As Sandy Wisdom-Martin prepares to retire, those who have shared in her ministry gathered Friday evening at the Arkansas Baptists building to celebrate her years of service with stories of faith, friendship and laughter. 

Wisdom-Martin, executive director of National Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), announced in December that she plans to retire in January 2027, marking 36 years of ministry service. She has led WMU since October 2016. 

Before becoming WMU’s national executive director, Wisdom-Martin served as executive director of WMU of Texas from 2010 to 2016, women’s missions and ministries director for the Illinois Baptist State Association from 2001 to 2010, and as a Cooperative Program missionary with Arkansas Baptists from 1991 to 2001. 

Julia Ketner, who served as Arkansas WMU executive director during Wisdom-Martin’s time with Arkansas Baptists, shared memories of their years of ministry together. Among them were Wisdom-Martin’s marriage to Frank Martin in the chapel at Camp Paron, mission trips to Guatemala, learning to “call the hogs” and many other moments. 

“We love you dearly. We're grateful for the years you spent on our staff and the 10 years you've served as our national executive director. You have served with excellence. You have challenged. You have encouraged. You have impacted lives of women, and probably men too, not only across our nation but around the world,” Ketner said. 

“You have helped us to better understand that our mission is God's passion, and you have modeled that for us, and we're grateful for that modeling that you have given to each of us all the time.” 

Kristyn Ross, who served with Wisdom-Martin at Girls in Action (GA) Camp for several years, shared how Wisdom-Martin influenced her as a teenager and continues to impact her life. 

“I've often tried to tell her what she means to me and how life-changing she has been to me, but I never can get the words out. I don't even know if she knows some of these things that I got to learn from her,” Ross said. 

Ross recalled being told she was “too loud” or “too goofy,” but seeing Wisdom-Martin be playful with children at camp changed her perspective. 

“When I got to camp, I saw her be goofy with the kids, and I saw her jump in the swimming pool with her clothes on, and I was like, ‘This is my person! Like, I've waited my whole life to meet you.’ It was such a comfort to me to know that you can still love Jesus and have fun,” Ross said. “When you can laugh with each other, walls come down, and I learned that from Sandy.” 

Ross also credited Wisdom-Martin with teaching her the importance of care, compassion, and servant leadership. 

“I learned to listen and to value each and every person. I learned about servant leadership. My goodness, there wasn't anything that she would ask us to do that she wouldn't do herself. She led by working beside us, and the whole time pouring into us and modeling,” Ross said. 

“She modeled unconditional love. I was a 16-year-old girl who wanted to please and definitely wanted to please Sandy. Because, like I said, I already found out she jumped in the pool with her clothes on. She was the coolest woman I ever met.” 

Ross said Wisdom-Martin’s example also helped her understand her own value. 

“With her calm, and with her peace, and with her love, she always let me know that I was enough, that I had value, not only at camp, but wherever God called me,” Ross said. 

Diana Lewis, who also served with Wisdom-Martin while at Arkansas Baptists, shared memories of their years of ministry together. 

“I'm so thankful for God bringing this wonderful co-minister, who is now my friend, who is now my sister, into my life,” Lewis said. 

Lewis recounted humorous stories, including a time when Wisdom-Martin accidentally used furniture polish instead of spray starch while ironing her clothes. She also recalled international experiences, including mission work in South Africa, where Wisdom-Martin was scratched by a lion cub.  

The evening closed with a prayer of gratitude for Wisdom-Martin’s service and hopes of rest, joy and blessing in her retirement. 

“We don't retire; we just find what the next thing that God has planned for us. For me, it's been Peru trips and Christian Women's Job Corps and visiting widows. For you, I just think about what God is already planning. He's already planning some wonderful things for you,” Lewis told Wisdom-Martin.