About Women's Missionary Union

 

The Women’s Missionary union of the First Baptist Church, Lagos was started after the meeting of the Nigerian Baptist Convention on March 14, 1919, where Adeotan Agbebi was appointed the First President of the WMU. Two members of the First Baptist Church; Miss Janet Fadipe and Mama Hannah Williams were present at the Inauguration service where they were charged to continue the WMU in their individual churches.
The Women’s Missionary Union is the most important women organization in all Baptist Churches as it is one of the conditions for the recognition of a standard and fully fledged Baptist Church.

The aims of WMU are:-

1.     To stimulate private and public prayer

2.     To stimulate daily reading of God’s word (The Bible)

3.     To spread the gospel among people

4.     To encourage stewardship, personal service and giving to the needy and working in the Vine yard.

The WMU is saddled with the spiritual development of children and women in all Baptist Churches.
The WMU comprises four organizations:
1. Women’s missionary union (WMU) which comprises married women only.
2. Lydia Auxiliary (For girls age 16 and above/until married)
3. Girls Auxiliary (This comprises of two groups)
a. Junior age: 10-12
b. Intermediate age: 13-16
4. Sunbeam band (This comprises of two groups)
a. Beginners class ages: 4-6
b. Primary class ages: 13-16
The WMU is the Overall head/Supervisor.

WMU’s unwavering focus is making disciples of Jesus who live on mission.

We carry out this mission by

·         providing missions discipleship resources for churches and individuals,

·         offering opportunities to engage with compassion ministries, and

·         Equipping people through leadership development experiences.

WHAT GUIDES WMU?

WMU IS

·         Biblically rooted
Scripture guides us in knowing God, His ways, His character, His mission, His redemptive acts, and His purpose for the church.

·         Missions focused
Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim the good news disciple people of all nations, and teach them to live out the truths He taught.

·         Church based
Jesus gave the church authority to act on His behalf. Teaching all ages prepares the church to fulfill His mission.

·         World aware
God is always at work among all peoples, and we join Him where we discern He is calling us.

·         Denominationally supportive
No one church can do alone what many churches can do together. Our voluntary cooperation extends the missions reach of the local church. 

WHAT IS WMU’S STORY?

WMU, an auxiliary of the Southern Baptist Convention, began 133 years ago in the hearts of visionary leaders to pray and systematically raise money for missions. 

Since that time, WMU has helped lead Southern Baptist churches across the country to give $6.6 billion through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering—efforts begun by WMU to support missionaries. 

WMU’s unwavering focus on making disciples of Jesus who live on mission happens through missions discipleship, leadership development, and compassion ministries, with kingdom impact in every state and 39 countries.

Based in Birmingham, Alabama, national WMU is not a part of the Cooperative Program allocation budget and receives no funds from the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering or Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. National WMU is supported through the sale of magazines and products and from investments and charitable contributions.

 

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About Lydia Auxiliary

 

Lydia Auxiliary started as Young People’s group in 1946 under the leadership of Mrs. Rebecca Taiwo (1946-1947) and subsequently by Miss Bykota Ebun Omikunle (1948-1949) and Miss Ibidun John (1951), respectively.

In 1952, the Young People’s group metamorphosed into Lydia Circle where young ladies were separated from younger girls. The reason for this was to help in ministering to the needs of ladies from 17 years of age (who has never been married neither has given birth to any child).in higher institutions, businesses and other life vocations. This is to stimulate interest in missions, to emphasise Christian living, to encourage daily Bible reading and prayer, bringing together all young women for the purpose of fellowship and witnessing and also to train in the art of soul winning; thereby building eligible members of WMS after marriage.

The Watchword adopted is Acts 26:18a: “To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light…” with the hymn Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling.

Lydia Colours

The colours of the Lydia Auxiliary are purple and white.  Purple symbolises royalty.  In ancient times, kings and queens chose to appear in purple colour.  Lydias are daughters of the King of kings.  White symbolises purity.  It is very important that a Lydia be clean, pure and upright with high level of moral standing in every way.

Ideals

These are the ideals of the Lydia Auxiliary:

1.   Study of missionary message of the Bible

2.   Prayer for missions and missionaries

3.   Devoted personal service activities for the spiritually and physically needy

4.   Regular giving to worldwide missions

Uniform

Lydia Auxiliary organisation was recognised with a purple gown taped with white, a white belt and a cap worn with a white pair of socks and canvas modeled at the Jos Convention in 1985.  In 2014, a new uniform was introduced; a white shirt on a purple skirt with a beret, a thin white belt, with newly customised sock worn in a white canvas.  A Lydia is expected to be neatly dressed as a peculiar treasure representing the Most High.

The circle was organised in 1952 under the leadership of Miss Mary Ellen Yancey (1952-1955).  When Miss Yancey went on furlough, Miss Aduke Akinwumi (later Mama Aduke Akinola) served as the leader of the circle between 1955 and 1956 before Miss Yancey returned to continue from 1957 to 1961.  Miss Yancey served as the Lydia Director with Miss Abiola Adewole as the Lydia leader (1959-1960) and Miss D. I. Akumagba (1961-1962).

