Published Apr 29, 2020
BIRMINGHAM, AL—Jada Hanson of St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church in La Puenta has been selected by national WMU as a national Acteens panelist.
Acteens is the WMU-sponsored missions group for girls in grades 7-12. For the past 50 years, Acteens has provided generations with the opportunity to grow in their faith with others who share the same goal: to be actively involved in missions. This includes learning about missions, praying for missions, supporting missions, doing missions and telling others about Jesus.
National panelists must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and involvement in church and community. Hanson has been serving through Acteens for five years.
Reflecting on the role of Acteens in her life, Hanson shared, “Not only have I learned the importance of missions and about being a young woman of God, I have been able to be a part of an incredible sisterhood.
“I was introduced to girls who became like sisters to me and have had extraordinary role models and mentors, whether they were the older Acteens or our Acteen leaders,” Hanson continued. “As I have become older, I have purposefully made an effort to ensure the younger girls in Acteens feel the same way by making them feel welcomed and expressing the value of serving others.”
Noting missions is comprised of service and evangelism, Hanson said, “Missions involvement is important to me because it allows me to share the most valuable, yet undeserved gift that I have ever received: the gift of Christ. However, living a missions lifestyle means more than doing missions when you go on mission trips; it’s an everyday thing. Some of the smallest acts of service can have such extraordinary impact on people.”
Alma Long, Hanson’s Acteens director and WMU student consultant for California, refers to Hanson as “truly a person that has a heart for missions. She is an active Acteen who has exemplified a missional lifestyle.” Long describes Hanson as having “character, servant skills, and a giving spirit and heart.”
Hanson will serve alongside three other panelists: one from North Carolina and two from Texas.
“We are so proud of these dynamic young woman and their commitment to grow in their faith and share Christ with others,” said Heather Keller, ministry consultant for children and students, national WMU. “As they to continue to seek God’s direction for their lives after high school, they go with a firm foundation based on their faith in Christ, biblical knowledge, and the benefit of godly leaders who have poured into them during these formative years.”
These four panelists were to be featured during Blume, a missions gathering for girls, July 8-11, 2020 in Memphis, Tenn. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, Blume has been postponed until summer of 2021. In the meantime, these girls will continue to take an active part in planning this event for 2021.
They will serve through 2020, and each will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the WMU Foundation. They may also have speaking opportunities in their respective states and will write blogs for Acteens at wmu.com/students.