Updated Monday, March 31, 2008

Charlotte teen selected for national panel

By Julie Walters

Woman's Missionary Union

BIRMINGHAM - A Charlotte teenager has been chosen to serve on a national Acteens panel.

Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) has selected Gretchen Allie, 17, of Charlotte, to be a 2008 National Acteens Panelist. Her strong commitment and active involvement in missions and Acteens, coupled with exemplary leadership and involvement in her community and church, helped secure her place as one of six young women to receive this honor.

Acteens is the WMU missions organization for teenage girls in grades 7-12.

Allie, a member of University Hills Baptist Church, was recommended by her pastor and others who said they have witnessed the impact she has made through her missions lifestyle.

"Gretchen has a strong passion for missions and evangelism and seeks to make a positive impact in all that she does," said Deborah Taylor, Allie's Acteens leader. "She was the first youth to enroll in our Evangelism Explosion training classes and worked in partnership with two other adults to complete the training and visitation experiences. Now she serves as a trainer for our youth and a decisions counselor for our worship services."

Over the past 12 months, she has been involved in several outreach projects with Acteens including missions teaching in Vacation Bible School (VBS), taking the lead in promoting the Thanksgiving offering for the state Baptist Children's Homes, and serving at local agencies such as Room at the Inn for homeless families, Pregnancy Care Center, and the Salvation Army Women's shelter. Allie is also a current North Carolina state Acteens panelist.

"Consistently she is a ready and willing servant leader in our local church's ministry - volunteering with Vacation Bible School, singing with the student ministry praise team, and sitting on leadership committees," said E. Coye Still III, pastor of University. "Gretchen is a leader in service, evangelism, and missions."

Allie helps lead the Wednesday night program for youth by lending vocals and guitar to the praise band and leading creative movement and drama ministries. She also serves on the puppet team and volunteers with children's ministries. Allie regularly helps plan missions projects around Charlotte and has gone on missions trips to Pittsburg, Pa., Washington D.C., Savannah, Ga., and Brazil.

Allie will serve with five other panelists this year including: Kailee Barfield of First Baptist Church, Fort Mill, S.C.; Paige Baker of First Baptist Church, Humble, Texas; Kristi Damon of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Texas; Rachel Krome of Brown Deer Baptist Church, Oostburg, Wis.; and Amanda-Grace Richey of Burks Branch Baptist Church, Smithfield, Ky.

Allie will serve from Feb. 1 to Dec. 31 and will receive a $1,000 Jessica Powell Loftis Scholarship for Acteens from the WMU Foundation.

Throughout the year, she will have the opportunity to write articles for The Mag, the missions magazine for Acteens, and for the Acteens Web site, www.acteens.com. In addition, panelists work together as a focus group to help shape the future direction of Acteens.

A highlight of Allie's service will be to participate in the annual WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., in June prior to the Southern Baptist Convention.

As a panelist, she will have the opportunity to interact with missionaries and national leaders involved in missions, and may be requested to speak to church, associational, and/or state Acteens and WMU groups.

Applications for the 2009 National Acteens Panel are due to WMU headquarters by Dec. 1, 2008. Applications will be available on the Acteens Web site at www.acteens.com and in the fall issue of Acteens Leader.