75th Women's International Convention | Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis Annual Address

And listen, listen. Last night, to the world, they are the highest-selling commercial female group, uh, multi-award-winning artist. But to those of us in the Church of God in Christ, they are simply Maddiey's girls, and we love them dearly.

And on last night, the legendary Clark Sisters took us on a trip down memory lane. I'm telling you, we had some church up in here. Up in here, supervisor, aren't we excited about what God is doing? He said it right. It happened last night. And you know what? It doesn't stop. We are about to be escalated into an awesome experience. That's why we need you to like and share because our mother is going to bring forth a powerful word.

But before Mother comes, we have one of God's best on tonight with us. She is our second assistant general supervisor, none other than Mother Vanessa Gatlin. Mother Gatlin, will you please greet us on tonight?

Good evening, supervisor, and good evening to all of you who are watching us. We're just absolutely delighted that you're with us this evening. It is going to be an evening to remember. Uh, this is history. This is our 75th International Women's Convention, and there are many firsts that are taking place. Mother's going to speak tonight. And whenever Mother speaks, we listen. She always drops the mic on us. We're not sure what tidbits she's going to drop, but there will be wonderful words of wisdom.

But we're going to do something that's never been done before. We're going to have the supervisor's choir. Oh, these supervisors are ready to sing. In fact, they brought me out of retirement. And I'm telling you, we're excited about what God's going to do with us on this evening. Don't turn from this station. You need to, in fact, like, share, and ask somebody else to join. I believe that the service is going to be so impactful, that it's going to be so powerful that souls are going to be saved. Bodies are going to be healed. Deliverance will take place. So, join us tonight for all that's going to take place during this service.

Mother, you've done such an awesome job. Can you please even give us a little recap on today concerning the leadership conference? We know that the women, it was standing room only; they were trying to get in because they wanted to see and hear the nuggets from today, cuz we want to encourage you to be with us on next year. So, this is just a little snippet just to get you to come on and be with us on next year at the Women's International Convention.

Uh, it was timeless truths moving us to modern moves. And what we did was we took each of our past general supervisors and extracted a leadership principle from them. And then we took those leadership principles and developed them so that the people here could take it back with them. And we did not just stop there. We talked about change. We talked about conflict management. Uh, we we talked about holding on to the mantle but yet moving forward. There were so many things we talked about. But at the end, we all participated in an activity, and we wrote love legacy letters. Wow. What a love letter. Uh, 75 years from now, somebody's great-granddaughter is going to read that letter that you wrote. And so there's going to be a marker marking where that time capsule will be buried there on the grounds of Mason Temple. Can you imagine 75 years from now when we're gone? But somebody's going to read those letters. They're going to understand the power that we operated in. They will understand the foundation on which they stand, and they will be encouraged that even as young women they can make it because we left a legacy love letter.

And Mother, you said that we were going to Mason Temple to watch this entire ceremony.

Absolutely. We're going to we're going to give you the date and time in November that we're all going to converge upon Memphis. And the the thing about it is it's not just burying a time capsule, but we're going to be praying and asking God to touch the young generation.

Yes. That will have the letter in their hands. Touch the young generation. Touch their hearts and minds to receive the spirit of this church. We don't want this church to change. We want to change our methods and techniques and strategies, but we want the power of God to remain. We want the the the foundation on which we stand never to be destroyed. So, everybody's going to be able to come, and we're along with our general supervisor, we're going to plant that time capsule and that's what and pray in advance. That's what I'm feeling in this 75th Women's Convention. It's it's timeless. There's so much history being made. I just feel it. It's just in the atmosphere that we are embarking upon our greatest and our finest hour. I just feel that in my spirit.

Yes. And I agree.

Yes. I listen. I just want to take this quick moment. I know God has just reigned divine favor on this great woman of God who continues to do wonderful things in our women's department. But I have to serve notice. She said, "We're bringing her out of retirement for such a time." This great woman of God was one of our trailblazing jurisdictional ministers of music, and I can't wait to see what she and the supervisor's choir are going to do to elevate this service on tonight. So, woman of God, while I have this chance, I just want to say thank you for all you've done.

Thank you so much. That warms my heart because we're coming, and I said to them, we're coming to give God glory. We're coming to give him praise, and we want to make it easy. So when Mother comes, she can just flow with the word. I'm telling you, we're coming to have church in your living room, in your bedroom. I don't care if you're at your office, wherever you are. Get ready. Get ready. Get really ready because we're getting ready to have Showoff Church tonight.

Yes, we are. We're super excited about what has already taken place, the legacy that was left on today and even the legacy that was shown on last night where our Mother was so gracious to the Clark Sisters and gave them an award of honor. It is what we do here in this women's department. We believe in encouraging, and we believe in doing everything with team effort on tonight. We want to encourage you again. Stay with us. Don't go anywhere. We want to let you also know the opportunity you will have to give because this is good ground. Lady Shelby, we just want to just get you all ready for what's about to happen. As you begin to hear the word and as you begin to hear the worship, we want you to be excited to be a part of everything that's going on on tonight. Can you share with them their opportunities to give?

We have opportunities to give, and certainly you are sowing into good ground when you sow into ministry. We want you to keep in mind these ways to give. We have Giblify, and that is through the International Department of Women Church of God in Christ COGIC. And then you can text to give, and you text IDW to 28950. And then if you don't want to do any of those ways of giving, you can do by mail uh to the Church of God in Christ incorporated, 3902 South Denley Drive, attention 75th WIC, Dallas, Texas 75216. We want you to consider these ways to give, and also we want you to like, share, comment, invite somebody to join in and watch with you. And as we said today, don't change that dial. You are in for a treat. Our Mother's going to bring a powerful word tonight that you do not want to miss. And one of the things I also want to make sure that I share that you know our Mother is very innovative, and she has a wonderful project that you're going to hear about throughout this week. She is one that's such a visionary that she is not just seeing about herself, but she truly is one that loves to think about and to honor legacy. You're going to hear about it during live stream. So we again say don't leave, don't touch that dial.

And would you, Mother Gatlin, would you be so gracious? We know we have a few more moments before we go into service. Elder Briggs, if you could just give a word of encouragement. Lady Shelby, then you give a word of encouragement. And then if you would lead us out in prayer, Mother, we will be so grateful. Would you do that?

Yes, I will. Elder Briggs, just give them a a nice little word of encouragement before we go.

Absolutely. One of the words that stays with me is something that our national intercessory prayer leader, Mother Kelly, said. She said that if you do what what's right, God is going to always do what's necessary. I just feel good in my sanctified soul. And as Supervisor Taylor teller said, stay tuned, women of God. God has something great in store for you, but you have to stay connected. Be blessed as you stay a part of this 75th Women's International Convention.

Yes. I want you to just hold on to God's unchanging hand. Trust him even when you can't trace him. Know that he's with you, and your faith is going to operate and move on your behalf. Even tonight as you tune in and as you watch, I want you to watch with a heart that's open to God, that's open to what he's getting ready to do in this place and in your life. So hold on, don't give up. Trust God, and he will come through. Even though we're praying prior to the service, we want you to know that whatever you need, God is able to do it even now. So let's pray.

Lord, we thank you for those who are listening to us. We thank you for the 75th Women's International Convention. And I pray for those with needs. I pray God that the miracles of God will flow through every home, every person who's listening to us now. May they feel the deliverance of God in their bodies, in their minds, and in their souls. Change the suicidal thoughts and give hope to the hopeless. Hallelujah. Lift up the hung down heads. Glory to God. Give strength to the feeble needs. We thank you now for what you shall do. Extreme healing is felt even now. Receive your healing. So we thank you God for this opportunity and for those who listen and that whatever the needs are that they are met now in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ we pray.

Thank God. Amen. Amen and amen. Hallelujah. We praise God. And we pray that you are encouraged and that your heart is refreshed and that you feel the power of God knowing that God does not ever fail. And on tonight, he's going to do something just for you, just because you're in place and you're aligned with what God is doing on tonight. You are a part of the 75th Women's International Convention right here in St. Louis, Missouri. And we want to encourage you to not only stay with us, but be with us because you shall be a part of history.

