Archives

Home About Us The Book Nook Dr. Carter's Vision
In This Issue Archives Archives-2 Partners Subscribe Contact

TMW ARCHIVES II
	Fall 2008 Newsletter excerpts
	"It has been a little over a year since the passing of Bishop G. E. Patterson. Bishop Patterson was the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ. Since that time many people have watched his wife, Louise Patterson, give reflective statements on the Bountiful Blessings broadcast. People want to know more about the woman who is carrying on with the vision of her late husband. Mrs. Patterson and her husband were married for over 38 years, and for over 30 years she served as first lady of the Temple of Deliverance in Memphis, the church her husband founded in 1975. With the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit Mrs. Patterson is going forward. People have always known Mrs. Patterson to be a lady of beauty, style and elegance, and yet they many not know that she played an integral part in the ministry of her husband. Mrs. Patterson, a native of Memphis, TN, is an evangelist, and she has taken the time to talk to Today’s Minister’s Wife about how the work of Bountiful Blessings has continued since the passing of her husband. At the time of this interview Evangelist Patterson was planning her annual Total Woman’s Conference. The focus of this year’s conference (held August 2) was centered on the causes, concerns and solutions surrounding infant mortality in the African American community. The one day conference is designed to empower, uplift and enlighten woman of faith at all ages. "
	"On Friday night, July 18, First Lady Diane Proctor watched with anxious excitement as her husband, Dr. Dennis Proctor, pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E.Zion Church in Baltimore, MD, was elected to the episcopacy of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. This election marked the culmination of a yearlong campaign that involved not Zion only the Proctors, but a dedicated team of members from the church. The election night had added history, because right after midnight Saturday morning, the A.M.E.Z church elected their first female bishop, Dr. Mildred Hines. First Lady Proctor, a native of Greenville South Carolina, has an M.A. degree in Guidance and Counseling, and she is employed as the Coordinator of the Parallel Enrollment Program/ Admissions Counselor for the Community College of Baltimore County. Her husband will serve as the Presiding Prelate of the Western Episcopal District. She will assume the role of Missionary Supervisor, and her responsibilities will be to supervise the organized missionary societies in their assigned Episcopal area. We are honored to have First Lady Proctor share her thoughts and reflections from this campaign and election experience.
	"Survivor extraordinaire are words that describe First Lady Theresa Whitfield one year after surviving a violent attack in church during Sunday morning worship at the Trinity Baptist Church in Hackensack, NJ. Last year when Theresa Whitfield took her toddler daughter to the ladies room in the basement of the church during worship she was attacked by a violent and unstable woman with a box cutter. Since the choir was singing at the time, no one heard her screams. Mrs. Whitfield was slashed across her face, neck and body. When the attack was finally halted by someone coming in the ladies room, the attacker ran away. Members went into quick action by chasing the woman down the street. They used cell phones to call for help and they started praying ‘in the name of Jesus.’ Several members captured the woman and held her until the police arrived. The cuts on First Lady Whitfield’s body were so extensive that she would need surgery and more than 2,000 stitches. Her husband, Pastor Jonathan Whitfield, was not at the church on that Sunday, he was ministering at a church in Maryland. First Lady Whitfield said that normally, when her husband is out of town she uses that opportunity to visit other churches. She said that she decided to go to her church that Sunday because her husband told her that the minister preaching was bringing his wife. The newspaper and television reports gave graphic accounts of the assault on Theresa Whitfield. All across the country prayers went up for First Lady Whitfield, her daughter who was with her at the time, her husband, and their family. Together they are the parents of six children. It has been a year since the attack, and people are amazed at the spirit of overcoming that Theresa Whitfield has shown. Today’s Minister’s Wife is honored to be able to share with its readers an intimate interview with Theresa Whitfield. She has opened her heart and revealed in a personal way how she has made it and what keeps her going."
	Summer 2008 Newsletter excerpts
	“President Janie Charles Holmes is the seventh president of the International Association of Minister’s Wives and Minister’s Widows. During the week of June 22-27, 2008, the association will convene its 68^th annual convention in Cincinnati, OH. With a commanding voice and a spirit that reassures, President Holmes had been a dynamic leader for the IAMWMW. She is known for taking time to talk to minister’s wives and she always asks about the family. In the midst of a very busy schedule Dr. Holmes was gracious in sharing time with Today’s Minister’s Wife. President Holmes talks about how she balances her role as president of a large organization, and her work and family life. President Holmes was married to the late Dr. Thomas E. Holmes for nearly 20 years. He pastored the Community Baptist Church in New Haven, CT. During her administration, Dr. Holmes has adopted the motto ‘Keeping the Vision Going: Reaching Out, Reclaiming and Retaining.”
