Beautiful Feet – featuring Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight

Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight

 The Reverend Carolyn Ann Knight was born and raised in Denver, Colorado; the second daughter of the late Edd and Dorothy Knight. She received her early education in the public school system in Denver and the bachelor of arts degree from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas with a major concentration in English, philosophy and religion.

Her theological training began at Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, NY; she later transferred to Union Theological Seminary in New York City to study under her mentor, Dr. Cornel West. She was awarded the master of divinity and master of sacred theology degrees from Union. Ms. Knight was admitted into the Ph.D. program at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, and is presently on leave from that program of study. She holds the doctor of ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. In addition to these formal areas of studies, Ms. Knight pursued her interest in law and politics by attending classes at Columbia University School of Law.

In addition to her activities and responsibilities as a preacher, Reverend Dr. Knight has been signally honored for her outstanding career achievements, which include Outstanding Young Women of America; The Dunlevy-Milbank Youth Council’s Community Service Award; The Mary McLeod Bethune Award of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.; The Community Service Award from the Laurelton Chapter of the Negro Professional Business Women’s Council; and the 1993 United Negro College Fund Alumni Award. In March 1996, Reverend Knight was inducted into the prestigious College of Preachers by Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. She was also cited by Ebony magazine in November 1997 as one of America’s 15 Greatest African American Women Preachers.

A former amateur athletic track and field champion, Dr. Knight is an avid golfer in preparation for the Mid-Amateur Women’s Golf Tournaments. She has a variety of interests and hobbies which include reading, computer literacy, writing, music, traveling, power walking, step training, and philosophical and political discussions. Dr. Knight is a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Read Entire Bio Here.

Beautiful Feet – featuring Bishop Vashti McKenzie

Vashti Murphy McKenzie  is a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. McKenzie is the first female elected as bishop in the denomination’s history.^[1] She is also the national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the granddaughter of one of the twenty-two founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vashti Turley Murphy.

McKenzie attended Robert Brown Elliot School, School #18 and Garrison Junior High School; one of the six black students who attended Eastern High School, she graduated in 1965. After spending a summer at the Blair School of Journalism, McKenzie enrolled at Morgan State University where she majored in history; she went on to attend the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, where she graduated earning her bachelor’s degree. After graduation, McKenzie began working for her family newspaper and wrote her own column, “The McKenzie Report.”

Read more about Bishop McKenzie at TheHistoryMakers.Org

Beautiful Feet – Dea. Debra A. Curtis

Sister Debra Ann Curtis is a servant who wears many hats within her congregation. Affectionately known as “Deacon Deb”, Debra was one of the first women ordained (2009) to the office of Deacon at Shalom Church-City of Peace under the leadership of founder and pastor, Dr. Freddy J. Clark.

There Debra serves as leader of the intercessory prayer ministry, now for over 12 years. In addition to this she faithfully fulfills the tasks of her office by consistently doing hospital visitations, ministering to bereaved families, praying for and with congregants, praying with various ministry leaders and being “on call” for special assignments of her pastor. Yet with all of this, Deacon Curtis also cares for an elderly parent.

She has served in prison ministry, Bereavement ministry and partners with counselors to assist in serving the needs of Gods people in various ways. Deacon Deb is the wife of Kevin Curtis, and mother of two adult children. Her secular expertise is in the field of communications and Human resource management, previously with AT & T. Her motto is “People who need people are the most blessed people in the world” realizing just how much we need each other.

 

Beautiful Feet – Minister Andria Hendricks

This month we are featuring Minister Andria Hendricks a native of East St. Louis, IL. She attended Lincoln University, where she completed her Bachelors in Sociology and thereafter completed a Master’s degree in Business Administration from William Woods University. She is currently  a Doctoral Candidate in Business Management Leadership. Minister Andria serves as First Lady of the Joshua House Church in Jefferson City, MO her husband Rev. Adrian Hendricks II is the Pastor/Founder.  Her ministry focuses on mentoring teens, serving her community and assisting with the needs at The Joshua House.  There she teaches, preaches and exercises the gift of hospitality. In addition to that she is the proud mother of three children, yet works full time as a business professor at Lincoln University.

Beautiful Feet – Dr. Bernice A. King

This month we are featuring Dr. Bernice A. King. Born the youngest daughter of the late Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bernice began her oratorical journey when she spoke in her mother’s stead at the United Nations at age 17. Bernice A. King (Be A King) is the Chief Executive Officer of The King Center, which was founded by her mother, in 1968. She was appointed to this position in January 2012 by the Board of Trustees. Nationally and internationally known as one of the most powerful, motivating and life-changing orators and speakers on the circuit today, Bernice leaves her audiences speechless and challenges people to RAISE THE STANDARD.