On tonight, we again greet you with Jesus joy and excited about what God is doing and what he is about to do. And on behalf of our president, our amazing Mother Barbara Mccul Lewis, we say welcome, welcome, welcome. And our presiding bishop Jay Drew Shear, we welcome you to the Church of God in Christ. We thank you again for all that you have done down through the years. And because you give, COGIC does. Because you have been faithful, COGIC does. And on tonight, we will continue to live out the legacy that has gone down through history before us. And we will stand on the shoulders of those who have done a mighty work. We thank you in advance. We again bless God for all that he's done and he's going to do. And we say get ready and go into worship. God bless you. Women's Church of God in Christ.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Yeah, I'm excited to be here on tonight. And I don't know about you, but I'm looking for God to do something on this week. I'm expecting God to have his way. I'm expecting there to be miracles, signs, and wonders in this place on this week. Hallelujah. And we're going to set the atmosphere for what we want God to do. Hallelujah. and we're going to set the atmosphere for what we expect God to do in this place on this week. So, if you don't mind, those of you who don't mind standing to your feet as we call this service to order and we're going to enter into a time of praise and worship on tonight. Hallelujah. The song says, "I will call upon the Lord for he is worthy to be praised." Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [Music] [Music] Come on. simply says, "I will call upon the Lord help us for he is worthy to be praised. I will call upon the Lord." For he is worthy to be praised. So shall I be saved from my enemies. the Lord right now and blessed be the rock and let the God of my salvation be exalted. The Lord God and blessed be the rock and let the God of my salvation be. Come on, let's pray again. [Music] Oh, come on. I will call upon the Lord. For he is worthy to be praised. I will call upon the Lord. Call upon the Lord. King is worthy to be worthy to be. So shall I be saved from high and let the God of my salvation be angry. [Music] The Lord Yeah. And blessed be the rock and let the God of my salvation be [Music] exalted. And blessed be the rock and let the God of my salvation be exalt. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] We've got the blessing. Hey, listen. I don't know what you come to do. I don't know what you come to do. I don't know what you come to do. I don't know what you come to do. I come to cut my head. I come to cut my hand. I come to do my dance. I come to you. I don't know what you told me to do. I don't know what you come to do. I don't know what you come to do. I don't know what you come to do, but I come to leap for I come to leap for you. I came to praise you, Lord. I came to praise you. Come on, put your hands together. [Music] Yeah. Hallelujah. Yeah. There's only one. There's only one. [Music] Yes. There's only one. There's only one. Yes. Come on, let's declare it tonight. He's blood. [Music] He's over my life. He's over my life. He's over my life. He's over my life. He's over my life. Lord over my heart. Over my mind. Lord over my soul. Lord, all over my family, Lord, over my children, Lord, over [Music] my clarity. Hey, he's over my life. Over my love over my life. Love over my life. Love over my life. He love over my life. Love over my life. He love my over. Lord over my Lord over my future. Lord over my past. Lord over my church. on that. God [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] only gater. [Music] We give it all. We give it all you. Come on, put those hands together right [Music] here. We want the glory of the Lord to fill this room. The glory of the Lord to fill this country. The glory of the Lord to saturate each and every life. But you don't go back the way you going home a different way. Yeah. Come on one more time. He's over my over my life. Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord all my Lord all my life, Lord, all of my heart, Lord, all of my soul, Lord, all of my Lord, all of my joy, Lord, all of my peace, Lord, all of my The only one. The only one. The only one. The only one. Yeah. There's only one. [Applause] This not [Music] my glory of the Lord. Yes. Come on. Clap your head on you people. Shout of the God in the voice of triumph. He's warned. He's warned. [Music] Yes. Yes. We celebrate God. We celebrate God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Come on and give him praise. Come on and give him praise. Hallelujah. Come on, lift your hands in the presence of the Lord. And out of your own mouth, just begin to tell him how wonderful he is. Come on, take a moment right now. Tell him how much you love him, what he means to you. He deserves the sacrifice of praise. We're just the fruit of our lips. So we speak well of him. We declare his wonder, his greatness, his awesomeness. It's because of him that we are here today. Many of you have a testimony. The enemy tried to put everything he could in your way to keep you from getting here. Oh, but you're here now. Hallelujah. And God is going to have his way on this week. So Lord, we just want to declare how much we love you. We just want to let you know how much you mean to us. Hallelujah. We worship you. For there is none like you. We magnify you. Hallelujah. We exalt your name. He's worthy on today. The simple song says, "Oh, I love you [Music] forever with all my heart. I love you [Music] forever forever. You're my king. Come on. It's a simple song. Help us sing it. I love you. I love you forever. Forever. With all my heart. with all my heart. Come on, tell them today, I love you. I love you. Forever. Forever. Forever. You're my king. Forever. You're my king. Oh, your shelter. your shelter forever. Forever in time of storm. In time. Come on, tell them today. Lord, you're my shelter. My shelter forever. Forever. Forever. You're my king forever. You're my king. Oh, your mercy, your mercy forever. Forever shall follow me. Follow me. Oh, your mercy. Your mercy. Your mercy. Forever. Forever. Forever. You're my king. Forever. You're my king. Oh, come on and tell him all glory. All the glory and the honor. and be belongs to you. It belongs to you. All glory and all of the Come on, let's say that again. Oh, all the glory. All the glory and the honor. And the honor and all [Music] your glory and all of the [Applause] Forever forever. You're my king. Oh, forever forever. You're my king. Lord, we give you glory. We give you the honor forever. [Applause] You're my king and we worship you and we give you the glory and we give you and we give you praise forever forever. Now come on, take a moment and lift your hands in the presence of the Lord. Lift your hands in his presence. Tell him how much you love him. I can't worship him for you. Worship is an intimate experience between you and your Lord and Savior. Hallelujah. We're going to repeat that first verse. And I want to hear your voices. I want to hear the voice of Zion on tonight. Come on, tell him how much you love him. Oh, come on. I love you. I love you forever. With all my heart with all my heart. I love you. I love you. Forever. Forever. Forever forever. You're my Can you just tell them one more time? Just one more time. Tell them, Lord, I love you. I love you forever. With all my heart with all my heart. Oh, I love you. I love you. I love you forever. Forever. Forever. You're my king. Oh Lord, forever and I worship you. I give you glory. I give you the honor. I bow in your presence. I reverence you, Lord. I adore you. I extol you. I exalt you forever. Forever. [Music] Forever. Forever. Forever. I'm here. And I glory. your name. I bless you. Oh God, we worship you. We adore you. We honor. We love you. We love you. We love you, Lord. We love you, Lord. We love you forever. Ever your mighty king. Now come on and worship him. If you love him today, worship him. Our Lord and Savior, we give you glory. We worship you on tonight. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Presence of the Lord. Come on, clap your hands for the King of King and the Lord of Lord. Come on, clap your hands for the King of King and the Lord of Lord. Come on, clap them. Clap them like you really love the Lord tonight. Clap them like he's been good to you all year long. Come on. Psalms 471 say, "Clap your hands all ye people and shout unto the Lord." With a voice of triumph. With a voice of triumph. With a voice of triumph. We glorify the Lord tonight. While you're standing, we definitely give honor and deference to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, to our bishop and to the entire general board and precidium of our church, to our general supervisor and convention president who is in the house. Please clap your hands and celebrate our mom, none other than Mother Dr. Barbara Maku Lewis. Come on, women of God. This is our Mother, and we are excited about the word of the Lord on tonight. Hallelujah. We have made it, and if you would be so kind just to remain standing just for a few moments. We've made it to the 75th Women's International Convention. But before we officially go there, we must unfurl uh the banner because how many know that you have to close a thing to enter

Into the new season. Amen.

And so at this time, Lady Barbara McKenna is coming. She is our administrative facilitator for the Women's International Convention, and she's going to move in that order. God bless you. We will now unfurl our Women's International Convention banner. [Music] The 75th Women's International Convention has officially [Music] begun. Come on, look at somebody say, "We are officially here." We are officially here. And we are going into a time of prayer. Our invocation will come to us from Supervisor Darlene Bartlett Stone, administrative facilitator, auxiliaries, bands, and units from the historic Indiana first jurisdiction. Our Old Testament will be read by Supervisor Mary Jane Walton, third assistant general supervisor, Michigan Southwest 4th jurisdiction. Our New Testament supervisor Mary K. Sims, administrative facilitator, benevolent units and empowerment initiatives, executive board president, Missouri Western second jurisdiction. Let's receive them in that order.

Every hour I need thee. Oh, bless me now, my savior. For I come to thee. For I need thee. Oh Lord, I need thee. [Music] every hour. Lord, I need thee. Oh, bless me now, my savior. for I come to I come to thee. Let the church say yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Come on and tell him [Music] yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Father God, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we come to you right now. We want to tell you thank you, Lord, because you've been so good. I tell you thank you Lord because it was you that woke us up this morning and you started us on our way. I say thank you Lord. You've given us breath. Hallelujah. To breathe in and breathe out. Uh Lord there is none like you. Uh and we say thank you Lord. We say thank you. Thank you for the activities of our limbs. Uh we thank you Lord for a reasonable portion of health and strength. Uh we thank you Lord coming before your presence this afternoon evening Lord we seek you the more we ask you to forgive us for anything that we've done was not like you God and we say Lord we want to thank you again thank you over and over and over again because you've been so good I thank you for your goodness I thank you for your kindness I thank you for your mercy I thank you Lord because you didn't have to do it, but you did it for us, Lord. We thank you for this convention, Lord, that we come and meet the saints once again, Lord. But we ask you, oh God, to send down the rain. Send your latter rain. Uh send it on down, God. Send your shakana glory. Let it fill the house tonight, God. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Lord, I seek you now. seek you for your help. Uh I li you lift my eyes into the hills from which cometh my help cuz Lord my help comes from you oh God which made the heaven and the earth. Uh and Lord we seek you seek you for healing. Seek you for deliverance. Uh we seek you oh God to save the unsaved. Uh Lord let your signs, miracles and wonders uh invade this place God. Lord you be God. And Lord, we going to tell you thank you. Lord, we ask you to look upon our general supervisor tonight. Give us strength, oh God, throughout this convention. Touch her, Lord, even the more right now. Send your healing power, delivering power. Look upon the precidium of the church. Uh our bishop, oh God, presiding bishop, oh God, each and every one under the sound of our voice, Lord, there is none like you. There is none like you, Father. None like you, God. Lord, I thank you. You're the creator of all things. You are the almighty God, and there is none like you. Oh God, we thank you because we know where our help come from. Lord, look upon us this week. Uh being every song, every testimony, anything that is done, we're doing it for your glory. Uh for you to get the glory, God in the name of Jesus. And we say thank you. And we thank you. And we thank you. Amen. And amen. [Applause] [Music]

Psalms 105 1-5. Oh, give thanks to the Lord. Call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the people. Sing to him. Sing psalms to him. Talk of all over his wondrous works. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face ever more. remember his marvelous work which he has done his wonders and the judgment of his mouth. May God have a bless bless his holy word. God bless [Music] you. [Music]

Our New Testament scripture for tonight will be coming from Romans 8:es 35-39. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shouts tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword. As it is written, for your sake we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things, yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. us our Lord. The word of the Lord for the people of the [Music] Lord.

Well, right about now in the old church, we will have what was called testimony service. Anybody remember testimony service? First, giving honor to God. Who is? Well, we getting ready to have testimony service for just about 30 seconds before we move further. I want to see the hands of those who have a testimony. Since this time last year, God has been good to you. Look around and find somebody else that's excited to be in the house of the Lord and at the 75th Women's International Convention. This is what we're getting ready to do. You're going to have 15 seconds to tell how good God has been to you. And then your neighbors going to have 15 seconds to testify to you. You can't bring a whole sermon, but I want you to testify quick. Y'all ready? Let me see the hands of those who have a testimony. Come on. A count of three, I want you to testify. One, two, three. Find somebody and [Music] testify. Come on. Come on. Testify of the goodness of Jesus. Testify how he healed your mind. Testify how he turned it around. Come on. Come on. Five more seconds. Come on. All right. Switch. Testify. Come on, testify how he put food on your table. Testify how he dried up cancer. Testify how we heal diabetes. Come on, Zion and testify. For we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony.

Now, David said like this, I will bless the Lord at all times. He said, "My praises shall continually be in my mouth." He said, "Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together." Come on, say it. And let's exalt him together tonight. Exalt him for the test. Exalt him for the testimony because he been good since this time last year. And we give you glory. and we give you glory. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. We didn't come to play church this week, but we came to have church. We came to be in the presence of the Lord. So, look at your neighbor and say, "Neighbor, if you didn't come to worship tonight, you might as well move your seat. But if you know that God has been good, I need some people who don't mind clapping their hands, who don't mind lifting their voice and setting the atmosphere for miracles, signs, and wonders. All [Music] right. All right. We came to have church tonight.

While you're standing and we're celebrating our great king, understand that I believe that you understand how special you are to God when you can look around and see the leadership that he has placed in your life. And the church of God in Christ, we are blessed because he has b he has blessed us with the anointed with the powerful the statesmen of God, none other than our presiding bishop, Bishop J. Drew Shear. Come on, church of God in Christ. And let's praise God for our leader, our presiding bishop whom we love and we honor. To the entire general board who has made your entrance on tonight. We bless God for you. We're moving now to our necrology. You may have your seats in the presence of the Lord. We're moving now to our necrology who will be read to us by Supervisor Barbara Bryant. She is the chair of administrative facilitators and marketing and public relations, Southern California first jurisdiction. Immediately following the reading of the necrology, you shall hear the voice of Lady Kenya May from the Dubai jurisdiction. After that, we were we will immediately go into the ministry of giving led by national evangelist Renee Winston, coordinator of financial expediters, California West Coast jurisdiction. Please come in that order.

