Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia and Virginia Baptist Mission Board mourn the loss of Alma Hunt. “Miss Alma,” as she was widely known in Baptist life, was loved by all who knew her. Her heart for missions and commitment to growing the Kingdom was inspirational to Christians worldwide.
Born to Christian parents in Roanoke, she developed an early passion for learning and teaching which took her first to the public school classroom, then to obtain a master's degree from Columbia University, and later to be dean of women at William Jewell College in Missouri. In 1948 she was named executive director of Woman's Missionary Union, SBC, where she served in that role for 26 years. During her tenure, WMU experienced tremendous growth as a result of Miss Alma's leadership, courage, and passion for missions education. As a missions pioneer, Miss Alma also served in leadership roles with the Baptist World Alliance. She was the first woman to preside at a congress in 1975.
“The people I feel sorry for when I wake each morning are those who can't figure out what to do that day. The days are simply not long enough for me,” explained Miss Alma. “ I know of no purpose as fulfilling as feeling yourself used for what you believe to be the plan God created for you to follow.”
Though a native Virginian, Miss Alma was a citizen of the world, having traveled to 93 countries during her lifetime. It was her appreciation for the rich heritage of Virginia Baptists, her vision of missions, and her passionate pursuit of a missional lifestyle that led WMUV to rename the Virginia Missions Offering in her honor: the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions.
The Alma Hunt Offering touches lives across the world and enables people to live out the call God has placed on their lives by providing scholarship assistance for female seminary students in India, enabling a Venturer to serve in South Africa, supporting the work of summer camp counselors at CrossRoads, equipping first responders with disaster relief in Louisiana, supporting a chaplain in a female correctional facility in Virginia and enabling many other ministries.
Miss Alma encouraged all Christians to see the needs of the world with the compassionate eyes of Christ. “We don't want to lose sight of the opportunities this day affords us. We have a wonderful opportunity in which to carry out for our day the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world. There are new fields we cannot see, but the Lord can see where there is need and opportunities that are not yet discovered.”
Throughout her life, Miss Alma provided inspiration and issued challenges for generations to come. May we be found faithful to her enduring legacy.