In preparing the Guidebook (first print 1964), the committee charged with the responsibility recommended the change from Circle to Auxiliary.  This recommendation was accepted and the organisation hitherto has been called the Lydia Auxiliary.

A pamphlet “What Are Your Questions about the Lydia Circle?” was written by Miss Yancey to help members.  The first programme booklet was distributed at the first Lydia Houseparty held at Camp Young in August 1952.  Much growth took place during the first 11 years of the organisation of the circle.  Many young women were reached through the witness of each Auxiliary.  Because of this growth and the need for more guidance, a committee composed of Mrs. R.B. Famuyiwa, Miss Nancy Owens, Mrs. W.R. Norman and Miss Louise Sparkman prepared the first Guidebook in 1964.

Miss Loise Sparkman took over as the director in 1962.  She worked with Miss Filia George as the leader between 1963 and 1965.  There was a little break after Miss Sparkman left.  It was after this that Miss Joke Sowunmi served as the leader in 1970-1971. Miss Frances Knight also served in the Auxiliary between 1971 and 1974

The need for an indigenous director arose and in 1974, Mrs. Yemi Ladokun (later Rev. Mrs.) was prayerfully chosen as the first indigenous Lydia Director.  She served in this capacity from 1974 to 2002.  In her years of service, the Lord enabled her to work with some vineyard helpers among whom were Mrs. M. Anjorin Ohu and Mrs. Ebun Adekanola (now Evang. Ebun Adekanola).  She entrusted these women with handling of programmes whether she was present or not.

Lydia Awards

Lydia Awards offer challenging opportunities for excelling in missionary service.  The service and honour awards are recognition of an individual member of Lydia Auxiliary who has grown in missionary service by meeting the requirements listed in the Guidebook.  The service Award must be completed before a lydia can begin working on the honour award.  

About 10 to 15 Lydias used to qualify for Service and Honour Awards at the beginning.  The missionary award project was introduced in the late 80s.  In the year 2000, 1,259 Lydias completed the service award, 545 for the honour award while 256 qualified for the career missionary award.

The mantle of leadership of the Lydia Auxiliary fell on Mrs. (later Rev. Mrs.)’Tunrayo Alagbe in the year 2002. Mrs. (now Rev. Dr.) Adeyemi Sanda assisted Rev. Mrs. Alagbe for a period of time. During her tenure, Lydias became more mission minded; going to all Nigerian Baptist Convention mission fields both home and foreign.  More Lydias also wrote award projects.  In 2008, 4,000 Lydias submitted their award projects.

Under her leadership, national officers were chosen among the Lydias with a view to preparing the Lydias for leadership roles.  During her tenure, Lydia Week was introduced to be held in the last week of July.  In August 2006, the construction of a dormitory (a replica of Mobola Ayorinde Hall) was started at Camp Young by the Lydia Auxiliary; it has been completed and is already in use.

Mrs Matilda Bolanle Oyekale took over the directorate of the Lydia Auxiliary in April 2016 after the retirement of Rev. Mrs. ’Tunrayo Alagbe at the Ilorin Convention where the inauguration into office was done.  

At the outset of her tenure, the Lord revealed an acronym for LYDIA as Ladies Yielded Daily for Inspiration and Adoration. It was published in a Bible liner. It is expected that when Lydias yield daily to God, it will bring about inspiration for life as they are determined to live to adore Him.

All zones have significantly grown numerically and attendance at the house parties is on the increase.

 

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About Girls Auxiliary

 

One of the pioneers of the Girls’ Auxiliary work in WMU of Nigeria was Mrs. Carson (SBC missionary). In 1922, she gathered girls who were too old for the Sunbeam Band to form Girls’ Association which was later changed to Girls’ Auxiliary the same year. Few officers were elected among them to lead: Miss Grace Emokpae (later Mrs. Sagie) who was one of their leaders then.  In Ogbomoso, Miss Young also promoted girls who were too old for the Sunbeam Band to GAs. They were meeting once in a month on Sundays and later the enrolment grew to 22. Only two or three could read and there was no literature organized by Mrs. Carson. The main programe was to act Bible stories.

In 1924, there were nine (9) Girls’ Auxiliary in Ijora, Awe, Ode-Omu, Ibadan, Iresi, Ikire, Abeokuta Girls’ School, Igbajo and  Ogbomoso with enrolment of 149. Fifty-six of them could read the Bible. The Girls’ Auxiliary organization was officially recognised as a part of WMU family in 1925. The theme for that year was Thirty-five Events in the Life of Christ, though had the same hymn and watchword with the Young Women’s Association— O Zion Haste and Daniel 12:3, respectively. The watchword “Arise, shine:  for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1) for that year becomes the G.A. permanent watchword.

    This is an organization for girls who love Christ and want to serve Him and be a part of His great missionary movement around the world. Its purpose is in two-fold:

·         To develop the missionary zeal and response of Christian girls.

·         To bring girls together for worldwide service for Christ.