Women's International Convention roll call May 1st, 2024 to May 15, 2025. We pause to remember our predecessors. Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, founder, first senior bishop, Church of God in Christ. Bishop O. T. Jones, Senior. Second senior bishop, Bishop J. Patterson, Senior, First Elected Presiding Bishop, Bishop L.H. Ford, second elected presiding bishop, Bishop Chandler D. Oorns, third elected presiding bishop, Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson, fourth elected presiding bishop. Mother Lizzy Woods Robinson, first general mother. Mother Lillian Brooks Coffee, second general mother, the organizer of the Women's International Convention. Mother Annie L. Bailey, third general mother. Mother Maddie Mclofflin, fourth general mother. Mother Emma F. Crouch, fifth general mother. Mother Willie May Rivers, sixth general mother. Mrs. Elsie Washington Mason, wife of our founder, Bishop CH Mason. Mrs. Deborah Mason Patterson, first elected presiding bishop's wife. Dr. Arinia C. Mallerie, President, Saints Junior College. Bishop Ra D. Edward Goodwin, Senior, pre-late, an established Mitarian, Illinois 7th Ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Bishop John Franklin Thomas, Ple Prellet, George Western ecclesiastical jurisdiction, Bishop Brian Robertson, Jr. Massachusetts, Greater Jurisdiction. Bishop Robert Lee Nichols, Senior, Prellet, Texas East, Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Bishop Richard John White, Senior, Bermuda, Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Bishop Earl Jerome White, Jr. Emmeritus Prilllet, Turks Island Jurisdiction. Bishop Huitt Richardson, Senior, Emmeritus Prellet, Texas Central Metropolitan Jewish Diction. Bishop William H. Allen, Auxiliary Episcopate, Illinois 6, Ecclesiastical Jewish Diction, Bishop Cornelius Fry Range III, Auxiliary, Episcopate Pennsylvania Commonwealth Jewish Diction, Bishop David D. Daniels III, Auxiliary Episcopate, Illinois's East 5th Jewish Diction, Bishop Lewis Christopher Hazlet, Auxiliary Episcopate, Tennessee Central, Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Bishop Willie James Chamblas, Emmeritus Prellet, Illinois's Midwest Jurisdiction. Bishop H. M. Gabriel, Emmeritus Prellet, founding Bishop of the Democratic Republican of Congo jurisdiction. Mother Willie May Smalls Rivers, General Supervisor, Emmerita. Mother Nolla Stingleton, Kansas East Jurisdiction. Supervisor Mary Ella Eaton, Mississippi Southern Second Jurisdiction. Supervisor Beverly Lucas Jourer, Greater Jamaica, Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Supervisor Felicia Simmons, Pakistan jurisdiction. Supervisor Patricia Roach, Texas Northeast Third Jurisdiction. Supervisor Dr. Lula M. Pope, Texas East Jurisdiction. Supervisor Emmerita Maddie Taylor, Alabama First Jurisdiction. Supervisor without charge, Curly Crump Davis, Washington State Jurisdiction. Lady Amaru Nancy Hannah, wife of Bishop Tony L. Hannah, Bahamas jurisdiction. Mother Effie Taylor, wife of Bishop Robert Taylor, Senior, Michigan Southwest, Agopy jurisdiction. Mother Mary Peak Patterson, widow of the late Presiding Bishop James O. Patterson, Senior. Lady Dolores Grayson, wife of the late Bishop David Grayson, Senior, Tennessee Central Jurisdiction. Mother Janelle Perry, widow of the late Bishop F. E. Perry, Ohio Southern jurisdiction. Mother Mary Anne Wales, widow of the late Bishop Nathaniel Wales, general board member, Western Michigan Jurisdiction. Mother Patricia Ellis, widow of the late Bishop Frank J. Ellis, chair, General Assembly. Mother Dolly Sample, wife of Bishop Robert Lee Sample, Texas North Central Ecclesiastical Jewish Diction. Mother Bernice Musgroveve, widow of Bishop Emmeritus Hollis Musgroveve, Mississippi Southern First Jurisdiction. Mother Virginia Daniels, widow of Bishop Daniels, Oregon State jurisdiction. Mother Emma Lou Don, widow of Bishop Roosevelt Dawn, Colorado jurisdiction. Mother Winford Winterfrey Morris, wife of Bishop Ernest C. Morris, Pennsylvania Conia, Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Mother Helen Josephine Gaylord, widow of Bishop James H. Gaylord, Senior, New York, Eastern First Jurisdiction. Mother Linda Wilkins, staff of Office of the General Secretary. Mother Emma Avery, co-established Mitarian, Alaska jurisdiction. Mother Sarah Butler, International Department of Women Elders and Ministers Wives Co-chair. Mother Gail Gardner, International Department of Women Christian Women Council President.

At the request of our convention president, we invite you to honor someone who has impacted your life over the past 75 years. We ask that you stand now and please boldly call out their name as a tribute to their memory and legacy for the next 30 seconds. [Music] Thank you. May the memory of those we have named tonight continue to inspire us to live with purpose with faith and with love through they are no though they are no longer with us embody their legacy remains. This is the necrology. I ask that you stand at this time quietly as we hear taps played by the organist. [Music] [Music]

Time is filled with swift transition on earth on moon and send your hope on things eternal. Oh, to God's unchanging hand. Oh, trust in him who would not leave you. [Music] Oh, whatsoever years may bring when your earthly friends forsake you closely to him. Come on, clap your hand. Everybody ought to hold to his hand. God's unchanging hand. Oh [Music] yeah. God's unchanging hand. You want to feel your [Music] heart. Everybody ought to hold to God's. Come on, one more time. Yeah. Everybody ought to hold to his hand. My Lord, you got unshamed. Oh, to his hand. My Lord and I aren you are [Music] the [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] on my Lord God unchanging. Oh to with God changing it. You are almost eternal. My Lord. Come on just one more time. Yeah. Everybody ought to hold it. Come on. Wave your hand. Yeah my son. Oh to his name. My Lord God changing hand. You want to be your hopeful [Music] eternal to God's unchanging head. [Music]

Just grab your neighbor by the hand and tell them, "Neighbor, don't you dare let go of God's hand." Come on, look at your neighbor on the other side and say, "Neighbor, do you hear what I say?" Tell them it's necessary that you hold on to God's unchanging hand. I dare somebody to give God praise that says, "I'm not going to let go of the hand of God because he's done so much for me that I cannot tell it all." Look at your neighbor and say, "Hold to his hand." [Applause] Look at three people and say, "Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on." Hey, I feel like holding on tonight. I said, "I feel like holding on tonight." Somebody got the ancient testimony tonight that if it had not been for the Lord on my side, would you look at three people and just tell them, "He's on my side. He's on my side. Oh, he's on my side. All the mistakes I made, all the stupid stuff I did, he's got to be on my side. My God. And I praise him tonight because he's been good to me. I praise him tonight. I praise him tonight. I praise him tonight. I praise him tonight. I said, I praise him tonight. Because I'm able to look at you tonight. I said because I'm able to look at you tonight.

Because three months ago, I went to the doctor's office for a regular to get my prescription updated and some new glasses. And I had not been wearing glasses that long, but I got some new glasses. So, I wanted to get my prescriptions put in the new glasses. And when I went in, the doctor said, "Miss Winston, we can't just put your prescription in your new glasses because you have not had a checkup in over two years." He said, "We got to give you a checkup." And he said, "After you have the checkup, I can look and see if it needs to be strengthened or lessened." So, I didn't have a lot of time. So, I told the doctor, "Okay, hurry up. Hurry up because I got to get out of here." So, he began to take test after test after test. and he walked out of the room and stayed out of the room about 15 minutes. He came back 15 minutes later. He said, "Miss Winston, I just want to let you know you're going blind." I said, "Excuse me, sir. My I've only been wearing glasses for a few years. Ain't no way I could be going blind cuz I can see you real good." He said, "No, you're going blind. Matter of fact, you have glaucoma." And he said, "In about three years, you'll be completely blind." He had no empathy, no sympathy. He he told me like he was talking about lunch. So I looked at the man. I said, "Well, I do not have glaucoma." He said, "Well, if you don't believe me," he said, "I'm going to send you to another doctor so that you can get a second opinion. But I'm telling you, Miss Winston, you have glaucoma and you're going blind." I walked out of the office. My daughter happened to be with me that day. And I was really upset because he said it in front of her. She began to get nervous and cry. She went back to school in DC and called me every She was calling me constantly, "Mom, can you see? Are your eyes okay?" I said, "Essence, I do not have glaucoma." I went and got the second opinion. Hallelujah. I went to the doctor. Hallelujah. And they began to take all these tests again over and over and over. Then the nurse came back in the room. She said, "Miss Winston, why aren't you taking the glaucoma medicine?" I said, "Because I don't have glaucoma. [Music] I said, "Well, what do you see?" She said, "Well, I'm not the doctor, so I can't tell you what you what I see." She said, "But the doctor's going to call you in about 3 days and give you the final prognosis." I said, "All right. I had to go to Florida and minister in Florida." I said, "I need them to call me before I get up to minister because I want to testify." Look at your neighbor. Say, "Neighbor, just like our presiding bishop says, you got to see it before you see it or you never will see [Laughter] it." About 30 minutes before I got to church that night, I got a call from the doctor. She said, "Miss Winston, how you doing?" I said, "Doctor, cut all the small toe. Tell me what you called me to tell me." She said, "Well, Miss Winston, I called to tell you that I know what I saw." She said, "When I looked at your first chart, you definitely had glaucoma." She said, "Matter of fact, it's one of the worst cases that I've ever seen." She said, "But I just looked at your new chart." And she said, "I called to tell you that your diagnosis has been reversed." I wish I had somebody that would get excited because God is able to reverse some stuff. Would you look at three people and tell them God is getting ready to reverse your situation? I said he's getting ready to reverse your situation. If you're glad about it, give God a praise in here. I said lift it up in [Music] here. Can I tell you? I just heard the Lord say, "For every praiser, he's reversing it right [Music] now." I said, "For every praiser, he's reversing it right now." Can I get 25 people just to give him three leaps for the reverse? I can't give him some leaks for the reverse. I can't give up some [Music] leaks. He's reversing it. He's reversing your diagnosis. He's reversing your prognosis. Somebody's child is getting out of jail. Look at three people and say, "Re, reverse, reverse, reverse, reverse, reverse, reverse, reverse, [Music] reverse. Stand up, devil. He's doing it right now. [Music]

So after Oh, I feel Jesus now. I just felt some stuff lift. I just felt some stuff lift. After she finished with that, she said, "The last thing I'll tell you is your eyes are normal." So the glasses I was wearing when I went to the doctor's office, I no longer have to wear. Y'all ain't going to talk. Look at somebody and say, "If you believe him, praise him right [Applause] now." I said, "If you believe him, praise him right now." I went from going blind. Amazing grace. How sweet the taste and save a wreck like me. I once was lost but now I'm found. Look at somebody and say what but now I see. I dare you to praise him for your [Music] sight. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. [Music] Everybody. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Pick that. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do [Music] it. Everybody clap your hands. Everybody clap you. One more time. Come on. Only God can do it. Only God can do it. Do it in my hands. Do it in my feet. Do it in my heart. Do it in my mind. What's the Lord doing? What's the Lord doing? The Lord the Lord, won't he? Won't he do it? Won't he? Won't he do it? Won't he? Won't he do it? Won't he? Won't he do it? God can do anything. God can do anything. God can't do anything. God can do anything. [Applause]

God. [Music] Just touch three people around you and tell them God can do anything. I said anything. I said anything. I said anything. I said anything. I said anything. Cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure. He can do anything. So I’m grateful I can see tonight. Presiding bishop, I could have been blind. I could have been blind, but God is able to do exceeding. I feel healing in the room now. I said I feel healing in the room now. I said I feel healing in the room. You know you can get healed in the offering. Do you know that offering is one of the highest forms of worship? [Music] So we thank God for his healing power. We thank God not just for his ability but his dependability—you can depend on God.

