By WMU Communications
Claudia Johnson
(BIRMINGHAM, Ala.) – Feb. 11, 2016 – National Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) has hired Claudia Johnson to develop training opportunities for Christian women’s leadership. Johnson has a wealth of experience in missions leadership, having served as a teacher and missionary with the International Mission Board (IMB) for nearly 28 years. She will serve as the leadership consultant for WMU’s Missions Resource Center and Christian Women’s Leadership Center (CWLC).
“We are thrilled to have someone with Claudia’s wealth of teaching and missions experience serve in this role,” said Wanda Lee, executive director of national WMU. “We believe her unique perspective on leadership, having lived it out in another culture, will be key to the success of the CWLC and how we engage women in leadership within their church, workplace, and community.”
Johnson established and led a school in Bangkok, Thailand, for refugee middle and high school students. Her strong understanding of teaching and curriculum development will be an asset to WMU as they build online leadership instruction and certificate programs for women in the church.
“Having the educational expertise, a biblical worldview of missions, and the desire to lead women in leadership development makes Claudia uniquely qualified to lead the CWLC,” said Kristy Carr, WMU’s Adult Resource Team leader.
The CWLC is an initiative of WMU that provides resources for women seeking leadership development in a Christian context. It may also serve as an entry point for women to missions through WMU. Johnson will develop WMU’s online learning resources and incorporate leadership principles into all of WMU’s age-level content.
Johnson and her husband, David, served in Bangkok where they ministered to Pakistani refugees fleeing religious persecution. They were able to provide for the physical needs of refugees through Baptist Global Response (BGR) and lead many to Christ. They return to the U.S. as part of the IMB’s voluntary retirement incentive (VRI).
“As we have been praying for IMB missionaries who are returning home, we asked the Lord how WMU could help beyond our ministry of missionary housing,” Lee shared. “We are grateful this position was open and available for a missionary who has the experience to continue WMU’s tradition of providing exemplary missions discipleship in the local church.”
The CWLC online Leadership Certificate Program will launch in September 2016. The CWLC also hosts a monthly luncheon at national WMU in Birmingham, Ala. More information on the CWLC is available at wmu.com/cwlc and on Facebook and Twitter.
