Mexico WMU: More than a Century of Inspired Service
Sara Alicia Hale is a big reason why Baptist women in Mexico serve, learn, lead, and go to share the love of the Lord with the people of Mexico and beyond. A Tennessean by birth, Sara Hale adopted the people of Mexico as her own. Poor eyesight and difficulty learning Spanish did not deter her call to bring the gospel and missions discipleship to the women of Mexico. With her guidance, Mexico WMU, locally called Unión Nacional Femenil Bautista Misionera de México (National Women’s Baptist Missionary Union of Mexico) was founded in 1919. Lourdes Armenta Eguino, president of Mexico WMU, said of Sara, “She was a tireless woman with a great love for our God, which she manifested by being a faithful servant in His work.”
Because of Sara’s vision, Mexico WMU and its nearly 7,000 members are thriving and celebrating 105 years of missions discipleship and promotion in 2024. Organized much like WMU in the United States, Mexico WMU promotes national missions offerings; emphasizes prayer, evangelism, mission action, and stewardship; and provides missions discipleship across age levels. Its focus extends beyond missions discipleship in the local church as it supports national and foreign missionaries, awards seminary scholarships, provides financial aid to widows of pastors, engages in missions projects, and cares for the elderly. Members seek to live out the motto of Mexico WMU: We Are God’s Coworkers.
Inspired for Missions Discipleship
Mexico WMU partners with other women’s missions groups throughout North, Central, and South America as a member of Unión Femenil Bautista de América Latina, along with the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department. These partnerships promote fellowship and stimulate women to participate through exchanging ideas for missions projects and ministry needs.
Missions discipleship is at the heart of Mexico WMU. “The work within our departments is to plant in the hearts of children and young people a love for missions,” said Lourdes. Each age group celebrates those who graduate to the next group with a special service.
The women of Mexico WMU are challenged to grow spiritually through Bible study. Along with studying the Book of Hebrews, groups read two Bible study books in 2023. Dedication to study is measured each year through participation in a knowledge contest for all age groups.
Informed discipleship is made possible through national publications, including Missionary Voice magazine. Much like Missions Mosaic, this magazine includes articles on prayer, Bible study, the week of prayer emphasis, stewardship, and mission action projects. Issued quarterly, the magazine is offered in print and digital versions.
Inspired for Missions at Home and around the World
One of Mexico WMU’s longest-running missions works is its support of Hogar Galaad, a nursing home for women. The home can provide for 15 women at a time, and for 44 years, Mexico WMU has provided for the needs of the home’s residents. Two special days of prayer for Hogar Galaad in February and August emphasize the ministry’s needs. Needs could not be met without the yearly national offering and the monthly stipend given by the National Baptist Convention of Mexico. Because of generous giving, the women receive more than a balanced diet and a safe place to live. They are loved and cared for and experience the love of Christ. A special service was held in October 2023 through Zoom to commemorate the 44th anniversary of this ministry.
Mexico WMU also prays for and financially supports nine national missionaries, three international missionaries, and one education center. Three seminary students received scholarships in 2023. Additional scholarships were given to students and pastors’ wives completing education. Mexico WMU also assisted H. Lacy Seminary in purchasing mattresses and began a new project providing monthly support for widows of pastors.
Inspired to Pray
Prayer is where all mission action begins. The sisters of Mexico WMU pray daily for one another with Afternoons of Prayer. Days of prayer in February and August for Hogar Galaad include needs of the staff and residents. During September, the sisters pray for the nation of Mexico and its individual states. October 11 is the Day of Prayer for Mexico WMU. During the Week of Prayer for World Missions, members pray for missionaries supported by Mexico WMU. They join women all over the world on the first Monday of November for the Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer.
Lourdes said, “For us as Baptist women, it is a joy to be a part of the missionary work in our country and collaborate in the extension of the kingdom of God…. We would greatly appreciate it if you would join us in prayers for each of the women who support all the missionary projects — that they would continue to have love for the needs of those who do not know God.”
Lynn Durham serves with her husband in Florida, where she enjoys teaching women to dig into Scripture for a deeper relationship with Christ so they can be better witnesses for Him.
