| BAPTISTS TODAY
News Release www.baptiststoday.org |
March 18, 2004
RICHMOND, Va. — Longtime Baptist missions leader Alma Hunt will receive the fourth annual Judson-Rice Award at a dinner in her honor April 30 at the Second Baptist Church of Richmond.
Hunt, a native and current resident of Roanoke, Va., was the national leader of Woman’s Missionary Union for 26 years from 1948-74. During her remarkable life, Hunt, 94, has traveled to more than 90 countries as a respected advocate for compassionate ministry to those in need.
“She continues to be a dominant force for missions and for women,” said Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler of Cincinnati, Ohio, who succeeded Hunt as WMU executive. “She was never afraid to take a strong stand for the right, not willing to be intimidated by those who would challenge her, but also not willing to be intimidating to those who would follow her leadership.”
Hunt made news in January 2003 when she joined Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va., after her home church, Roanoke First Baptist, voted to align with the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.
Hunt said at the time that the SBCV did not “reflect traditional Baptist heritage and principles,” and that she felt sorry for First Baptist members “who don’t realize the changes that have taken place in Southern Baptist life.”
Crumpler will present the award on behalf of the board of directors of Baptists Today, an autonomous, national news journal based in Macon, Ga. The Judson-Rice Award was created in 2001 to commemorate the great contributions of early Baptist mission leaders Adoniram Judson, Ann Hasseltine Judson and Luther Rice, and to recognize a current Baptist leader who has demonstrated important leadership skills while maintaining the highest integrity.
Baptist statesman Jimmy Allen, a former Southern Baptist Convention president and communications pioneer, will be the keynote speaker. Allen received the inaugural award in 1991. Other past recipients of the Judson-Rice Award are well-known author and speaker Tony Campolo and former seminary president Russell Dilday.
The 6:30 p.m. dinner on Friday, April 30 at Richmond’s Second Baptist Church
on River Road is open to the public. Tickers are $12. Reservations can be made
by calling 1-877-752-5658.