Sunbeam Retreat and District Reports

By VERA KOONCE
Texas State Sunbeam Promoter

Have you ever been on an odyssey? It can mean a long wandering or a series of travels. It can be a literal trip or a personal challenge in learning. Our Texas State Sunbeam Odyssey will be a series of imaginary travels to meet children who lived in Bible days. It will be a personal challenge to learn how we are like those children. God can use children today, just as he did those children long ago.
 
Please join our Texas State Sunbeam Odyssey on July 11 from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Rosewood, Gilmer. Our meeting will overlap with the Liberty District WMA and GMA meeting. We have a full day planned!
 
Sunbeams and guests will travel in time through a portal in Bible-day dress. They will meet remarkable children, including Jesus. Costumes, singing, crafts, refreshments and goody bags will be included. Don’t miss this exciting day! It is free and open to all Sunbeams and Kindergarten through third grade guests!
 
Hope to see you then! Visit our Texas State Sunbeam website for more information.
 
CHEROKEE DISTRICT REPORT
The Cherokee District WMA met April 12 at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Jacksonville. President Cindy Allen called the group to order, and Vice President Nancy Washburn read the annual Bible verse, “Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6). Then all were welcomed by Connie Sherman of First, Maydelle, and she led the opening prayer. President Allen introduced the guest speaker, Bro. Buddy Johnson.
 
Buddy Johnson spent most of his life on the mission field in Mexico. In the 1970s, he began his first teachings of Jesus Christ with little knowledge of Spanish in their home in Huejutla de Reyes which is one of the municipalities of Hidalgo in central-eastern Mexico. Within this area Catholicism was the predominant religion. God showed Bro. Johnson 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” So, with that thought in his heart, he taught Spanish-speaking men about God and how to teach others. A video created by his daughter, Sara, was shown depicting the work of her husband, Tommy Rose, and herself as church planters in Queretaro, Mexico. The Texas WMA project is to raise funds to help buy land for their church building in Mexico.
 
With God’s help and Bro. Buddy’s persistent missionary work, there are currently 53 churches, a Bible institute and 28 missions in Mexico. Bro. Johnson has an enduring family legacy with a total of 80 years of mission service between himself, two sons, and his daughter. They consider their greatest gift to leave a church with baptized believers in Jesus Christ. The business of the district WMA proceeded with President Allen thanking Bro. Johnson for his missionary work and presented him a token of our appreciation. Lugene Sims, secretary/treasurer, called the roll call; there were 16 members and four guests. Minutes and treasurer reports were approved by the group. Concluding old business, the WMA ladies had brought homemade cookies to be delivered to Jacksonville College on Monday, and appreciation to Janet Roach of First, Maydelle for labeling each package. New business was welcoming a new WMA group called WOW (Women of the Word) of First, Jacksonville with five ladies in attendance that day. The national WMA meeting is scheduled for April 22 in Conway at Antioch Baptist Church. Sarah Spunaugle of First, Jacksonville thanked the host church and for the refreshments provided by First, Maydelle. Connie Sherman, prayer chairman, read the prayer requests from the group and President Allen closed the meeting with prayer. Our next meeting will be July 12, 2026 at Afton Grove Baptist Church, and the service outreach is to bring canned goods for HOPE here in Jacksonville.
 
LIBERTY DISTRICT REPORT
Liberty WMA met April 11, 2026, at Enon Baptist Church. President Johnnie Ross opened the meeting by referring to the theme for the current year, “A Call to Arms”. She mentioned we are on active duty to pray and be ready for whatever the Lord has planned. She read from 1 Samuel 12:23-24. Sandra Kizer opened the meeting with prayer. Glenice Whitaker welcomed everyone to Enon and led the ladies reciting the WMA motto. A project offering and general fund offering were received as Glenice led the singing accompanied by Ava Pool on the piano.
 
Johnnie challenged everyone to purchase $10 gift cards to be used by Missionary Care to encourage and uplift our missionaries around the world. She also mentioned several important 2026 upcoming dates: Texas Sunbeam House party at Rosewood, July 11; Liberty District WMA at Rosewood, July 11; Texas WMA Retreat at South Park, Fort Worth, July 31–Aug. 1; Texas BMA at New Harmony, Tyler, Nov. 16–17; Texas WMA at New Harmony, Nov. 17.
 
Our guest speaker, Bettye Wilson, was introduced by the president. Mrs. Bettye is well known for her diligence in keeping the history and legacy of WMA alive and known. She read from Luke 8:1-3 and first spoke about the Liberty Association which was created in 1880. She mentioned the three-fold purpose of the WMA was defined in the 1950s: 1) To find the WMA place of work within the BMA. 2) Personnel to promote the work of WMA in district, state and national levels. 3) Rely on the God-fueled power for success. Mrs. Bettye stressed that God is the power behind it all, and God has a place for every woman and child in His work.
 
Teresa Gipson led the ladies singing the WMA song “Called”. Doris Allen closed the meeting in prayer. A project offering of $1,300 was received for TBHC’s new office in Tyler, totaling $2,300 which has been received to-date. A general fund offering of $103 was also received. There were 23 present, Rosewood received the attendance banner. The meeting was preceded by a delicious brunch.

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SAVE THE DATE:

JULY 11:
Sunbeam Retreat, Texas Sunbeam Odyssey
Rosewood Baptist Church, Gilmer
9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

JULY 31-AUG. 1:
WMA Retreat, Wendy Garcia guest speaker
Southpark Baptist Church, Fort Worth
Friday, July 31, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Cost: $60 before July 1 and $70 after. Make checks payable to Texas WMA. Registration with registrations fee can be mailed to Diana Morris, 11671 Hwy 31 E Brownsboro, Texas 75756
               
PASTOR APPRECIATION FUNDRAISER:

• Donate $25 and your pastor will be recognized on the October WMA page
• Donations go to support the state WMA project, Tommy and Sarah Rose
• Donations can be made by mail to Texas WMA c/o Lindsie Burchett, 812 S. Main St, Winnsboro, Texas 75494. Funds must be received by September 30.

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