WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting

Tracy Newland leads worship at Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis and will serve as our worship leader along with her praise band, 5&2.

Note from Tracy:
Our praise band, 5&2, is eagerly anticipating the gathering of so many Christ followers from such different places and backgrounds, in one place, at one point in time, to meet with God, find out what He’s up to all over the world, and to praise and worship His Holy Name!

Kim and Jeff Cruse were appointed by the International Mission Board (IMB) in 2004 and work in student evangelism in the Philippines. Originally from Tennessee, Kim received a bachelor of arts degree from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, and a master of arts degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff, who is from Michigan, received a bachelor of science degree from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida, and a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Cruses served in Western Pacific from 2001–2003 with the International Service Corps, a two-year missions program through the International Mission Board. They also both served in Western Pacific with the Missionary Journeyman Program through the IMB.

Why are Kim and Jeff looking forward to the Missions Celebration?
"We are so excited to see how God uses this yearly meeting to challenge us and make us more aware of what He is doing around the world and what our role is in joining Him," the Cruses shared. Visit them at their Web site: www.crusenews.blogspot.com.

Mindy and Jon Jamison were appointed as missionaries in 1999 by the North American Mission Board and serve as directors for the Friendship Baptist Center in Des Moines, Iowa, an inner-city community center that seeks to minister to physical and spiritual needs of those within the community surrounding the center. They also serve as team leaders for Church and Community Ministries for the Baptist Convention of Iowa.

They both earned a bachelor’s degree from Carson-Newman College and master of divinity degrees in Christian education from New Orleans Theological Seminary.

Mindy’s previous experience includes serving as WMU executive director in Iowa and as a social work intern for the North American Mission Board in New Orleans at the Brantley Baptist Center. While in seminary, Jon served as a social work intern for the North American Mission Board in New Orleans at the Baptist Friendship House. They both also served as a summer missionaries in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Jon and Mindy have one daughter, Maggie.

Note from Jon and Mindy:
We are always encouraged that Southern Baptists are a missional people. We are looking forward to this time together and pray that we may all be renewed and strengthened as we continue to seek the missions heart of God.

Brad Lartigue was appointed by the North American Mission Board in 1990 and serves as a resort/leisure missionary in Big Sky, Montana and Yellowstone National Park. He also serves under the direction of both Treasure State Baptist Association and the Montana Southern Baptist Convention.
Brad’s ministry involves serving as resort chaplain of ministries at the resort community of Big Sky, Montana with youth and young adults. He also serves as an EMT/firefighter/chaplain for the Big Sky Fire Department.  In the summer months Brad directs and supervises the “Yellowstone Christian Innovators,” made up of Innovator student missionaries, semester missionaries, and Mission Service Corps-Ministry Parents.
He was raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and is a graduate of McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

Brad’s active participation in BSU campus ministry led to his call to mission service initially as a summer missionary to Hawaii in 1981. He also served as a US/C-2 Missionary in New Mexico and was featured on the cover of the March 2008 issue of Missions Mosaic.

Why does Brad get excited about WMU Missions Celebrations?
I have been invited to several WMU celebrations over the years on the state and national level. It's always exciting for me to see and hear from the many women who pray for me on a daily and annual basis and to share of the unique and special blessings that occur on my biggest prayer-filled day—my birthday! The prayers of many can really avail much!

Angie and Charlie Lechner were appointed by the International Mission Board in 1997 and serve in Southern Africa in Mozambique where their assignment is general evangelism. Prior to their current assignment, they served in Madagascar.

Angie was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but grew up as an MK (missionary kid) in Kingstown, St. Vincent, and considers that her hometown. Charlie is from the great state of Texas.

Lorri SeGraves, a missionary with the International Mission Board, serves in university student ministry in Venezuela, South America. Lorri was born in Michigan, received a bachelor of science degree at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and a master of religious education degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She was appointed in 2004, but served previously in Venezuela as a missionary apprentice, a missions program through the International Mission Board, where she functioned as a missionary but served under a mentor for one term of service, 2000–2003. She also served in 1997–1999 in Guatemala with the International Service Corps, another missions program through the International Mission Board, as a missionary-kid teacher and youth minister.

Note from Lorri:
"I can’t think of anything I’d rather do then to celebrate God’s Great Commission in the world! I look forward to spending a sweet time with sisters in Christ, lifting up our voices in praise and prayer to our Lord and Savior Jesus."