So because of that tonight, those of you that are came here with some things on your heart, some of you came, you pressed your way—the enemy, enemy did all that he couldn’t try and do to keep you from being here tonight. Because of that, I need you to sow as though your life depended on it tonight, as though your miracle depended on that tonight. Because even while I was waiting for the final prognosis, I sold my way, I believe, into my miracle. I sold my way into my healing. So tonight, I’m grateful. We thank God for what he’s done so far in this service and in this women’s convention. Can we celebrate the greatest leader in the Christian dub everywhere? Our presiding bishop convention.

You have tuned in to one of the greatest conventions within the church of God in Christ. And that is the women’s international convention under the phenomenal leadership of our convention president and general supervisor, Mother Barbara Makul Lewis. We’re so glad and excited that you tuned in tonight because God has a blessing just for you. You, if you’ve been watching for the next past few minutes, you’ve heard Evangelist Renee Winston tell you that reversal was coming to your house and that that thing that seems impossible, it’s not possible for God because only God can do it. I want you to stay tuned tonight because we’re going to hear the voice of our phenomenal leader, Mother Barbara Makul Lewis. There is no voice like the leader of the International Department of Women of the Church of God in Christ. She has a relevant word, a powerful word, anointed word that is going to reach you right where you are. So, please stay tuned. We’re so happy that you join us tonight. We’re in the midst of worship in our giving and because you give KOJIC does.

I’m so happy to be here with my co-host tonight, Supervisor Althia Taylor Nichols from Michigan Southwest 3. We’ve been having a phenomenal time this week worshiping the Lord and the beauty of holiness. How has the convention impacted you thus far? It has been so amazing about the the time of legacy and how these 75 years, the awesome women of God that have been at the helm of our women’s department and how our mother, Mother Barbara Mul Lewis, she is blazing the trail even the more so. The legacy of what God is doing is blessing me this week. Amen.

In case you were not aware, it was in 1951 when Mother Lillian Brooks Coffee organized the first Women’s International Convention. And 75 years later, we are still strong. Yes. Still powerful. And as you can see, women are here from around the globe to celebrate this historical Women’s International Convention. As we celebrate 75 years of women’s ministry, I am so happy tonight to share with you that because you give, KOJ does. And one of the major projects that the International Department of Women is working on to build for the women and for the community in Memphis, Tennessee is a Lizzy Woods Robinson Senior Complex. I am so delighted to have with us tonight the first assistant general supervisor of the church of God in Christ, Mother Wilma Huey. She is the jurisdictional supervisor also for New York Western second. Mother Huey, I am so happy to have you with us tonight. Can you tell our audience a little bit more about the Lizzy Woods Robinson Senior Complex and why it is so important to give on tonight?

Thank you, Mother Bryant. It is indeed my honor to share this platform this evening because giving is so significant. But I want to particularly focus on the Lizzy Woods Robinson Senior Complex. The vision was given to our general mother and she stepped out on faith and announced what God had placed in her heart to be a credit to our church in the city of Memphis, but more importantly to be significant among the women, particularly the senior women in the area of Memphis, Tennessee. The complex has uh completed the design and we are working with the department of HUD. We have cleared at least three of the major hurdles and now we are seeking the necessary funding to carry this vision forth. Last year during this convention, the women presented to the church $1 million. That was a significant step of sincerity. We wanted to give the message that we are sincere about this project. Tonight, if you are able to give for this significant project, we welcome you to give any amount. It doesn’t matter what it is, you can plant a seed tonight and God will bless the seed. So, we are excited as Department of Women uh donors and leaders because this will come to pass with your contributions. Thank you, Mother Brian. Amen. Thank you.

The ways to give are on the screen and you’ve heard this is going to be a phenomenal project where seniors that live in the Memphis area will be able to share and to be able to live in Memphis, Tennessee in a home, a senior complex sponsored and built by the International Department of Women. I am so honored to have with us also the treasurer of the International Department of Women, Lady Kathy Jackson. She’s also the first lady of Tabernacle of Praise in the beautiful city of Las Vegas, Nevada. I’d like for her to just share a little bit more about the Lizzy Woods complex and why it’s so important to sow a contribution into this project.

I’m so excited about being a part of this wonderful visionary project and because there is such a dire need in the city of LA in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, we already know how the seniors are affected by the economy. And so just by our general supervisor having a desire to to sow so that we can make sure for generations to come that this legacy will always be established. And we just want to encourage you to give on today as it’s been forated. We already heard that $1 million have been sown into this project and we want to encourage all businessmen. It doesn’t have to be just individuals, but businesses and corporations. You want to sow, you want to help to lead this legacy, we encourage you to do so. And let’s see what God can do as we sow seed into good ground. Amen. Hey, the vision will come to pass. The vision will come to pass. The ways to give are on the screen. I encourage you, no gift is too small to sow into this major project for the International Department of Women.

Listen, there are so many exciting events that are going on here in St. Louis, Missouri. We are at the Dome Center in St. Louis. There are thousands of women that are here coming to lift up the name of Jesus. Tomorrow we experienced today the leadership conference. On last night, we experienced a musical with the legendary Clark sister. Yes. And it was amazing. Again, it was all about legacy. Our mom was such a blessing and honored these women of God. And it was such a wonderful event. And we also had Praise in the Park. We’re all about community. We’re all about vision. And Praise in the Park allowed us to be seen here in St. Louis being a blessing. Amen. There are so many uh initiatives, workshops and session designed for women that is taking place this week. If you live in the surrounding areas, I would encourage you to get to the America Dome. There are day sessions and evening worship sessions that are going to take place. But tonight, tonight we will hear our mother, our beloved mother. Listen, we want you to like and share. Get on your phone, text, tell everybody our general mother is going to bring a powerful word on tonight. And I believe that God has something for all of us that are in this place. You just missed a whole praise party that say only God can do it, and we declare and decree and we believe that God is going to do great things for us here in this 75th Women’s International Convention. Amen. There is so much power in the word of God and the word is about to go forth from our general mother. So please don’t walk away from that desktop. Don’t walk away from your iPhone. Stay tuned because I believe I feel it. God has a blessing for you. So like and share. Go get everyone in your household and tell them they must hear from our general supervisor on tonight. It’s going to be a great week.

I’ve been having a wonderful time. Yes, me too. The Lord has been moving all day today. He has. It’s been so sweet. It’s been sweet fellowship. We had a wonderful opportunity to honor our first lady, the fragrance of the church of God in Christ, none other than Lady Karen Clark. It was such a wonderful event, but we celebrate you on tonight for being here with us. Again, we are getting ready to receive a mighty word. And you’ve heard these women of the Lord. We need you to sow into the vision of our general mother. We are good ground. And we believe that the vision shall come to pass. Amen. No gift is too small. And all we need you to touch and agree with us. We’re getting ready to go back into our service. But before we do, I’m going to ask Supervisor Taylor to just pray a prayer word over you on tonight. Before we go back into our service, let’s pray for those that are listening online.

Father, we honor you on today. We thank you for those that are on with us on tonight. Meet them at their point of need on tonight. God, as they say yes to you, we know that you’re going to be a blessing to them and to us. We declare it so and we stand in agreement that it shall be in Jesus’ name. Amen and amen. Amen. Don’t go nowhere. Get ready to be healed, delivered, and set free. No matter what you’re dealing with, we’ve already heard it tonight. There is no problem that God cannot fix. God is in the room and he’s right where you are on tonight. So stay tuned. Let’s have a glorious time on tonight because God is in the room. He’s here. He’s here. I can feel his presence. I can feel his presence. I know you can feel his presence where you are. And what’s happening tomorrow? Who’s speaking tomorrow night? Mother Mary Kay Sim. Mother Mary Kay Sims. Yes. Mother Mary Sim. Supervisor Mary Gay Smith is going to be sharing the word of God on tomorrow night. This is going to be a great week. On Thursday night, First Lady Naomi Thomas uh is going to be sharing the word of God and our presiding bishop and chief apostle on Friday night. Stay tuned. Stay with us all week because there is a blessing in store for you. We’re getting ready to go back into the service. Let’s have church on tonight. God bless you. We’ll see you tomorrow. [Music] Yeah. Blessings and glory and honor. They are. Thank you Jesus for blessing. [Applause] Everybody give him praise. Lift your hands. Father in Jesus’ name. We thank you for every gift. We thank you for every giver. You said in your word, try me. You said prove me now and see. Won’t I open the windows of heaven? Pour you out one blessing that you don’t have room enough to receive. We thank you in advance for what you’ve already done in Jesus’ name. Somebody clap your hands and tell God thank you.

While we are in the vein of giving and we certainly thank you for your generosity on tonight’s sowing into good ground. Mother Lewis has several several sponsors of the women’s international convention which we will highlight during the week. But tonight there is a sponsor who is coming to present his financial presentation. Bishop Ben Fitzgerald from Virginia is coming at this time. Come on, let’s praise God for him. Praise the Lord. uh giving honor to God and certainly to Bishop Shear in the presidium and also to Mother Lewis. Let’s thank God for Mother Lewis and Lady Shear. We thank God for them. I’m going to make it brief, but I am uh Ben Fitzgerald. I work in the Virginia fourth jurisdiction under Bishop G. Wesley Harding, and he has been gracious enough to support our district. And our district has a nonprofit clinic, a string of them as a matter of fact, and we love the work that you’re doing. Is Mother Chisum around? Mother Chisum, come on up here. Mother Chisum. She works with us in our district. Come on. Thank the Lord for Mother Jackie Clark Chisum. We want to present to you tonight Oh, all right. They got the big check. We want to present to you tonight for all the work that you do, $20,000. We thank God for your money. [Applause] [Music] [Music] Let’s thank God for Mother Chisum one more time and Mother Lewis. God bless you. How many know this is good ground? Amen. Amen. If there’s anyone else that would like to give $20,000, we will be glad to call your name tonight. Tonight. Tonight. There is vision that our mom is executing.

We’re moving further in our program because we are anticipating a word from the Lord. Our observations are coming to us from Supervisor Harrison Keys, administrative facilitator, advisory board president, and WIC program chairperson, greater North Carolina jurisdiction. Our convention directives will come to us from Lady Barbara J. McKini, Esquire, administrative facilitator, Women’s International Convention, Southern California, second jurisdiction. And then we’re going to have a very warm welcome from all of the supervisors from the Eastern Missouri Western Illinois jurisdiction led by Mother Rosetta Rott. Please come in that order. [Music] The advisory board breakfast meeting will be held tomorrow morning in the Marriott Grand Hotel West Morland Kingsbury room from 7:30 a.m. until 9. Join us tomorrow morning for Morning Glory at 9:30 a.m. with Mother Francis Kelly and the prayer warriors in the America Center, this main hall, room four and five. Morning worship service and the banner march is tomorrow at 10 a.m. right here in the main hall room 45. All banner march participants, please meet in the designated area at 8:30 a.m. The auxiliaries, bands, and units training sessions are tomorrow morning at 11:45 a.m. The room assignments for the clergy wives training sessions are administrative assistance wives room 225, superintendent wives room 240, pastor’s wives room 224, and the elders and ministers wives room 226. Please see your schedule for the location of the training sessions.