Girls’ Auxiliary is for girls between the ages of 10 and 16. In every church, preaching station and schools where it is possible to do so, the girls are organized into Junior and Intermediate groups. The Junior Girls’ Auxiliary group includes girls whose ages are 10, 11 and 12; the intermediate ages are 13, 14, 15 and 16. Each organization has its own officers. Each group meets in a separate place for its weekly meetings. 

The Girls’ Auxiliary was officially organized by the Women’s Missionary Union as an important member of the WMU family in 1925.

In 1940 forward step work was introduced. It was planned for girls who are interested in growing spiritually and participating in missionary activities. The steps involve memorizing certain passages of the scripture, collecting missionary information, understanding the teachings of the scriptures, reading mission study books, writing, sewing, camping, visiting mission houses, carrying out varied activities and doing other challenging things. The steps are seven in number: Maiden, Lady-in-Waiting, Princess, Queen, Queen-with-scepter, Queen Regent and Queen-in-service.

In all the Forward steps requirements, each girl must do her own work because it is she who is trying to learn. She must complete one step before she proceeds to another. She cannot do two steps at a time. A GA should not just memorize, read or study but she should understand the meaning of the information given and be able to put it into her own words. She should see how she can benefit from each step and not do it just for the award. When Forward Steps are well done, the GA has a sense of achievement. The Counsellor will only assist the GA; she will never do the work for her.

Girls’ Auxiliary Star Ideals are five:

·         Abiding in Him through prayer

·         Advancing in wisdom by Bible study

·         Acknowledging My Stewardship (Giving)

·         Adorning Myself with Good Works (personal service)

·         Accepting the Challenge of the Great Commission (Mission study)

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About Sunbeam

This is a department for Children since Children occupy an important place in God’s plan. In the beginning of WMU Convention activities, children were not left out.  Since 1919, Baptist Women’s Missionary Union of Nigeria has been providing Christian nurture to children, boys and girls.  Our history will not exclude the contributions of Rev. Scott Patterson, Southern Baptist Missionary from America, and Mrs. George Green, the wife of the First Medical Missionary to Nigeria and Mrs. Mojola Agbebi, the first President of the Baptist Women’s Missionary League who gathered little children under the shade of a tree to teach them Bible verses.

Impact of Sunbeam Band  

Sunbeam Band provides early Christian education to children (Mark 10:13-16; Mark 9:36-37) and mission-driven denominational leaders. Since WMU is known for missions, the value of missions in early years became evident by notable missionaries, who had been taught and encouraged in missions while they were Sunbeams.

Sunbeam Band Grouping and Membership

The division of children into different age groups has contributed to the growth of Sunbeam Band. In previous years, WMU Handbook states that children from three through twelve years of age were eligible members of Sunbeam Band. 1953 began the division of children from four through nine years. Few years later, the grouping provided for Beginner Sunbeam Band between ages 4 and 6 years while Primary Sunbeam Band is from 7 to 9 years. By 1999, enrolment of Beginner Sunbeam Band was 29,000, while that of the Primary Sunbeam was 26,578. However, in 2018, the membership of both Beginner Sunbeam and Primary Sunbeam has grown to 84,000. Twenty children is the ideal number/ratio for a Sunbeam leader and her assistant. The Sunbeam (boy) graduates at the age of 10 to the Royal Ambassador while Sunbeam (girl) graduates to the Girls’ Auxiliary.

Ungraded Sunbeam Band

The ungraded Sunbeam Band is the combination of both Beginner and Primary Sunbeams between ages 4 and 9 years.  Churches are encouraged to have graded Sunbeam Band to provide developmentally appropriate Bible teaching and co-ordination developmentally.

Sunbeam Band Aims

The fundamentals of Women’s Missionary Union are the five shining aims of the Sunbeam Band organization. The children can understand the aims easily if they learn in pantomime:

 1. Talking with our heavenly Father (Clap hands together as in prayer);

 2. hiding God’s Word in our hearts (Cross hands and place them on chests to signify our hearts);

3. Learning about the children of the world (Place hands together with palms up to make a book);

4. Helping others for Jesus’ sake (clap hands with the person next to you);and

5. giving money to help preaching the Gospel (Extend hands, fingers dropping as in act of giving).

The Bible is the basic tool for teaching Sunbeams. Teaching materials such as maps, pictures and other helps cannot take the place of the Bible.

Sunbeam Band Programmes

All Sunbeam Band programmes focus on mission. Our programmes and activities include the Mission Study programme, Day Camp and Weekly Meeting Programme, Bible Memory Drill and Sunbeam Week. They acquaint children with other people around the world and create in every child the desire to love God more and to meet the needs of people. After observing Sunbeam Band activities as recommended by the BWMU Headquarters, the report booklet is filled and sent to the Headquarters, listing names of the children and their offering. When children are taught and led to love Jesus and others, they usually get busy doing so in later years. They are taught personal service and stewardship of their time, talents and treasures.

Sunbeam Band Colours: Sunbeam Band colours are: gold or yellow, sky-blue and white. Gold stands for ‘heaven bound”, sky-blue stands for love that we have for Christ while white stands for purity.

Sunbeam Landmark since 1919

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