Ann Reid and Joann Carter, members of the Adult Mission Action Team at Edgemont Church in Rocky Mount, prepare a fruit basket for a church member recovering from surgery.

The Brotherhood group was floundering at the church where about 85 percent of those attending on Sunday mornings are older adults.

Then a WMU leader, Jackie Robbins, had an idea - why not combine the two groups into a co-ed missions organization?

Johnnie Umphlet, a leader in the Brotherhood, liked the plan.

In October 1996 the Adult Mission Action Team (AMAT) was formed. The WMU at Edgemont is still active, but many mission projects are carried out by AMAT.

"We're just trying to keep everyone involved," said Umphlet, who co-chairs the AMAT with Robbins. "We feel like the more you get out of it, the more you put into it."

Baptist State Convention leaders say it is becoming more common for men and women to work together on missions projects.

Richard Brunson, the executive director of N.C. Baptist Men, said men and women often work together on projects, but seldom organize formal missions education groups. As many as 40 percent of the workers on Baptist Men disaster relief projects are women, he said.

Carolyn Hopkins, missions development consultant for N.C. WMU, said WMU has resources for co-ed groups. Some co-ed organizations use resources from WMU, Baptist Men and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, she said.

At Edgemont, the idea has breathed new life into the missions emphasis in the church.

Since its inception, AMAT has led or participated in about a dozen mission projects. The team has helped serve meals at a homeless shelter, held communion and devotionals at a nursing home, led devotional and entertainment programs at the Baptist Retirement Home in Hamilton, raised money for Camp Mundo Vista and cleaned up the church playground for Vacation Bible School.

"One of the things I like about this group is it is mission action," said Pastor Dean Poteat, who came to the church about a month after AMAT was formed.

The group also holds mission education meetings. About 15 people attend AMAT's monthly planning sessions.

In November, team members prepared fruit baskets for church members who are in nursing homes or who are recovering from illnesses.

The group delivered a basket to Paul Wells, a church member who is recovering from an operation. After Poteat read a Psalm, the team sang "Come, Ye Thankful People Come" and some of Wells' favorite hymns. Earlier, Robbins talked to team members about a recent Sunday School lesson that focus on how Jesus prayed for his disciples to carry on His mission.

"That's exactly what AMAT is all about," she said.