Keeping it real breakfast with Mother Lewis, ages 18 to 35. And we’re going to ask this time if all ladies in the house 18 to 35, will you stand please quickly? Ages 18 to 35, I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. Amen. We’re asking you young ladies ages 13 to 35 to please register to attend this special session with our general supervisor convention president Mother Barbara Maku Lewis. This session will take place Thursday, May the 29th at 8:00 a.m. in the Marriott Grand Hotel, the Crystal Ballroom. However, you must register by tomorrow. Registration is only $15 and it does include your breakfast. Please go to https://keepingitreal.eventbright.com to register please. This will be a historical moment in this 75th women’s international convention. You are invited to join the KJIC Women’s Book Club for Meet the Author event in the America Center room 230 from 3 until 5:00 p.m. tomorrow, May the 28th. Come and network with other readers, writers, and aspiring writers. Purchase your copy of Fitly Join Together, a puzzle book about the auxiliaries, bands, and units history. You may stop by the auxiliary bands and units table to purchase your copy books are only $20.

The postconvention play and lunch entitled What She Said is Saturday, May the 31st at 10 a.m. Tickets are $85, which includes your ticket to the play, transportation, and lunch. Please contact Supervisor Misha Maynard at misha@mishamaynard.com for more information. The deadline to purchase your ticket is tomorrow night. The bus will leave from the Marriott Grand Hotel at 9:30 a.m. The women’s convention office is located here in the convention center, room 255. The hours of operation tomorrow, which is Wednesday, will be from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and then from 6 until 8:00 p.m. Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and 3 to 5:00 p.m. The office will not be open on Saturday. We encourage you to please make your reports during these hours. Attention all delegates. Please note that the e souvenir journal was emailed today from the international department of women to the email address associated with your registration. Please search your inbox for messages from the international department of women. And don’t forget to check your spam or junk folder. The e souvenir journal includes ads, congratulatory messages, and compliments submitted by supporters from across the globe. Don’t leave the 75th Women’s International Convention without picking up your commemorative scarf. This beautiful keepsake honors both our previous and current general supervisor. A meaningful tri a meaningful tribute you’ll treasure for a lifetime. Visit our booth in the hallway to purchase yours for only $35. It’s more than a souvenir. It’s a piece of our history. Quantities are limited. So don’t wait. Get yours this evening. Stop by our convention president’s booth and purchase a copy of church protocol and saintly decorum as well as Mother Lewis’s book 50 leadership lessons. The IDW thumb drive for proper dawning of the missionaries habits are available to the supervisors only and the special 75th anniversary directories are also available. The thumb drives are only $25 and the directories are $10. This will conclude our evening announcements. Thank you.

We are off to a good start. We have just had a great time. Things are moving along well. Many of you were not able to go to the praise in the park. Very successful. Two people were saved at praise in the park. We had our 5:00 a.m. preconvention prayer and consecration with Mother Kelly and it was standing room only. We had a wonderful time. Monday we had gospel explosion and you know we had the largest crowd we have ever had and the reason for that is that we had the legendary Clark [Music] sisters and they belong to us so we had a great time. Well, Tuesday morning, Tuesday morning, how do you get two over 2,000 people up for breakfast at 7:00 a.m.? Well, the executive board did that and we had a wonderful, wonderful time. This is the 75th Women’s International Convention, and we’re focusing on our general supervisors who have imparted so much wisdom down through the years. If you look at your bag, you see some writing on the outside. That writing is every city that we went to in the years we were there. It’s on the outside of your bag. And this was an idea of our mother, which is beautiful. Beautiful. Our leadership conference focused on all our general supervisors. They honored the foundation paid by the uh mothers of our church. And you will see that all week we’re going to be honoring our supervisors. We’ve got a special uh session at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. You got to be there. I mean, you have to really be there because you’ll get to know these general supervisors. You’ve heard about the banner march and all I want to say is that at you got to be down here at 8:30 in the morning if you have a banner because they have to line you up. We’ve got over 200 banners. The men’s class you will see in your program. It’s Wednesday through Friday from 10 to 12. And all I’d like to say about this is that you don’t have to be registered to go to that men’s class. Every man is invited to the men’s class and it’s of course in room 120. We got power up again. We’ve got our exercise program 6:00 a.m. to 6:30. I’m not sure how it’s going, but we got it. Amen. our and we’ve got a um a uh schedule with everything that’s going on with the room numbers and we printed over 10,000 of those. So, and they are at 106 the registration. So, you need to pick that up if you don’t have it. Those of you who registered, it’s in your bag. But those of you who who got here and you’re you’re not registered, uh please come by so you’ll have a schedule. God bless. [Music] [Music] [Music] to our esteemed leader, Bishop J. Drew Shear and to our precious beloved general supervisor, Mother Barber Maku Lewis. We, the Midwest Regional Supervisors, we are delighted and we are genuinely excited. We are also spiritually ignited that you have come to the city of St. Louis which is known as the gateway to the Midwest for this historical 75th Women’s International Convention. Bishop shared, “Mother Lewis, we have been waiting for your arrival. We have been preparing for your arrival. And we have certainly been praying for your arrival.” And

Since this devastating, destructive tornado in St. Louis, we know and we deem it the divine order of God that you have come to St. Louis for such a time as this. And so, Mother Lewis, Bishop Shared, the host, the co-host, and the supporting supervisors say welcome. Welcome to St. Louis, Missouri, for such a time as this time because you have unfinished business. God bless you.

Thank you for that beautiful welcome. How many feel welcomed in the city? Thank you so much. We are moving now to a very special part of the service that is very dear to our general supervisor as she believes in empowering young people and young women and men to further their education.

At this time, Supervisor Mary B. Tucker, administrative facilitator, liaison to area representatives, Georgia North Central jurisdiction and Bermuda jurisdiction, she's coming at this time to present our International Department of Women's Scholarship presentations. She will be followed by a season of prayer. We know that our mom is a praying woman. Amen. Amen. And if you were in the 500 a.m. prayer, she taught us how to well before the Lord. And so tonight, we're going to pause to just pray, and that will be rendered to us from Lydia's daughter's prayer team. Ages 33 through 52. Administrator Latana Blake Allen is the coordinator, Southern California First Jurisdictions. And then we'll be in the hands of our convention choir. God bless you.

Education: The process of receiving or giving systematic instructions, especially at a school or university. Our wonderful, amazing, anointed general supervisor is concerned about every area, every age group, everything that concerns us. Tonight, on behalf of Mother Dr. Barbara Maku Lewis and the Department of Women, we will be presenting some of COIC's finest students with scholarships tonight. We thank God for the honorees, those that will be recipients, and prayerfully their pictures will be on the screen so you can see them. If you know them, you can applaud them. We thank God for thank God for this amazing scholarship committee who will be making the presentations. God bless. Amen.

The Mother Lillian Brooks coffee scholarship is awarded to Destin Clark. Destin is seeking a degree in biology. She will be attending Howard University and she is a member of Redeeming Word Church of God in Christ. Her pastor is Superintendent Raymond Randall. She will be receiving $2500. [Applause] tonight.

The Mother Dr. Maddie Mclofflin Scholarship is awarded to Danielle Marie Wilson. Danielle attends Forom University in New York where she is pursuing a degree in sociology and minoring in computer science. She is a member of Emanuel Church of God in Christ and her pastor is Bishop Ulysus C. Henderson Jr. Danielle will be receiving $2500.

The Mother Willie May River scholarship is awarded to Leila Leverne Forest. Ila is a second-year student at Galen College of Nursing where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. She is a member of Tabernacle of Praise Church of God in Christ. Her pastor is Superintendent Michael Jackson, Senior. She will be receiving $2500.

Mother Anne Bailey scholarship is awarded to Michael Lawrence Atkins. Michael is a third-year student at the University of California at Los Angeles. He is pursuing a jurist doctor degree. He attends New Antioch Church of God in Christ. His pastor is administrative assistant Jeffrey Lewis and he will be receiving $2500. [Applause]

Mother Emma Crouch scholarship is awarded to Aaron Clark Long from Alquipa, Pennsylvania. Aaron will attend the University of Pittsburgh and pursue studies in biology and chemistry with a focus on forensic science. Miss Aaron attends Round Church of God in Christ. She will receive $2500.

The Mother Lizzie Robinson Scholarship is awarded to Gilea Franklin. Jala is completing her degree in liberal studies at Bowling Green University. She is a member of Mount Zion Church of God in Christ. Her pastor is Superintendent Nehemiah Howard. Miss Julia will receive $2500.

The Mother, Dr. Barbara Makul Lewis Visionary Graduate Scholarship, drum roll, drum roll, is awarded to Evangelist Missionary Porsche Ali of Memphis, Tennessee. Evangelus Ali is pursuing an MBA degree in leadership from Union University. She is a member of the historic Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ where she has served faithfully for 25 years. Her pastor is Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Patterson. She will receive $3,000.

One more time, let's give it up for all of these outstanding young people. I close the night on behalf of Dr. Barbara Mu Lewis, our general supervisor, and the department of women; it is $18,000. God bless. [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [Music] Oh my Jesus. I pray for the earth. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hallelu. Amen.

If you will please stand to your feet. We are the Lydia's Daughters prayer team. Our chairperson is administrator Latana Blake Allen. If you would please keep her in your prayers tonight. I'm also joined by District Missionary Olivia Stevenson and First Lady Sena Davis. Please join us in a season of prayer. Praise the Lord. We praise and we thank God even now. Hallelujah. We give God glory and we give God praise for all that he has been to us, for all that he has done for us and for all that he is going to do. We know that God has unfinished business for our church and in our lives. And for that we give him glory and we give him praise. We give God glory and we give him praise. We thank God and praise him that we have the legacy that we have in the church of God in Christ and the women gathered here.

Lord, we thank you God for the wonderful leaders that you have given us, God. Leaders with vision. Leaders with vision for the future. Leaders with vision for right now, God. And we ask, God, right now that you touch them in the name of Jesus. Bless our bishop, Bishop Drew Shear. Lord, in the name of Jesus, touch him from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. God, continue to give him vision, God. Vision for our great church, God. Vision that we can unfinish the business that you have given us to finish. Lord, in the name of Jesus, bless his wife, Lord, in the name of Jesus, continue to give her vision, Lord, for the task that you have set for her to do. God, we ask, Lord, in the name of Jesus, that you bless Mother Lewis in the name of Jesus. God, you've given her a vision, Lord, in the name of Jesus, send resources for the vision in the name of Jesus. The vision will not be unfinished. The vision will be accomplished in the name of Jesus. And it is so. It is so. Hallelujah.

Father, we pray for healing for our presiding bishop. Father, thank you for crowning him with healing from his head to his feet. We thank you, God, for touching Mother Lewis in her body. We declare over both of them that by your stripes, they are healed and walking in health and wholeness. God, we thank you, Lord, as you use Mother that not only is she healed in her body, mind, and spirit, but that the words that she speaks brings healing. Every hug brings healing. Every word of encouragement brings healing to your people in the name of Jesus.

