Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists (KNCSB)

Teen girls put missions into action at Shine

Young women were challenged to learn how to see themselves as God sees them instead of believing the lies society teaches them.

“Truth,” based on John 8:32, was the theme of the KNCSB Shine retreat for teen girls. It was held Nov. 12-13 at Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kan.

Christian recording artist Jami Smith was the featured speaker and musician. She was featured at Shine 2008 shortly before she got married. She based her remarks on the book, “Lies Young Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free,” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh.

Shine participants also heard from Anna, the retreat’s featured missionary. She has served in public health for 14 years with the International Mission Board in Southeast Asia.

In late August, she married Thomas, a missionary doctor in a neighboring country. They are on stateside assignment and will return to Southeast Asia in March.

Thomas will be joining Anna in working at a medical clinic where workers used health care as a way to share Christ.

“I was actually your age (17) when God was calling me to missions,” Anna told the girls. She grew up in a home with a rich missions heritage.
“We prayed for the missionaries every night in our family.”

The average income in the country where Anna serves is only $1 per day. So people postpone any kind of health care until their ailments are so severe they can no longer endure them. This results in complications that could have been prevented.

When people come to the clinic, they hear the gospel along with receiving medical treatment. Last year more than 160 people accepted Christ at the clinic.

Anna told of a woman who had a hole in her foot. Her family spent all of their money trying to find a cure for her.

When she came to the clinic, the workers quickly diagnosed her with diabetes and hypertension. They gave her medicine, prayed for her and shared the gospel.

“As the hole began to close, her heart began to open.”

Now the women and her husband are Christians. They are actively sharing the gospel and helping to start new churches.

Shine participants had the opportunity to put missions into action. They gave money to buy blood-pressure cuffs for Anna and her husband to use in their ministry. People who live in villages will be trained to use the blood-pressure cuffs. This will open doors to share Christ.

The girls also brought toiletry items to the retreat. They made kits to be distributed at the Baptist Friendship Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Shine participants also learned about Blume, a national missions event for teen girls and collegiate young women. It will be held July 13-16, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit the Blume Web site