Sister Miyah Eley is a Native of Suffolk, Virginia. She confessed that Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior, leading her to be baptized at the age of 7, under the leadership of Pastor Robert L. Hobbs, Metropolitan Baptist Church. Growing up, she was involved in the Sunday School Department, Praise Dance Ministry, Youth Choir, Youth Council (serving as the Chaplain, President and Vice President during different terms) and was a Youth Day speaker, on May 6, 2018. This memorable day is when Miyah recognized her potential of sharing the Gospel with others but she did not receive the call to ministry, from God, until the age of 18, during her freshman year of college.

Sister Miyah received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology Degree from Chowan University, in May 2022. She is currently pursuing her call to ministry and is allowing God to lead her. Her favorite scripture is Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” KJV.

Elder Tabitha King had her initial sermon August 25, 2019 and has been preaching once a month ever since. She became an Ordained Minister on December 6, 2020. Elder King has been a lifelong member of King’s Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church in Suffolk, VA and joined the church at the age of nine. She loves the Lord and is very passionate about being a light so that others may see good works in her and they be glorifying to the Father (see Matt. 5:16). She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Divinity at Liberty University Online where she plans to finish her degree in 2021.

Elder King is married to David King and she has eight children with three living in the home, ages 16, 14, and 3. She loves family and loves music. She’s one of the choir director’s for the adult and youth choirs. She is a Massage Therapist and loves to help people in pain feel better with therapeutic healing touch. Elder Tabitha King loves people and loves to serve.

A 26-year veteran in ministry, including a successful 20-year pastorate, Rev. Rose Wright-Scott is anchored by her favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13, “I Can Do All Things through Christ Which Strengthens Me”. She launched Victory Christian United Church of Christ in 1999 as her God-given mandate.

Rev. Scott is the president and CEO of Scott & Scott’s LLC, an organization with a mission to empower individuals, churches, and companies to become the very best that God created them to be through training, education, and personal coaching. She is a Christian Life Coach, certified event planner, and author. Rev. Scott graduated with honors from Virginia Union University’s Masters of Divinity program from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology in 1996.

Her heart’s greatest joy is found in family, in her marriage to the late Minister Bob Scott, being the mother of two adult children, and seven beautiful grandchildren.

Rev. Ernestine “Tina” Lewis is an ordained Minister and a native of Houston, Texas where she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas in Health Records Administration and her Master of Divinity from the Houston Graduate School of Theology.  She is a Board Certified Chaplain where she currently serves as a Staff Chaplain at The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. She is a Minister at Chapel Grove United Church of Christ in Windsor, Virginia under the leadership of the Rev. H. Carlyle Church Jr. She served as a Registered Health Information Administrator for over 40 years and held positions as an Assistant Director of Health Records at the King’s Hospital in Saudi Arabia for five (5) years; a Lecturer for Kuwait University, Kuwait for eight (8) years.  She retired from the M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. She has one daughter (Kimberly), a son-in-law (Sean) and three beautiful grandchildren (Tanzie, Sydney, and Aden). Her favorite Biblical Text is found in Proverbs 24:3-4: “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By Knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” She strongly believes that the “WORD” of God transforms and delivers.

Minister Patrice Smallwood is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and a member of New Macedonia Christian United Church of Christ, Norfolk, VA, where she serves as Associate Minister. She has dedicated her time and attention to several ministries within her local church and in the surrounding community.

Patrice has assisted with the planning and leading of many workshops and events within the Eastern Virginia Association (EVA) of the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ. She also serves as co-chair of African American Women in Ministry (AAWIM) National Steering Committee. Her passion however, is for our youth of today and her goal is to help young people recognize their Purpose, Power and Potential!  Patrice is currently pursuing her M.Div. at Regent University and expects to graduate in May 2021. One of Patrice’s foundational scriptures, one in which she strives to live by every day, is Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

An Ordained Associate Minister at Olive Branch Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia.  She’s a graduate of Tidewater Bible College in Virginia Beach, VA.  She serves as the Minister of Evangelism and Missions.  Rev. Beard has a certificate from Child Evangelism Fellowship to teach children and youth in evangelism.  Beard is a former President of the Tidewater Baptist Women Missionary and Educational Convention where she led 40 churches in the cities of Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Suffolk Virginia in missions.

Deaconess Teresa Simmons, Financial Secretary DWIM. She is a member and First Lady of Gethsemane Baptist Church, Suffolk, VA.  At Gethsemane she is a member of The Deaconess Ministry, The Christian Education and Recreation Ministry and the Choir Director for the Music Ministry. The scripture most dear to her heart is Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Deaconess Simmons is married to Rev. Dr. Ernest S. Simmons, Jr. pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church. Together they have five children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren

Reverend Elaine Demiel Beamon is an ordained Associate Minister of Gethsemane Baptist Church Suffolk, VA.; leading the Sunday School Ministry and discipleship classes.  She currently serves as Missionary Consultant for the Nansemond & Isle of Wight Baptist Sunday School Union; serves as Financial Secretary for the Sharon Missionary Baptist Association & Allied Bodies; volunteers with various other community groups.

She is married to George Beamon. The have one daughter, two grandsons, and one great-grandson. Rev. Beamon counts it all joy to serve God in any capacity.

Dr. Ann Watson Hill is a Child of the King, preacher, math teacher, workshop presenter, chaplain, and a prayer warrior.  She was born in Currituck County, NC and educated in the public schools of Suffolk, VA.  She matriculated through the halls of Bennett College, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Old Dominion University, Kennedy-Western University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, Virginia Theological Seminary, and Newburgh Theological Seminary – earning a BS in Chemistry & Math, an MS in Chemistry & Math, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Administration & Supervision, a PHD in Business Administration, and a Master of Theological Studies.   Ann is married to Thomas P. Hill and they have one daughter, Monica, and 2 grandchildren.  She supports campaigns sponsored by the American Heart Association/Special Olympics/ and Operation SMILE.  She is a member of Deborah’s Women in Ministry, Inc. of Greater Hampton Roads area.  Ann answered the “call to ministry” and is an ordained associate minister at Galatians United Church of Christ, in Suffolk, VA where The Rev. Dr. Madelene F. Beard is Senior Pastor. She is currently on a ministerial assignment and serves as the Intentional Interim Pastor of First United Church of Christ in Hampton, VA.

Elder Mirinda Turner received salvation at the age of 21. She answered the call to ministry and licensed to preach the gospel in 2005. In 2009 she was ordained as Elder by the Tidewater Metro Baptist Conference. Elder Turner serves as an Associate Minister at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church Portsmouth, Virginia under Dr. Dwight Riddick. Mirinda attended Virginia University of Lynchburg at the Suffolk Campus and also Lynchburg, Virginia via online studies and received a Master Degree in Divinity. She is married to Deacon Alvin Turner and they have two daughters, three grandsons and one granddaughter. Her favorite scripture is 1Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” KJV