Father, we pray that you bless her and keep her, protect her, sustain her, guard her, Lord, in the name of Jesus. Make your face to shine upon her with favor. God, be gracious unto her, Lord, surrounding her with your loving kindness. Lift up your countenance upon our mother, God, with divine approval. Give her a tranquil heart and a tranquil life. And it is so in Jesus' name. And with the clapping of our hands, we give you glory. Thank you for hearing our prayer tonight, oh God. Uh continue to bless our bishop. Bless his ministry, God. Bless whatever his hands find to do. Oh God, we thank you for a godly leader. We thank you for our leader today, oh God. And oh God, look down on our mother right now from the crown of her head, uh even into the soles of her feet, God. Give her a word for us tonight, God. Use her for your glory. Use her for your glory, God. Even now in the name of Jesus. Uh let lives be changed tonight. Uh let lies be delivered tonight. Uh and we give you glory because you've heard us tonight. Uh and we tell you thank you. Come on people of God and begin to bless God. Thank you God. Thank you Jesus. Uh we glorify you now. We praise you now. Thank you Jesus. We feel your presence now. Move in the room, oh God, up and down the aisles, in between the pews. Glory to your name. Help me praise him tonight as we take our seat. Come on and put your hands together and bless the name of Jesus. Come on, clap every faithful believer. Shout, "It is so." Come on, it is so in Jesus' name.

The choir that we're receiving tonight is historic and that these are the jurisdictional supervisors of the church of God in Christ. So, Women's International Convention, would you please stand on your feet and help us receive our women's chords for this week? Come on, clap your hands for the supervisors of the church of God in Christ. [Music] Come on, clap your hand. Put your hands together on there. I need some really witnesses up in here tonight. [Music] Yeah. When it was down and out, Jesus, he brought me out. I got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Oh, we were deep in sin. Have no peace with it. I've got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Oh, will see my way. You choke me right away. I got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Oh, when they have a die, he stepped right in on time. I got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Gave me the victory. Gave me the victory. Right by my side, right by my side. [Music] Always came down. I have a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Oh, well, gave me the life with I got a reason to praise the Lord. Oh, will my way gave me a bright day. I got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Willing to die. He stepped right in time. I got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Gave me the victory. [Music] Jesus, he brought me out. I got a real I got a real [Applause] praise bring him from the heavenly house. I'm so glad I got the Holy Ghost. Yeah. Where Jesus, he brought me out. I got a reason. I got a reason to praise the Lord. Hey. Hey. Come on. Help your hand. I'll with my hand. With my hand. I pray it. I'll praise you in the day. In the I with my with my I That's my That's my I with my hand. With my hand. I in the name. In the name. I my I Yes, I pray. Yes, I Yes, I Yes, I'll pray. Yes, I [Music] pray. Yes, I pray. Can I get one? Can I get one? That's my That's my prayer. That's my good me. He been good to me. That's my When I was walking, he lift me up. That's my He picked me up. That's my turn around. My feet. I Yes, I pray. I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yeah. Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. Let's praise him. Praise him. Praise him. [Applause] Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. Yeah. You want to praise him? [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Hey. Yes, I pray. Yes, I Yes, I pray. I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I breathe over trouble. Lawyer. I couldn't find nobody. Couldn't find nobody. I couldn't find nobody. I searched all over. I couldn't find nobody. I did my shelter. Yes, I [Applause] s down and out. Jesus, he brought me out. I got a river. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Y'all better clap your hands. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Be good to me. Yes, I pray. my name. Yes, I name I Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I pray. Yes, I when I'm up. Yes, I when I'm down. Yes, I when you talk about me. Yes, I pray. When you lie on me, I'm Yes, I'm Nobody knows. Yes, I'm like I know. That's my what he does for me. That's my set me free. That's my I wonder can I get you? I wonder. Can I get you? My clap your hand. Clap your hand. My Yes, I pray. My down and out. Jesus. He brought me. I got a rever. [Applause] [Music] Praying. [Applause] Yeah. Yeah. I'm getting your [Music] Hey, I don't know about y'all, but I feel something up in here. Look at your neighbor. Neighbor, I got a praise and I got to get it out. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Yes, I pray it. Yes, I Yes, I He woke me up. Yes, I early this morning. Yes, I saw. Yes, I a brand new day. Yes, I pray. When I was lost, I pray I needed a savior. Yes, I pray that I got to get that prayer. I got to get that prayer. And God got on my sick baby. When I don't have a D. I know how to pray. He'll take me on time. It may be raining. That's my prayer. That's my We've been made it for a night, but God will come in the morning. All you got to do, keep on praising. Praise him. Praise him. You better praise him. Praise him. You better praise him. Praise him. I don't got happy now. Praise him. You better praise him. Praise him. Praise him. Praise God. Praise him. Praise him. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Yeah. Yeah. [Music] [Applause] Hallelujah. Look at your neighbor. Shout, "Neighbor, I'm going to get my praise on." Everybody clap your [Applause] [Music] hands. Yes, I [Music] pray. I tell you just to take about 30 seconds and just move your feet to tell the enemy that yes, I'll praise him. No matter what comes, no matter what go, yes, I'll praise him. Come on, move your feet. [Music] [Music] I'm not enough to praise God. Now come on and praise him. Come on and praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelu. Hallelujah. We praise your name, Jesus. Hallelujah. Come on, one more time. Let's praise God for this anointed choir tonight under the direction of our second assistant general supervisor, Vanessa Winbush Gatlin. Listen, we want we want you to stay right there where you're ready to praise the name of the Lord because the word of the Lord is coming. Anybody excited about the word? And we want you to stay right there in a spirit of expectation and anticipation as our mother gets ready to mount this podium to render the word of the Lord tonight. Our first assistant general supervisor from New York Western second jurisdiction. Hallelujah. Jesus is coming to softly present. Hallelujah. Jesus is coming to [Music] softly. Y'all stay right there. She's coming to softly present our general supervisor. And as she's coming, you got 10 seconds to get it out. Come on. One, two, three. Give God glory if you know that he's been good to you. [Applause] [Music] [Music] Hey, [Applause] Church of God in Christ. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Church of God in Christ International Department of Women, the 75th Women's International Convention in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. [Applause] [Applause] Mother Dr. Barbara Makul Lewis, General Supervisor and Convention President, please direct your attention to the screen. A distinguished leader, visionary, and servant of God, renowned for her unwavering commitment to ministry and community service. In April 2017, she was appointed as the seventh general supervisor of the International Department of Women by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake. In 2021, she was reappointed by Presiding Bishop Jrew Shear, further solidifying her impact and influence within the Church of God in Christ. Born in Los Angeles, California to Pastor Richard and Mother Sue Maku, Mother Lewis dedicated her life to Christ, being saved and baptized in the Holy Ghost at the age of nine. A lifelong member of Southern California Jurisdiction 1 and a third-generation member of the Church of God in Christ, she has been a steadfast pillar of faith and leadership throughout her journey. Her academic achievements include an associate of arts degree in journalism from West Los Angeles Community College and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from California State University in Los Angeles. She also matriculated at Fuller Theological Seminary and completed her graduate work at the Southern California School of Ministry, earning a master of arts degree in theology and an honorary doctorate degree. She has been recognized as Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper.

Mother Lewis has served in numerous roles within the Southern California first ecclesiastical jurisdiction. In 1988, she was selected to serve as jurisdictional supervisor by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake and appointed by Dr. Mattie McGlothlin during the National Holy Convocation. During her 33-year tenure, she led transformative programs and initiatives, including the creation of the Hail Morris Lewis Senior Complex, a $4.7 million, 41-unit affordable senior housing complex in Los Angeles, California. Completed in 2002, for 16 years, the complex hosted the annual community outreach where hundreds received food, clothing, hygiene products, toys, health screenings, legal assistance, and more. As the president and CEO of the BML Economic Development Corporation, and the Barbara Maku Lewis Ministry, both 501(c)(3) organizations, Mother Lewis has continuously championed efforts to improve the quality of life for underserved communities in urban America.

Under General Supervisors Mother Dr. Maddie Mclofflin, Mother Emma F. Crouch, and Mother Dr. Willie May Rivers, she has held key positions including advisory board member, executive board member, general supervisor's West Coast area representative, chairperson of the special convention assistance committee, chairperson of the program committee, assistant marshal, international marshal, and assistant general supervisor and chairperson of the executive business affairs. Additionally, she served as a trustee board member of the C.H. Mason Seminary and currently serves on the board of directors for COIC charities. A prolific speaker and writer, Mother Lewis has contributed articles to Spirit-Led and Charisma magazines, served as women's editor of The Whole Truth, authored The Christian Women's Guide to Church Protocol and Saintly Decorum, and 50 Leadership Lessons. Her administrative slogan, "We progress with team effort," embodies the spirit of collaboration that has driven numerous impactful initiatives, including administrative facilitators, revised official handbook in the fourth edition, training programs for jurisdictional supervisors, missionaries and executive staff, support initiatives like the Widowed Bishop's Wives Circle, Administrative Assistant Wives Circle, and Covenant Sisterhood support group for shepherding virtual and in-person support groups including Soaring Singles and single mother support, community programs addressing teen pregnancy, literacy for youth, financial literacy for families, and support for female ex-offenders. Special programs like Keeping It Real Breakfast for young women ages 18 to 35, seven monthly prayer lines addressing various life stages and challenges, empowerment workshops, and mental health support alliances. Dr. Lewis is noted for spearheading major construction projects, including the Lizzie Woods Robinson Senior Housing Complex aimed at providing affordable housing for seniors near the Mason campus in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2024, the International Department of Women donated $1 million in restricted funds to the National Church for this project. Mother Lewis's innovative approach to business and ministry successfully guided the International Department of Women during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to yield funding to assist supervisors in the foreign field.

In addition to her vast accomplishments, Mother Lewis co-founded the New Antioch Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles with her late husband of 57 years, Bishop James A. Lewis. She continues to serve as church mother and remains actively involved in ministry guided by her life's theme: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." The joys of her life are her two sons, Elder James A. Lewis Jr., wife Sonia, and administrative assistant Jeffrey M. Lewis, who is also her pastor, wife Loetta, along with her two adult grandchildren, Shannon and Jeffrey Jr. Known for her legacy of leadership, compassion, and unwavering faith, Mother Dr. Barbara Maku Lewis has made an indelible mark on the Church of God in Christ and communities worldwide. Uhoh. Uhoh. Uhoh. Where'd he go? [Music] [Music] He knows my name. He loves my name. Oh, how he walks with me. Oh, how he talks with me. Oh, how he tells me that I am his own. [Music] He knows my name. He knows my name. He knows my name. Oh. How he walks with me. Oh, how he Oh, how he walks with me. Oh, how he tell me. [Applause] I am I am. [Music] Oh, how you comfort me. Oh, how you counter [Music] me. It's still amazing that I am your friend. [Music] He knows my name. He knows my name. You know my name. Thank you, Jesus. You know my name. Know my name. [Music] So now I pour out my heart to [Music] you. Here in your presence I am made new. [Music] Fire can't burn me. No can turn me. No mountain can stop me because you hold my hand. [Music] No, no. [Music] I will walk in desire for the power is within me. No can you call your holy you're [Music] holy. You're holy. They got a hold in my hand. They got a hold in my hand. Holding my He knows my name. [Music] He knows my name. [Music] He knows my name. He knows me by my name. He knows my name. Oh. [Music] Oh, how Jesus walks with me. Oh, how he Oh, I'm so glad he talks with me. [Music] Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me. I am [Music] push you up. Okay. [Music] Is that good? Okay. He knows my name. Dear gracious Father, we bless you.

