the International Mission Board before God led them back to the Birmingham area in 2009. Hope will serve as the Summer Missions Camp Director. She has previously served at WorldSong as a missionary at Summer Missions Camp, as the coordinator for Christmas Around the World, and as the coordinator for Fall Missions Festival for Children. She has a passion for missions and teaching, and we believe she will be an asset to WorldSong. Kaley will serve as program and activities director this summer. She spent her first summer at WorldSong in 2010 as a cabin leader. She also has served on staff at Camp Skyline, Camp Alabama Storm and Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center. Kaley is a junior at Jackson-ville State University studying Recreation Leadership. Join us in welcoming Hope and Kaley to WorldSong!

Two members of the Alabama Challenge Team, Elizabeth Stanbrough of First Baptist in Alexan-der City and Claire Wells of Eastern Hills Baptist in Montgomery, have been named National Acteens Panelists by National WMU. The girls were chosen for their commitment to missions and involvement in their Acteens groups, churches, schools and communities. Both Elizabeth and Claire have been involved in Acteens for the past six years. As National Acteens Panelists, they will be featured during the National WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting in Baltimore in June and will have opportunities to write for The Mag, the Acteens missions magazine. They also will receive $1,000 each from the Jessica Powell Loftis Scholarship for Acteens from the WMU Foundation. Congratulations, Elizabeth and Claire! It’s quite an honor to have not one, but two, National Acteens Panelists from our state. Way to go, ladies!

Two Alabama Challenge Team Members Named National Acteens Panelists

Elizabeth StanbroughFirst Baptist Church

Alexander City

Claire WellsEastern Hills Baptist Church

Montgomery

Missionary Family to Lead Summer Missions Camp

Hope StephensSummer Missions Camp

Director

Kaley StephensProgram and

Activities Director

July 18-19, 2014Shocco Springs Conference Center

Talladega, Ala.

For more information:

Equip...for Missions, for Ministry, for Life

Leadership Training of Alabama WMU

...for Missions, for Ministry, for Life

quipELeadership Training of Alabama WMU

Plus...Connect with missionaries from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, East Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa & the Middle East, and North America

Debby AkermanPresident,

National WMU

Bible Study Leader

Chip Colee

Worship Leader

Minister of MusicFirst Baptist, Montgomery

Visit us online at www.alabamawmu.org or call 800.264.1225 ext. 226.

To register, contact Shocco Springs at 800.280.1105 or visit www.shocco.org.

This event is made possible in partby gifts given through the Kathleen Mallory Mission Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Join the PARTY as we kick off the celebration of our 125 years of missions through Alabama WMU!

Be the first to hear the exciting plans for the upcoming year-long celebration!

Get up close and personal with the mission-aries during the Global Café and at break-out conferences.

Leave challenged and inspired to fulfill God’s mission for your life!

Alabama WMUP.O. Box 11870

Montgomery, AL 36111-0870

800.264.1225 ext. 226www.alabamawmu.org

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Breakout Conferences3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Associational WMU Leadership Conference 3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Breakout Conferences4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Breakout Conferences4:00 p.m. Emerging Leaders Forum Begins (by invitation only) 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Dinner 6:15 – 8:00 p.m. Missions Celebration8:15 p.m. 125th Anniversary Celebration & Global Café

7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. Breakout Conferences9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Essentials for Church Leaders; Breakout Conferences10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Missions Celebration 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. Lunch 1:15 – 2:00 p.m. Next Level for Church WMU Leaders Breakout Conferences2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Breakout Conferences3:15 p.m. Emerging Leaders Forum Concludes

For further details and updates about Equip, visit www.alabamawmu.org/equip or

Leadership TrainingExperience in-depth training for all church and associational directors, coordinators, facilitators, leaders and other team members of…

Life-Enrichment Opportunities Breakout conference topics may include: Secrets to Surrender: Living Wholeheartedly ProjectHELP: PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) Celebrating the Past, the Present and the Future of Alabama WMU Restored and Renewed …and MORE!

Women’s Ministry WMU Women on Mission myMISSIONAdults on Mission Acteens

Youth on MissionGirls MinistryGirls in ActionChildren in ActionMission FriendsRoyal Ambassadors

Friday, July 18 Saturday, July 19

Weekend Schedule

@alwmu@CandaceWMU

Alabama WMUCandace McIntosh

Equip will also feature:

Alabama WMUP.O. Box 11870

Montgomery, AL 36111-0870

800.264.1225 ext. 226www.alabamawmu.org

Do you love a party? Want to be in the know? Then please consider this your personal invitation to join the staff of Alabama WMU and her Board of Trustees on July 18-19 at Shocco Springs as we kick off the celebration of our 125th year! Friday night will be our feature evening as more than 10 missionary couples, representing seven regions of the world including North America, will join us as we give honor to God,

remember our heritage and celebrate our future. Have you stopped to think about 125 years? To put it in perspective: • When Alabama WMU began, the primary method

of transportation in Alabama was horse and buggy.• When Alabama WMU began, the United States only had 42 states, and the population of the state of Alabama was one quarter of what it is today. • When Alabama WMU began, Alabama colleges and universities were not co-ed,

and women were not allowed to vote. It’s amazing to think how different life is today than it was at our beginning. But one thing has not changed since moment one - our Father and His goodness. The same Mighty God who lead those pioneering women to form Alabama WMU 125 years ago, is continuing to faithfully lead us into what we feel sure are exciting days. As you have read this issue of Panorama, I hope you have sensed the excitement we are experiencing at Alabama WMU. God is moving, and I am grateful we will be able to share the details with you during Equip. I want to thank those of you who pray for us and have been praying with us as we have sought God’s heart for our strategic partnerships and direction with young women. The staff and I are keenly aware of your partnership in this journey, and it gives us confidence as we step out, trusting that God is leading. Please continue to pray with us as we finalize plans for our time together in July and the upcoming year. Make your reservations today, and plan to be a part of this amazing time at Shocco.

Mark yourcalendar

Candace McIntoshExecutive Director

Message fromCandace McIntosh

June8-9 WMU, SBC Missions Celebration & Annual Meeting., Baltimore10-11 Southern Baptist Convention,

Baltimore19-21 Missions Camp for Mom & Me

(girls completing grades 2-6), WorldSong

23-26 CWJC/CMJC Site Coordi-nator Training, Baptist Building, Montgomery

23-27 Missions Camp for Girls/Teen Girls (girls completing grades 3-12), WorldSong

July7-11 Missions Camp for Children

(coeds completing grades 2-6), WorldSong

11-12 Missions Camp for Mom & Daughter (girls completing grades K-3), WorldSong

14-18 Missions Camp for Girls/Teen Girls (girls completing grades 3-12), WorldSong

18-19 Equip, Shocco Springs Conference Center

21-25 Missions Camp for Girls (girls completing grades 3-6), World-Song

25-26 Missions Camp for Mom & Daughter (girls completing grades K-3), WorldSong

August9 Regional Training, Dauphin Way BC, Mobile

16 Regional Training, Highland BC, Florence

23 Regional Training, First BC, Pelham

Have you heard the latest buzz?Lately at Alabama WMU, we’ve become social butterflies - social media butterflies, that is! One of the best ways to keep up with all that is happening at Alabama WMU and WorldSong Missions Place is to connect with us on social media. The most recent updates about Alabama WMU news, projects, ministries and events, along with behind-the-scenes moments with the Alabama WMU staff, can be found on our Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. Keep up with the latest happenings by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. We’d love to hear from you.

If Facebook and Twitter aren’t for you, sign up for our email updates by visiting www.alabamawmu.org and clicking on “eNews Sign Up” on the bottom right corner of the home page.

PassingIt On

@alwmu@CandaceWMU

Alabama WMUWorldSong Missions PlaceCandace McIntosh

Equip will also feature:

Alabama WMU is celebrating a milestone - 125 years! That’s 125 years of promoting missions education, 125 years of promoting missions giving, 125 years of doing missions and 125 years of seeing the unending faithfulness of our great God through Alabama WMU! There are stories upon stories to be told of the many ways God has used Alabama WMU to touch the lives of people of all ages all over the world, and we want you to take part in our year-long 125th anniversary celebration. Here are some of the ways you can join the party:

• Join us July 18-19 at Equip at Shocco Springs Confer-ence Center in Talladega for the 125th anniversary celebration kickoff. See the insert enclosed in this newsletter for more information. The weekend will feature a large number of North American and inter-national missionaries, unique prayer experiences, a look back at our amazing missions heritage and an exciting look forward into the future of Alabama WMU. In addition, pick up your free commemorative mug and your free copy of the 125th Anniversary Memory Book containing stories from Alabama WMU members from around the state.

• Participate in 1-2-5. What is 1-2-5? It’s one day of service, two mission connections and five acts of gratitude. Join us at Equip to find out more about 1-2-5. Believe us - you won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity.

For further updates, check Facebook and Twitter, visit www.alabamawmu.org or call 800.264.1225 ext. 226.

Non-ProfitUS Postage

PAIDMontgomery, ALPermit No. 945

2001 East South BoulevardMontgomery, Alabama 36116

PanoramaEditor-in-Chief: Laurelle StoudenmireManaging Editor: Brittney GardnerContributors: Candace McIntosh, Pat Ingram, Ashleigh Coats, Erin Bishop, Cindy Wilson

Panorama, issued four times per year, is published by Alabama WMU.

Send address changes, editorial suggestions to: Alabama WMU Attn: Brittney Gardner P.O. Box 11870 Montgomery, AL 36111-0870 Telephone: 800.264.1225 Email: bgardner@alsbom.org

Visit Alabama WMU on the Web at www.alabamawmu.org

This resource is made possible by gifts given through the Kathleen Mallory Mission Offering and the Cooperative Program.

Let’s Get This Party Started - Celebrating 125 years!