She truly is an amazing Woman of God. Creative, captivating, challenging, compelling and courageous are a few words that describe THIS King! Be A King is a woman gifted to change the lives of those who come into contact with her.

Read more about her at BerniceKing.com.

Leadership Corner – December 2015

In whatever capacity we serve we would do well to memorize the words of Paul in Philippians 3: 12-14: “ Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

This is God’s motivational message to us to help us “pull” our very best from within; the best we have to offer in Glorifying God, lifting the name of Jesus, and serving our fellow man. Maintaining Christian principles in leadership, especially in the corporate world can be harrowing-to say the least. We acknowledge our lives in Christ are quite the challenge at times, but God……….
Author Lorin Woolfe makes these observations in the book, Leadership Secrets from the Bible:
a. The higher you go, the more visible your integrity or lack of it becomes
b. Integrity is exhibited in actions, not pronouncements of intention
c. Honesty and Integrity pay off long-term, though they may involve losses and sacrifices short-term.
d. Always remember, someone with more power than you is watching (God is ever-present).

On behalf of the Council of Christian Women in Ministry, I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

God Bless!

Minister Laurain Hendricks

Theme of the Month – Gratitude

Gratitude

A grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges they have. I attended a banquet recently in which a wounded soldier was presented with the gift of a free house. He nearly fell over with gratitude. He bounded onto the stage with his one good leg and threw both arms around the presenter. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” He hugged the guitar player in the band and the big woman on the front row. He thanked the waiter, the other soldiers, and then the presenter again. Before the night was over, he thanked me! And I didn’t do anything.

Shouldn’t we be equally grateful? Jesus is building a house for us (John 14:2). Our deed of ownership is every bit as certain as that of the soldier. What’s more, Jesus cured our leprosy. Sin cankered our souls and benumbed our senses. Yet the Man on the path told us we were healed, and, lo and behold, we were!

The grateful heart is like a magnet sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude. A zillion diamonds sparkle against the velvet of your sky every night. Thank you, God. A miracle of muscles enables your eyes to read these words and your brain to process them. Thank you, God. Your lungs inhale and exhale eleven thousand liters of air every day. Your heart will beat about three billion times in your lifetime. Your brain is a veritable electric generator of power. Thank you, God.

For the jam on our toast and the milk on our cereal. For the blanket that calms us and the joke that delights us and the warm sun that reminds us of God’s love. For the thousands of planes that did not crash today. For the men who didn’t cheat on their wives, and the wives who didn’t turn from their men, and the kids who, in spite of unspeakable pressure to dishonor their parents, decided not to do so. Thank you, Lord.

Read FULL original article here.  Info via by Max Lucado via FaithGateway.com

International AIDS Awareness Month

**Your Health Matters**

HIV disease continues to be a serious health issue for parts of the world. Worldwide, there were about 2 million new cases of HIV in 2014. About 36.9 million people are living with HIV around the world, and as of March 2015, around 15 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). An estimated 1.2 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2014, and about 39 million people worldwide have died of AIDS-related causes since the epidemic began. Seventy percent of all people living with HIV in 2014 were living in Sub-Saharan Africa, which bears the heaviest burden of HIV/AIDS worldwide. Other regions significantly affected by HIV/AIDS include Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

CDC’s Global AIDS website explains what CDC is doing in countries where HIV and AIDS have had great impact.

Beautiful Feet – featuring Reverend Nina Hamilton

Reverend Nina Hamilton is a native of Miami Springs, FL. Her ancestry is from East India. She is the wife of Kenneth Hamilton. She is the mother of two natural sons, two daughters by marriage, and countless spiritual
children and grandchildren.

Nina graduated from Florida International University with 2 degrees in the field of Social Work and Women’s Studies and a Master of Public Administration. She is currently attending Eden Theological Seminary in the Master of Divinity Program. Additionally, she is fluent in Spanish and French. Ever since her childhood, it has been her dream to help people. So it is only fitting that her career of choice was to become a Licensed Social Worker and Counselor.

Nina was ordained as minister in 2007.  She currently serves in a dual role as Church Administrator and Associate Minister at Leonard Missionary Baptist Church, under the tutelage of her Pastor, Bishop Dr. Steven G. Thompson. She is part of several ministries at Leonard and has her own ministry, The Victor’s Crown Ministries International since 2011.

Leadership Corner – November 2015

God Bless!

Minister Laurain Hendricks