On tonight. Thank you for your loving kindness and tender mercy. Thank you, Lord, that we have gathered by the thousands to worship and magnify your name, to celebrate 75 years of ministry. We thank you for our predecessors. We thank you for the wailing women and the mourning women who, down through the years, stood in the gap as intercessors. We thank you for bodies that have been healed, delivered, and set free. And so tonight, we give you the praise for all that you've done, for all that you're going to do with the next generation.

Now, Lord, I ask that you word my mouth. Word my mouth. Oh God, bless this word that you have given me, realizing that it's not by might nor by power, but it is by your spirit. Bless the people of the Lord. Meet the needs that are here tonight. We don't know the needs of the people, but God, you know. Everyone under the sound of my voice. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight. Oh Lord, you are our strength and our redeemer. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Please take your seat in the presence of the Lord. Several years ago, the Lord gave me a song about 5:00 in the morning. I was on the treadmill worshiping and praising and magnifying the Lord. And it goes like this: Fill me with your glory. Fill me with your glory. Fill me with your glory. For that my flesh must [Music] die. Fill me with your glory. Fill me with your glory. Fill me with your glory. For that my flesh must die. We're workers in the vineyard. Workers in the vineyard. Workers in the vineyard. Working in the field. We're workers in the vineyard. Workers in the vineyard. Workers in the vineyard. Working in the field. So Lord, fill us with your glory. Fill us with your glory. Fill us with your glory. But for that our flesh must [Music] die. Fill us with your glory. Fill us with your glory. Fill us with your glory. For that our flesh must die. And if our flesh dies, we say yes. [Music] Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Come on, Zion. Yes. [Music] Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Have your [Music] way. Have your way. [Music] Have your way. Have your way. Have your [Music] way. Have your way. We're just vessels of honor, sanctified and meat for the master's use.

I give high honor and esteem to our presiding bishop and chief apostle, the greatest leader in Christendom on the face of the earth, Bishop John Drew Shear. Bishop, I appreciate and I thank you for the trust and the confidence that you have given to me. I don't take it lightly. It is so honored. I'm so honored to be able to stand with you in this great ministry of the church of God in Christ. And I thank you for the opportunity to serve. I certainly thank God for the beloved and anointed first lady that stands by his side, the evangelist Karen Clark Shear. The first assistant, Bishop Jerry Wayne Mlin, second assistant, Bishop Lawrence Wooten, and their wonderful wives. To every member of the general board and your wives, to Bishop Donald Murray, chairman of the board of bishops, and to every jurisdictional and auxiliary bishop.

Special recognition to the host bishops of this area, the Midwest, Bishop Wooten, the host bishop, general board member and father of the general board and second assistant presiding bishop. God bless you, Bishop Wooten, Bishop Hankerson, to all of the bishops that are in this area. Certainly to beloved Mother Rosetta Watts and the supervisors. What a great job that you have done from day one. We appreciate the hospitality, the excellence in executing the responsibilities of host, co-host and supporting jurisdictions. To every elected and appointed official of our church, to the presiding bishop and first lady emeritus, Bishop Charles and Lady May Blake. God bless [Applause] you. We honor and I'm so privileged to have these women stand with me, the assistant general supervisors, Dr. Pilma Huey, Western New York. Mother Dr. Vanessa Windbush Gatlin, Louisiana. Mother Mary Jane Walton, Michigan. God bless each of you. To Mother BJ McKenna, administrative facilitator of this Women's International Convention, and a job well done, Mother McKenna. To Mother Dr. Barbara Bryant, the chairperson of the administrative facilities and public relations and marketing, my supervisor in Southern California. To Mother Mary Sims, president of the executive board, whom we will hear from her on tomorrow night. She has a word from the Lord. Mother Harazine Keys, president of the advisory board. Mother Mary Tucker, area representative liaison for the general supervisor and chairperson of scholarships. To Dr. Lana Grant, programming for worship. Mother Darlene Stone, auxiliary bands and units. Mother Grace Davis Harris. We're praying for her as she is home caring for her husband. To our marshals, Dr. Grant, and certainly to First Lady Wooten of this convention, job well done to every supervisor. And the supervisors showed you who we are on tonight. [Applause] Wonderful, wonderful, phenomenal job. I thank God for the multi-talented and multi-generational supervisors that we have that serve the church of God in Christ. God bless second assistant general supervisor, Mother Vanessa Winbush Gatlin for your leadership. [Music] To Mother Yolanda Bryan and every bishop's wife, Mother Cheryl Lee and every widowed bishop's wife, to Dr. Seago and the music ministry, Brother Sawyer and the ushers, the nurses, the greeters, the list goes on and on of the multiple entities that make up this convention. To Mother Stella Watson, Lady Kathy Jackson, Mother Lena Veester, Mother Helen Massie, Mother Barnes, and the staff that work so diligently behind the scenes in the office. To my jurisdictional bishop, Bishop Joe Lewis Ely, to my wonderful, wonderful family. I want my family to stand. Amen. We're small, but we're powerful. My oldest son, Elder James A. Lewis, and his wife, Dr. Sonia Simpson Lewis, to my pastor, administrative assistant Jeffrey Lewis, my first lady, Lady Fleta Lewis, and to my grand, my great, my grand Shannon Lewis. That's my family. My grandson was not able to come, Brother Jeffrey Lewis, but I want you to know I have a wonderful, wonderful family. To my team, district missionary Yolanda Walker, thank you for all that you do. The senior executive assistant, First Lady Evangelist Gail Biggers. Amen. Supervisor Lydia Pierce and all of the ladies that assist me personally in this great women, this great work. There are numerous senior women who are here that have been faithful down through the years. You are with us today. We honor each and every one of you for your faithfulness to the work of the Lord. So many of you, the pioneers, that some attended all of the 75 women's international conventions. And we thank God for your faithfulness, for your example of holiness and righteousness. To the Rivers family. Where are the Rivers family? Would you stand? The members of the Rivers family. Wherever you are, where are they? They are. Thank you. Thank you. You sacrificed much during the life of your dear mother, but she gave so much to so many of us. And we shall never forget Mother Willie May Rivers. Her name was omitted on today, but District Missionary Melissa Mlin Billingsley, I hope you are watching. You are hereby officially appointed. You're not here. She was stricken with illness several weeks ago and was not able to come. But your team is in place and they are ready for the banner march under the direction of Mother Darlene Stone on tomorrow. You're officially appointed as chairperson of the banner march task force.

I want to say thank you everyone for your contribution toward the senior project in Memphis. Keep it coming, and with the help of the Lord, the dream will become a reality. I believe God. I believe God. It will be make a tangible statement not only to the city of Memphis but to our granddaughters, our great-granddaughters, that the department of women made a mark. We have supported down through the years. I don't believe there's any leader that has led our church that can say that the women were first to support the vision of the leader and the church of God in Christ. We want that Lizzy Woods Robinson senior project to make a statement for years to come that we love our church. We're standing firm on the foundation, and we will continue to serve to those that were impacted by the tornado just a few days ago here in the city of St. Louis. And yes, it is providential that the Lord would have the women of the church of God in Christ to come and bring words of encouragement and tangible statements and prayer to those of you that suffered damage because of the tornado, not only in St. Louis, but other states were affected. And we are mourning with you, but we are restoring because we know that God is going to meet the need. God bless you.

Several months ago, I had dreams for four or five nights. And a dream would come to me of Sunshine Banners, standing in the local church singing their Sunshine Band songs. And I just smiled and I just took it that the Lord would have me to intercede for the Sunshine Banners, the children's ministry of the women's department. But the dream kept reoccurring, and there was always a little child. You know, there's always one that's going to kind of act up, and it's cute. You know, we say we thank God for the training that they have. But on the third or fourth night of the dream that kept reoccurring, the Lord spoke to me and said, "That child is hungry." And so I got a broader vision of what we needed to do for our children. There are children in the church of God in Christ that are hungry. Their parents send them to church at the local, in the community. Many times we don't know the parents. They just send their children. But we are not aware of the dire situations that some of our little babies are going through as they are sent to church and they wear their yellow shirts. But it's important for us to be sensitive to the needs of everybody. And so I reached out to Elder and Sister Sanders who are the co-presidents of the Sunshine Band, and they are doing a phenomenal job with our children. I reached out and gave them the vision of what the Lord had shared with me. They ran with the vision and are going to make it happen. I'm going to ask Sister Sanders, are you in the room? Would you please come forward if you are? I'm going to let her explain what is—Sister Susan Jones. I was informed that the Sanders, one of the children is ill. They are in the city of—uh, they're here in St. Louis. They have seven children and they're all here. Eight. Eight children. Six. Don't give me no more. Six children. All right. Six. They have six children. But they're doing a wonderful job. Amen. And we thank God that they are making the dream, the vision become a reality. So I'm going to ask Sister Sanders and her facilitator if she will come and explain the vision and how it will unfold.

Let's praise God for Sister Algerita Sanders. God bless you, Mother Lewis. The "No Child Hungry" in the church of God in Christ, as Mother Lewis said, is designed and has been organized to meet an emergent need within our local sunshine bands. Once that emergency or that emergent need has been identified and has been confirmed, the certified local sunshine band leader or president has the ability to offer one-time assistance to that child and to that family. And we thank God for Mother Lewis. The—is this initiative is being funded by the international department of women, and that allows us as the local sunshine band to help feed those children that are hungry that would otherwise have no food to eat. So as of now, we are proud to say that we have 75 local sunshine presidents who have already completed the training and are ready to launch this initiative within the local sunshine band congregations as we move forward. We are committed, Elder Charleston and I and Sister Jones who is standing behind me as the "No Child Hungry" facilitator. We are committed to providing future training sessions that's going to help us fulfill the mandate that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 25:34 and 35. It says, "Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink." God bless you. God bless you, Sister Sanders. And so, we are going to identify now. We're not trying to feed the whole family every week. It is an emergency. We will respond to emergencies. But that's a great start. No child hungry in the church of God in Christ. Thank you, Sunshine Band. Let's go to the word. St. John 4:34 and 1 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV version. Jesus said to them, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." 1 Thessalonians 2:15. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 1 Thessalonians 2:15. You may take your seat in the presence of the Lord.

