By Stanley O. Williford
Director of Publications
One of Brenda Daniel’s most intense missionary experiences came in 2003 during a trip to Sudan, an Islamic nation well-known for its violent history and hatred for its partially Christian southern portion.
“When we went into the Sudan we went in as a covert mission,” said Brenda. “We had been advised by our host that the government had ‘somewhat of a tolerance’ for Christianity, but the radical Islamic cells were continually terrorizing Christians and churches wherever they found them gathered. The day that we got there the American Embassy had just pulled out because of diplomatic differences. And the place where our host had scheduled to have the conference had been canceled.
“Our team had come at the invitation of a pastor whom some of them had met at a stateside conference a few months earlier. He asked that we bring a team of women because the women of the church desired to have a prayer conference.”
The CCC team of seven women and one man went in to facilitate the conference, which was held over three days. Of all places, the conference was eventually held in a “Jihadist military camp where the most violent and radical Jihadists soldiers were being trained,” Brenda said. “The soldiers were on holiday (vacation). One of the government officials was a Christian and made arrangements for us to meet there with the women, so we were allowed to minister to them and provide material resources.”
Brenda said some of the women had walked from long distances for as many as two days to attend. Besides the Sudan, several had come from the bordering countries of Uganda and Ethiopia. At least 200 or more women attended, she said.
“We started each day with worship and a general session. We then broke up into smaller groups and met in the men’s barracks. We took advantage of the opportunity by praying over the soldiers’ beds, over the mess hall and walked around the grounds. Our host had their people, who were Christians, watching at every entrance to the grounds. That was probably one of the most intense and yet supernatural experiences I have ever had on the mission field,” she said.
In the following years, civil war would eventually fracture Sudan into two nations, resulting in the mostly Islamic North Sudan and the partially Christian and animist South Sudan. Even after the division, North Sudan still ranks third among the largest countries on the African continent.
Before retiring from her position as CCC’s minister of missions in September, Brenda had enjoyed an extensive work history in several of the church’s departments for 33 years, with only a six-month break in service.
Coming aboard in 1984, she began work in data processing doing data entry, then became an IT assistant. Next, she moved to letter-writing (correspondence), and on to human resources, youth ministry, missions, finance and, finally, the pastoral department.
Brenda and her various CCC mission teams have taken the Word of God to such countries in Africa as Kenya, Uganda, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Namibia.
In Europe, they have ministered in Germany, Holland, France and England; in the Caribbean, to Jamaica; in North America, to Nicaragua and Mexico; in South America, to Brazil; in Asia to Indonesia.
After retiring, Brenda launched her own ministry called Global Wiind. [Note the two i’s in the word Wiind, which stands for World Impact in Demonstration.] Brenda said that a few years back God had shown her that 2017 would be the time for her to move into her own ministry, which agreed with a desire she had harbored for some time. She stepped down in September of that year.
“I felt that was the time to make the transition and move on to make room for the next generation of those that would serve in the ministry,” she said.
“It has positioned me to be able to expand my sphere of influence in missions work,” she said. “It’s kind of interesting not being under the mother ship [CCC], not having the infrastructure. But God has provided. Considering everything I’ve been taught about faith, now it is time for me to appropriate that to continue the work.”
As for support, Brenda said, “I totally depend on people that will hear of the vision and the work. Many are already familiar with me over 25 years.
“I am also an author and I believe in using the gift and abilities that God has given me as a tool and support. Some of the people who know of my reputation in missions are supporting me on a monthly basis. Under my ministry I offer consulting to churches, and that opens the door for support because I offer leadership and missions training.”
Brenda’s first book – Three Women & You – was also turned into a stage play and has been performed several times. There is also a Three Women & You one-year devotional. A second book is titled Starting Over: Tips for Recovery After Personal Loss. A third book, tentatively titled 1,700 Miles from Ruston, is completed but not yet published. She is presently working on fourth book, this time on missions.
Where did she go on her first post-Crenshaw mission?
“Two days after retiring I flew out to Namibia, Botswana and Zambia and was there about three months on assignment,” she said.
“I’m having an amazing time.”
