Julie Walters & Noel Forlini

Centering on missions Stephanie Pedersen, an Acteen from St. Joseph Baptist Association in Missouri, served alongside other FamilyFest volunteers at the Omaha Baptist Center, providing Bible club activities for children and adults. Photo by Theresa Barnett

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)--It all began at Lea Mutter’s kindergarten graduation, when the 5-year-old said she wanted to be a teacher and a missionary one day.
      “She may change her mind a million times,” her mother, Deanna, said, “but the Lord put it on my heart right then to look for missions opportunities where we could participate as a family.”
      Upon learning about FamilyFEST, Deanna, who is raising Lea, now 7, and her son, Bobby, 11, on her own, drove from their home in Joelton, Tenn., to join more than 130 volunteers from 15 states for the Woman Missionary Union initiative in Omaha, Neb., to serve others and share the love of Christ.