	“Many of our readers will remember Dr. Danielle Russell from the profile of her last year (TMW Fall 2007) when she talked about her husband’s call to ministry. Dr Russell is a physician and a Major in the United States Air Force stationed at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and her husband, Dr. Albert Russell, is a professor of organic chemistry at Tuskegee University. Since our first story about her she has more than fulfilled her call to serve her country. Dr. Russell has recently returned from a four month tour of duty in Iraq. Today’s Minister’s Wife is honored to have her give a first hand account of her experience. Read on, and be blessed by her honest and powerful truth.”
	Spring 2008 Newsletter excerpts
	It was in January 2001 when Mrs. Berryhill, first lady of the New Philadelphia Baptist Church in Memphis, TN where her husband Rev. Chester Berryhill is pastor, formed the NCPS. Currently the network includes more than 2,500 clergy spouses from varying denominations across the country. The organization’s mission is to raise awareness through health education, by working through churches and religious institutions to empower women to take action to improve the health of their families and communities. Using clergy spouses, NCPS offers a new approach to addressing the healthcare needs of the minority community by providing congregants with information and resources specific to those health issues which affect our communities.
	In her own words, Cheryl Wilmer shares the story of her road in ministry with her husband. Her husband, Rev. Roger Wilmer, Jr. is the pastor of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Mercersburg, PA. From her change in denomination to her transition from member to minister’s wife, then pastor’s wife, she lets us know how the Lord guided her. Cheryl Wilmer is a is a registered nurse, she works as a Surgical First Assistant for First Assist Nursing Inc. Nurse Wilmer says that she loves her work, even though she works twelve hour shifts. First Lady Wilmer commutes once a week to Delaware, to attend the A.M.E. Institute for clergy training. Pastor Roger and First Lady Cheryl Wilmer are the parents of two daughters, Jacqueline and Lauren.
	2007 TMW Newsletter excerpts
	This past October Dr. Ella P. Mitchell marked her 90th birthday with a celebration cruise with her husband, family and friends. Along with continuing salutes and celebrations Today’s Minister’s Wife is pleased to offer a profile of this extraordinary Christian woman. Dr. Ella Mitchell is considered a pioneer for generations of African-American clergywomen. Along with her husband, Dr Henry H. Mitchell, they have served as vanguards in the area of African-American preaching. Dr. Ella Mitchell is a woman all women can be proud of for in using her gifts she stirred others to use theirs.
	As a special feature in this December issue, Today’s Minister’s Wife is delighted to be able to give you an inside look at Diann McDuffie, the creator and CEA, chief executive artist, of Paint Puddles. Paint Puddles is a line of Christian inspired cards and gift items. Diann is married to the love of her life Pastor JD McDuffie. Together they have been blessed to plant a church, The Way Community Church in Fairhope, AL. What comes across is the excitement and energy Diann has for her work, her husband and the ministry God has given them. We begin the interview with her response to how she met her husband.
	Without a doubt one of the most exciting times in the life of a church is claiming new ground for Christ. On the third Sunday of September, with the blessing of the Lord, Pastor John Jenkins and his wife First Lady Jenkins and the people of First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Landover, MD will move into a brand new multi-million dollar church. Pastor John Jenkins was called to pastor the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in 1989, and since that time the congregation has grown to over 7,000 members.
	Kimberly Joy McKissick is the energetic and dynamic wife of Pastor Rudolph McKissick, Jr. Co-pastored by the father and son team of Dr. Rudolph McKissick, Sr., and Dr. Rudolph McKissick, Jr., Bethel Baptist Institutional Church is an example of out of the box ministry. Located in Jacksonville, Florida the church is the oldest Baptist church in the state of Florida. Since 1966 Lady McKissick’s father-in-law has been the pastor of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, and in 1995 her husband accepted the call to pastor alongside his father.
	In March of this year a group of seven women journeyed to Sierra Leone, West Africa to empower and educate women. The trip, Beauty with a Purpose, was a partnership between the New Song Bible Fellowship Church in Bowie, MD, and the Cole Stevens Salon and Spa in Greenbelt, MD. The trip garnered national attention when the women were featured in USA Today and Jet. Brenda Fuller, the first lady of New Song Bible Fellowship Church, where her husband Dr. Bernard Fuller serves as pastor, shares with Today’s Minister’s Wife her account of this pilgrimage to share the gospel of Christ and train women with cosmetology skills.
	Lady Patricia Grace Thomas is a woman of sterling virtues. She is the first lady of the New Psalmist Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD, where her husband Bishop Walter Scott Thomas serves as pastor. They are the parents of a daughter and two sons. In 1997, Bishop and Lady Thomas led the congregation into a brand new multi-million dollar facility, and now ten years later plans are in motion to build a new facility, City of Zion. Today’s Minister’s Wife had the privilege to talk with Lady Thomas about matters precious to her heart, her faith in God, her family, and her church. Lady Thomas is a woman of quiet power and deep love. You will certainly be blessed by her candid and open thoughts that she shares on the importance of faith, love and trust.

Receive free Issue with subscription!