The WMU Foundation is pleased to announce Viola First Baptist Church in Viola, Arkansas, as the inaugural recipient of the Jessica Powell Loftis Acteens Curriculum Grant.
The Jessica Powell Loftis Acteens Curriculum Grant was established under the Jessica Powell Loftis Endowment for Acteens, founded by her mother, Deb Loftis Schoenfeld, and grandparents, Captain David Stear and Mrs. Mary Carlton (Stear) La Moyne, in honor and memory of Jessica, a passionate Acteen and Christ follower. This grant will help strengthen discipleship for teen girls by helping churches purchase Acteens curriculum materials. The family hopes that churches will use these resources to nurture young women in the gospel and in God’s mission for their lives.
Viola First Baptist Church plans to launch a new Acteens group for girls within its youth ministry through the support of this grant. The curriculum resources will help provide materials for discipleship lessons, outreach opportunities, and missions engagement within both the church and the surrounding community. Church leaders plan for the group to begin meeting biweekly and to continue growing as more young women become involved.
Ryleigh Golden, a student leader at Viola First Baptist Church, will help lead the new Acteens ministry. Church leaders expressed encouragement for her desire to disciple and encourage other young women through missions involvement and service, while also sharing their excitement about the opportunity Acteens provides for teen girls to grow in their faith and understanding of God’s mission.
“The Jessica Powell Loftis Acteens Curriculum Grant is a beautiful reminder of how one life faithfully invested in missions can continue impacting future generations,” said Peggy Darby, president of the WMU Foundation. “We are grateful for Viola First Baptist Church and their desire to help young women grow in their faith, serve others, and live on mission for Christ.”
By supporting churches as they invest in teen girls through Acteens, the Jessica Powell Loftis Acteens Curriculum Grant continues a legacy of missions discipleship that encourages young women to know Christ and make Him known.