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Christian Women’s Job Corps and WorldCrafts Work Together at Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans

WMU Compassion Ministries Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) and WorldCrafts partner together to provide resources to women in cities across the United States.

Baptist Friendship House

Baptist Friendship House, a ministry of the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention, and New Orleans Baptist Association, began in 1944 to holistically minister to the New Orleans community and surrounding area. The mission of Baptist Friendship House is to recognize the dignity and worth of homeless women and children and minister to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through love, action, and truth as revealed in God’s Word.

Christian Women’s Job Corps

Through the years, national WMU has worked alongside Baptist Friendship House in many ways. In 1997, Baptist Friendship House became one of the first Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC) sites.

Kay Bennett, executive director of Baptist Friendship House, shared, “CWJC provides a structured format for which our people can gain self-sufficiency skills and at the same time, through Bible study, can learn and grow as Christians. CWJC provides a way to build relationships with others, do life with them, and watch Jesus work in their lives.”

WorldCrafts 

Each Grace Cross is uniquely handmade by artisans employed at Baptist Friendship House.

In 2019, WMU expanded its partnership with Baptist Friendship House as it became a WorldCrafts artisan group. The women learned to create pottery as a part of the therapy provided at Baptist Friendship House. Now these women have turned their hobby into a skill they can use to rebuild their lives. Kay shared, “WorldCrafts helps to give dignity back to hurting people by increasing their self-esteem and self-confidence through creativity and providing them a fair wage.”

The Impact of Partnership

For Yvonne Schaad, the ministry of Baptist Friendship House has greatly impacted her life. She accepted Jesus as her Savior through His help and CWJC. After graduating from CWJC, she went on to earn her culinary management certification. She now serves in a volunteer capacity as the food services coordinator and helps lead the group of WorldCrafts artisans. Her desire is to open a food truck that will employee women served by Baptist Friendship House.

Baptist Friendship House is one of nearly 200 sites God is using to transform the lives of women, men, and their families for eternity. The ministry is also one of seven United States–based WorldCrafts artisan groups.

Join the Celebration

It is thrilling to celebrate how our Father has had three WMU Compassion Ministries—CWJC; Pure Water, Pure Love; and WorldCrafts—to make an eternal impact on the lives of countless individuals in the last 25 years.

  • Listen to the latest On the Journey podcast about the celebration.
  • Pray for WMU Compassion Ministries with a 25-day prayer guide.
  • Shop WorldCrafts’ unique, fair-trade products.
  • Host a virtual or in-person WorldCrafts Market.
  • Get involved with WMU Compassion Ministries CWJC and PWPL.

Thank you for your support of these ministries.