Janie Chapman -SC Baptist State Missions
Season of Prayer State Missions Janie Chapman Offering in September each year.
The State Missions Offering is named for Janie Chapman, so let’s learn a few things about her. She was the first President of South Carolina WMU (SC WMU) and served 22 years. Born on May 5, 1867 as Janie May Weston, she became a Christian at 14 in the Methodist church. Janie grew up in Albany, Georgia as the only daughter in a family of seven children. Two years after college graduation she was baptized in the Baptist church by her new pastor-husband, Rev. J. D. Chapman. They moved to South Carolina when he became pastor of First Baptist Church, Anderson. They had six children, but only four grew into adults. The first Season of Prayer for State Missions began in 1908 while Janie was president. During her presidency, camps for children were started (1913), and Mrs. Chapman led SC WMU to give $1,487,647 to the 75 Million Campaign (prior to the Cooperative Program). This was over 1/5 of the state goal.
In 1937 the state missions offering was named the Mrs. J. D. Chapman Offering for State Interests. Her personal motto was 1 Cor. 15:58, 58 “ So then, Christian brothers, because of all this, be strong. Do not allow anyone to change your mind. Always do your work well for the Lord. You know that whatever you do for Him will not be wasted.” She was said to be a person of strict discipline with inner strength and a gentle spirit. She did her work well for the Lord. She gave us an example of a woman who lived out her personal motto. While she was president WMU celebrated their 25th anniversary and Janie wrote: “We do not want to live too much in the past-just an occasional reminder of the stalwart (courageous, strong) and true souls who dared to blaze new trails.” Janie often identified the purpose and power of WMU: “Spiritual power is the greatest power…The object of our work is soul saving at home and abroad.” Janie Chapman died in 1948 at age 81. The Janie Chapman offering is still about ‘soul saving,’ sharing Christ here and around the world. Will you help blaze new missions trails like Janie? The Janie Chapman State Missions Offering helps to continue to blaze new trails in sharing Christ. You too can have a part by praying, giving and helping to reach our state for Christ.
In 1937 the state missions offering was named the Mrs. J. D. Chapman Offering for State Interests. Her personal motto was 1 Cor. 15:58, 58 “ So then, Christian brothers, because of all this, be strong. Do not allow anyone to change your mind. Always do your work well for the Lord. You know that whatever you do for Him will not be wasted.” She was said to be a person of strict discipline with inner strength and a gentle spirit. She did her work well for the Lord. She gave us an example of a woman who lived out her personal motto. While she was president WMU celebrated their 25th anniversary and Janie wrote: “We do not want to live too much in the past-just an occasional reminder of the stalwart (courageous, strong) and true souls who dared to blaze new trails.” Janie often identified the purpose and power of WMU: “Spiritual power is the greatest power…The object of our work is soul saving at home and abroad.” Janie Chapman died in 1948 at age 81. The Janie Chapman offering is still about ‘soul saving,’ sharing Christ here and around the world. Will you help blaze new missions trails like Janie? The Janie Chapman State Missions Offering helps to continue to blaze new trails in sharing Christ. You too can have a part by praying, giving and helping to reach our state for Christ.
