Woman's Missionary Union

The WMU sees its work as ‘’making disciples of Jesus who live in mission’’; this is done by providing resources, engaging with ministries and offering leadership development.

She was an early feminist pioneer for women's equality, but her reputation in Baptist memory is one of a Southern belle who followed traditional gender roles.

Her memory is used in the Union's main annual fundraising drive, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering which was set up in 1918.

WMU was originally established and remains an auxiliary to the Southern Baptist Convention, which means that it acts as a "helper" to the SBC.

Although many southern states had a missions organization for women, there was no central body to provide unity or coordinate efforts.

The headquarters of WMU was originally stationed in the Maryland Baptist Missions Reading Room where Annie Armstrong had an already established office.

It was during these years that WMU membership reached an all-time high of 1.5 million women under the dynamic leadership of Alma Hunt, who served as executive secretary from 1948 to 1974.

Since its beginning in 1888, WMU has become the largest Protestant missions organization for women in the world, with a membership of approximately 1 million.

Although originally geared towards women, girls, and preschoolers, both genders are active participants in WMU organizations and ministries today.

[11] In 2023, the WMU was based in Birmingham, Alabama and had a membership of almost 1 million people;[2] as an auxiliary group, it is independent of SBC governance.