By Julie Walters
National WMU
WorldCrafts, the fair-trade division of national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), is partnering with Mully Children’s Family (MCF) to help share the story of Charles Mully and expand WorldCrafts’ impact among impoverished artisan groups around the world.
MCF, a nonprofit organization in Kenya that seeks to transform the lives of street children and youth living in poverty, was founded by Mully.
Mully was the firstborn in a family of eight, living in poverty in Kenya.
At age 6 he was abandoned by his parents as they left in search of a better living. He grew up begging on the streets and became a Christian as a teenager.
When Mully was 17, he walked more than 40 miles to Nairobi to seek employment. He found work and met his future wife, Esther. He became a wealthy entrepreneur and respected community leader, and he and Esther had eight biological children.
In 1989 the Lord laid it on Mully’s heart to help other children living in poverty in Africa. He sold all his property and businesses in order to provide street children in Africa with shelter, medical care, education and more. Since then Charles and Esther Mully have taken guardianship of more than 12,000 abandoned children.
The couple’s compelling story has been made into a movie, “Mully.”
“We are delighted to be a part of sharing this life-changing story about how one man’s obedience to God has transformed a nation,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director of national WMU. “Beyond a gripping storyline, watching this movie will inspire Southern Baptists to examine ways God is calling them to personally serve and minister to others.”
Wisdom-Martin describes this project as a natural fit with WMU’s vision of challenging Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God and WMU’s existing ministries.
“This partnership will bring more visibility and support for WorldCrafts’ artisan groups in poverty and coming out of sex trafficking so we can minister to exponentially more artisans and their families,” Wisdom-Martin said. “It will also underscore the … impact Christians can make through orphan care and adoption.”
Churches interested in hosting a pretheatrical showing of the movie between June 25 and September 24 are encouraged to request more information and a personal screening. (WMU)
For more information about how to host a viewing of the film in your church before the October theatrical release, visit catalystresourcegroup.com/mully.
For ticket information, visit WorldCrafts.org/MullyMovieTickets.
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Media kits available
WorldCrafts has developed two media kits to bring screenings of Mully movie to life.
A host kit — designed for congregations, small groups and families — contains resources to help promote a prescreening, including videos, reflection questions, talking points and a six-week devotional book and small group study guide centered around the Mully family’s story of discipleship.
A viewer kit for individuals includes some of the same resources in the host kit, including the devotional book, but is designed to encourage personal reflection and ministry action. (WMU)
All resources in both kits are digital and are available at WorldCrafts.org.
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WMU Foundation partners with Mully project
Mully Children’s Family operates six facilities in Kenya. One location, the Yatta Vocational Training School, employs artisans who are young, many of whom are impoverished women seeking to rebuild their lives after being trafficked.
“When we learned more about how the Yatta Vocational Training School helps young women out of trafficking and teaches them skills such as sewing and making jewelry, we knew we wanted to invite them to be an artisan group of WorldCrafts,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director of national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). “We wanted to help them market the beautiful necklaces and purses they create, but upfront funding to place a significant order was going to be a challenge.”
‘God provided’
“We prayed,” Wisdom-Martin continued, “and God provided $115,000 through the WMU Foundation so we could increase our orders not only to this group, but also to other WorldCrafts artisan groups. We are so grateful for the WMU Foundation and generous donors that made this possible so quickly.”
Cindy Walker, of Minden, Louisiana, a WMU Foundation board member, said, “From the moment we learned about the Mully project and how it had the potential to transform hearts and lives, our WMU Foundation board members wanted to be a part. The possibility of providing training and employment through this partnership truly resonated with us.”
Sylvia DeLoach, of Richardson, Texas, who also serves on the WMU Foundation board, agreed. “The Mully partnership struck a chord in me from the first time I heard about it. What a perfect opportunity to partner with a project that’s meeting needs and providing opportunities congruent with WMU’s ongoing purpose.” (WMU)
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