Annuals 2016 Annual Book | Page 73

         In December, Tennessee WMU mailed, on behalf of Tennessee Baptists, Christmas checks: Checks for $150 to twenty-one missionary kids whose parents serve with IMB and are from Tennessee. ?Checks for $50 to eighty retired IMB missionaries who are from Tennessee. ?These gifts are made possible through an allocation from the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions for nurturing Tennessee missionaries and their families. Missions Get-Together & Connection were held on April 8-10, 2016 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center with a total attendance of 1,710. Connie Cavanaugh from Canada was the keynote speaker for Missions Get-Together. Cindy Townsend from Mississippi was the keynote speaker for Connection. o The annual offering totaled $9,444.40 with 90% designated to the 2017 MK Re-Entry Retreat that will be hosted by Tennessee WMU for the first time; 10% benefited Tennessee WMU Touch Tomorrow Today Endowment at the WMU Foundation. o Through the event ministry project, participants brought items to benefit homeless shelters, developmental centers and other ministries across Tennessee that were distributed by TBC Compassion Ministries. Items collected and distributed: 6,554 pairs of socks, 4,885 underwear, 210 t- shirts, 57 bras and $600 in monetary donations. Martha Pitts from Germantown Baptist Church was elected to her first term as President, during the Tennessee WMU annual session on April 8, 2016 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, Other officers elected for 2016-17 include: Recording Secretary, Susan Kellough from Newbern; and Vice Presidents: Kathy Neely, Greenback; Yolanda Houser, Crossville; and Diane Sorrell, Covington. In April 2016, $35,700 in scholarships were awarded to 31 students attending graduate school, seminary, as well as, undergraduate schools in Tennessee during the 2016-17 school year. These scholarships are funded through endowments, invested funds and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. Currently there are 21 Christian Women’s Job Corps and six Christian Men’s Job Corps sites in Tennessee. This Christian based program, seeks to help men and women in breaking the cycle of poverty through job and life skills classes, Bible study and mentoring. In 2015, Tennessee sites served 1,727 participants and recorded 750 spiritual decisions which included 206 professions of faith. Four missionary families have been ministered to through the Tennessee Baptist Convention missionary houses. Two families in Mary’s House, the Tennessee WMU missionary house: o Scot & Jennifer T. from September 2015 -March 2016 71