BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP)–Six teens have been selected for Woman’s Missionary Union’s 2006 National Acteens Panel.
Three of the panel members are from Texas: Kara Fonville of Lakeside Baptist Church in Garland, Abbey Konz of Humble Area’s First Baptist Church in Humble; and Ashley Nash, of Freeman Heights Baptist Church in Wylie, Texas.
The other three are Paula Hill of Fairview Baptist Church in Statesville, N.C.; Sydney King of Beech Haven Baptist Church in Athens, Ga.; and Sarah Riley of Burfordville Baptist Church in Jackson, Mo.
“Each of these young women is truly outstanding in every sense of the word,” said Suzanne Reece, ministry consultant for national WMU’s student resource team. “They are positive role models and leaders in their churches, communities and schools.
“I am amazed at the vast array of missions experiences they already have, even at their young age,” Reece added. “Their goals for the future and their commitment to Christ are to be admired and respected, as several of them have already made the commitment to a lifetime of Christian service.”
The 2006 national Acteens panelists, who will serve into December, will write articles for The Mag, the missions magazine for Acteens, and for the Acteens website, www.acteens.com.
The teens also will work as a focus group to help shape the future direction of Acteens and they will have opportunities to interact with missionaries and national leaders involved in missions.
The Acteens panelists often receive requests to speak to church, associational and/or state Acteens and WMU groups. In June, they will be featured leaders during national WMU’s annual missions celebration in Greensboro, N.C., prior to the Southern Baptist Convention.
A WMU news release noted that, “Women’s shelters, youth camps, children’s homes and low-income families are just some of the areas impacted by these Acteens. Many of them have also reached beyond U.S. borders through missions trips and care packages.”
Kym Mitchell, team leader and design editor of WMU’s student resource team, said, “These impressive young women continue the strong tradition of the National Acteens Panelists with whom I have worked over the last several years as young adults actively seeking their place in God’s mission in the world.”
In addition to the Acteens panelists, WMU also selects additional young women as Top Teens to recognize their strong involvement in missions.
For 2006, WMU’s Top Teens are Teresa Champ of Carpenter Street Baptist Church in Cairo, Mo.; Samantha Cozad of Humble Area’s First Baptist Church; Sarah Jones of Sagemont Church in Houston; Rachel Latham of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas; Juliana Robbins of Calvary Baptist Church in West Point, Tenn.; and Ashley Taylor of First Baptist Church in Jackson, Mo.
Acteens is a WMU ministry organization for girls in grades seven through 12 who are interested in missions. In Acteens, members grow in their understanding of God and of themselves while involved in learning about missions and praying and giving to missions and participating in hands-on missions opportunities in their communities and beyond.
Applications for the 2007 National Acteens Panel will be due to the WMU national office no later than Dec. 1, 2006. Applications will be available on the Acteens website at www.acteens.com and in the fall issue of Acteens Leader.
Applicants for the national Acteens panel must be a current junior or senior in high school; be a Christian, a church member and a member of a local Acteens organization; be involved in MissionsQuest or have served as an Acteens Activator; be able to attend the Southern Baptist Convention the year they are on the panel; and have her parent’s or guardian’s permission.
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For more information on Acteens, including how to start a church Acteens organization, visit www.acteens.com.