Tonight, I want to talk about holy women prioritizing God's business. Holy women prioritizing God's business. Historical moments such as the women's rights movement in the 19th century carved a path forward for women to assume leadership roles. During this era of church history, the power and move of the Holy Ghost produced a spiritual freedom. Those women who became members of the church of God in Christ were some of the pioneers serving in leadership. These roles were established by the mission and vision of the women's department. As a result, the Department of Women of the Church of God in Christ has the most comprehensive structure for ministry to women, children, and youth among Pentecostal organizations. For over a period of 114 years, boards, auxiliaries, bands, units, and circles have evolved and continue to thrive. Our founder, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, met Elizabeth Lizzy Woods, who was a highly respected matron of a Baptist academy. Bishop explained the scriptures and then laid hands on her. She immediately received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Later, Bishop made choice of and appointed her to be the overseer, later called general mother of the women's work. Mother Lizzie Woods Robinson, the founder and organizer of the women's work of the church of God in Christ, organized in 1911. Her guiding scripture was Jeremiah 9:17: "Call for the mourning women that they may come; make haste, and take up a wailing." Mother Robinson extensively traveled across the country establishing the work. You do not want to miss Thursday morning when a depiction of all of the general supervisors will be given. The second general mother, Mother Lillian Brooks Coffee, known as the dreamer, was the visionary of the women's international convention, with a focus of supporting the mission vision of our church, and we continue today. The women of the Church of God in Christ converged upon the city of Los Angeles, California 75 years ago, beginning April 15, 1951. They met at the Emmanuel Church of God in Christ where Bishop S.M. Crouch, who was my pastor from birth and my home church, and State Mother Elo Hail were the hosts. At that time, it was the largest gathering of women in America. Then the third general mother, Dr. Anne L. Bailey, the excelsior. Fourth general mother, Mother Maddie Mclofflin, with business acumen. Fifth general mother, Mother Emma F. Crouch, the achiever. Sixth general mother, Mother Willie Willie May Rivers, the legacy. It is—is with indescribable humility that I stand on the shoulders of these giants. I am committed, however, to continually build upon the great foundation, the groundwork, the basis upon which something stands or is supported. Psalms 11:3 says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?" Women of God, when you assume new leadership roles, change the color, change the time, move the program to a different day, but don't change the foundation of the women's work of the church of God in Christ. Methods must change. We must be relevant so that we can minister to the contemporary needs and issues. God help us. Today, the implementation of Project 2025 is slowly unfolding. Our nation is dealing with health care, the possible threat of social security being banned, Medicaid, Medicare, Border Patrol, separation of children, diversity, inclusion and equity is being wiped out. Mental health crisis, depression, anxiety, sex trafficking, severe problems with low self-esteem among our young women, substance abuse, sexual, physical, verbal abuse, afflictions, pornography, bullying, gang entrapments, the disenfranchised, the marginalized, the voiceless, and the list goes on. All of these needs are in our communities. However, our principles based on the Bible must never be compromised or changed to satisfy the needs that we face. We are celebrating 75 years of excellence and sustainability for the future, the Women's International Convention. There are untold thousands of accomplished women at every level of our church. I wanted you to have the opportunity to call the names of those mentors and those women of God that have impacted your life. They toiled and they sacrificed to build upon what we now enjoy. The names I want to call are Mother Arena C. Mallerie, president of the Saints Industrial College in Lexington and the first marshal. Mother Elizabeth Nash, assistant general supervisor. Mother Lydia Hensley, the first president of the Sunshine Band. Evangelists Raa and Lisa H., twins who prayed and dug out scores of churches across this country. Mother Kora Barry, dean of the convention institute. Mother St. Carrie Denwitty, dean of the workshops. Dr. Dorothy Exameé, pioneer of education and a great missionary in the foreign field. Mother Mary Beth Kennedy, Mother Barber, Mother E.J. Dabney, author of "What It Means to Pray Through." Mother Sarah Butler, who served as chairperson of the Elders and Ministers Wives for almost 50 years. Mother Gerald Dean Miller, yet with us, founding manager of the Kic Bookstore. Mother Lucille Span, who is on the platform 101 years [Applause] old, the first chairlady of the mission department, the Dr. Maddie Moss Clark, the incomparable president of the music department and mother of our beloved first ladies and the Clark Sisters. Mother Willie May Shear, one of the presidents of the bishop's wives circle and the mother of Presiding Bishop Jay Drew Shear and Bishop Ethan Shear. Mother May Windbush, editor and chief of the Sunday school quarterlies and the mother of our second assistant general supervisor, Mother Gatlin, who teaches Sunday school even now. My own grandmother, Mother Susie Coleman, who taught in the first established Church of God in Christ school in Texas, Paige Normal Industrial School, where my grandfather, Professor Abraham Coleman, was the founding principal. The attorney, B.J. McKini, the first female attorney on the judiciary board. The list goes on: Mother Freddy Bell, Mother Ali Brown, Mother Emma Personson, Mother Victorine Mackey, Dr. Irene Oakley, Mother Lillian Mars, Mother Evangelist Joyce Rogers. Amen. Mother Gertrude Young, Mother Edith Mcgru, Mother Atasca King. And the word says in 2 Thessalonians, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand fast and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our letters." This great cloud of witnesses, which only scratched the surface, they were the champions. They set the standard. They blazed the trail decade by decade. They were women of prayer. We always were taught to pray. We are praying women. We know how to go to heaven. We know how to seek God for answers in our life. Women of grace, women of dignity, resilient women, tenacious women, dedicated women. They were all resolute and determined, but above all, they were holy women, saved and sanctified and baptized with the Holy Ghost and the mighty burning fire. They prioritized God's business with selfless acts of kindness and unwavering dedication to the church.

Now, let me pause here. Once you repent of your sins and you accept Christ as your personal savior, your life is changed. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." The call to holiness is issued the moment you experience the new birth. Leviticus 11:44 says, "For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy." The word holy is listed 546 times in the Bible. Our foundation, the foundation of the church of God in Christ is holiness. Holiness, saints of God, is an attribute of character rather than an experience. Holiness is not a litany of dos and don'ts, rules and regulations. You embrace the holiness lifestyle because you love the Lord with all of your heart. It is developed over a period of time. Your thoughts and your desires become holy. Your convictions are based on holiness living. Your decisions are determined upon what pleases God. We are a holy people. That's why when you go to the church of God in Christ in California and then you travel and go to the church of God in Christ in Mississippi or in Michigan, we all act the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. And then, holy women, we just have a look. Your demeanor is different. Your identity is holy. You don't have to do anything special. When you walk in a room, the atmosphere changes. People are uncomfortable using profanity. They say, "Oops, excuse me, ma'am." And you haven't even opened your mouth. Simultaneously, you are sanctified. Holiness and sanctification come from the same Greek word *hagios*, which means to be set apart, separated and dedicated to.

God. Sanctification is twofold. It's instantaneous and progressive. John 15 and 3 says, "Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Romans 12:2, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Philippians 2 and 5, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." James 1:27, we are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. Hebrews 12:1, "Lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset you." 2 Corinthians 6:17, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing."

Women of God, of the church of God in Christ, we are vessels of honor, sanctified and meat for the master's use. 2 Timothy 2:21. Upon your confession of being saved, you become a candidate for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. How many of you have the baptism of the Holy Ghost? How many of them don't have it and you want the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Upon your confession as a saint of God, you're living saved. Luke 11:13 says, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly father give you the Holy Spirit?" All you have to do is ask him. It is a gift. Look at your neighbor and say, "The Holy Ghost is a gift."

The initial sign of receiving the Holy Ghost is Acts 2 and 4. You shall speak in other tongues as the spirit gives you utterance. Thank God for the dunamis dynamite power of He, the Holy Ghost. He's not a "it." He's not a "something." He is the third person of the trinity. He, the Holy Ghost. He is our paraclete, called beside us. 1 Corinthians 6:19, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost which dwells in us. So many, so many things the Holy Ghost will do for you. Acts 9:31, he will comfort you in your darkest hour. John 14:26, he's a teacher. Mothers, women of God, he'll teach you how to take care of your children. He'll teach you how to go in and out among people. Romans 8:14, He, the Holy Ghost is your guide. He'll tell you where to go and what to do. Romans 8:26, he is your helper. He helpeth our infirmities when we don't know what to say and how to pray. The Holy Ghost makes intercession for us. We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of power may be of God and not of us. Yes, we're troubled on every side. My God, we're perplexed, but God is with us every step of the way. He said, "Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the world." First Corinthians 2:10, he'll reveal things to you. He'll tell you who's against you and who's for you. And when he tells you, you don't need to go and tell everybody else. Just ponder it. Do like Mary. Ponder it in your heart. Acts 1 and 8, he gives you the power for boldness. Boldness to witness, boldness to go into the highways and the hedges and compel men and women to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We have unfinished business. We must prioritize God's business.

All of this, saints of God, as you go out into the highways and the hedges, as you witness to your neighbors, to your loved ones, all of this is available to you by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Our affirmation of faith: We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in this present world. Now, if we are to prioritize God's business, we must walk in the spirit every single day. Galatians 5:16. When you walk in the spirit, you believe that the spirit is with you. The Holy Ghost dwells on the inside. We walk by faith and not by sight. You must know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Holy Ghost is with you. He'll lead you. He'll guide you. He'll teach you. He'll comfort you. He'll give you power. You shall have power. [Music] [Applause] I believe that when you have the Holy Ghost, you can take the knocks and the blows that come your way. I believe when you have the Holy Ghost, he'll lead you and guide you. When you yield and submit every day to the spirit, spirit of the Lord, spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, tell me what to do. Tell me where to go, lead me, guide me, and teach me. When you depend on the Holy Spirit, you can anticipate the effects of the spirit. Now, it's not just all in speaking in tongues and running across the church and shouting and dancing. That's a part of it. But when you have, when you really have, when you really have the Holy Ghost, you have the fruit of the spirit, the manifestation of the spirit. You won't be mean as a hound [Music] dog. I don't care how long your dress is. If you can't display the love of Jesus in your heart, you need to go back to the altar. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, and peace, longsuffering, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control. Look at your neighbor and say, "You've got to have some self-control."

Holy women, we must prioritize God's business. I must work the work of him that sent me while it is day. When the night comes, no man can work. Sit down. Historically, our convention motto dates back to the tenure of Mother Maddie Mclofflin. We cite it every time we're together: World evangelism, better homes, better schools, better communities for a better world. Women of God, the Holy Ghost has equipped us, empowered us, commissioned us to go forth in the vineyard and work. Fill us, Lord, with your glory. For that, our flesh must die. It's not about us. It's not about the accolades of man, but it's about walking in holiness and righteousness and praising the Lord. Our vineyard, women of God, is our homes, our marriages, our children, our local churches, our auxiliaries. And there are multiple, multiple opportunities for ministry in the Church of God in Christ International Department of Women: our districts, our schools, our communities, and the marketplace. We are that light, that city set on a hill that cannot be hid. We are the salt of the earth. When we are around our unsaved family members, we should exude so much love. We don't need to tell them they're not saved. They know they're not saved. The worse they act, the more they know they're not saved. But when we witness, women of God, let it be done with love and kindness, not judgment, not looking down on other individuals. Let the Holy Ghost lead and guide you. Family members, our next-door neighbor, the grocery store. Titus 2:7 says we must be a pattern of good works. When we wail and when we moan, according to Jeremiah 9:17, we're mourning for our communities. We're mourning for our cities. We're mourning for our marriages and families and our children. Many of our children have gone astray. Some are even incarcerated. But when we mourn and intercede and stand in the gap, the scripture says his eyes are on the righteous and his ears are open to our cry. Our predecessors taught us to be women of prayer. We are women of the same grace, the same tenacity, the same resilience and determination and dedication. It did not stop with them. They laid the foundation. But let us not minimize our commitment in this 21st century. We are well able to go forth in the strength of the Lord. Look at your neighbor and say, "We are well able to go forth in the strength of the Lord."

We are to work together in unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. We progress with team effort. We uplift one another. We bring the best out of one another. You share your experiences. You frequently celebrate one another. Hebrews 3:13 says to exhort one another daily lest you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. We need one another. We are ambassadors for Christ. Let us therefore take the opportunity to witness to the lost and the dying everywhere we go. I've told you about my airplane ministry. Oh yes. In my times past, I've stood on the street corner with my tambourine. I've witnessed to the lost and dying. I witnessed in the drug rehabilitation center. I went to juvenile hall. I went to the hospitals. But I'm not able to do that now. So when I'm on the plane, I have an airplane ministry. When I sit down and I like an aisle seat and when the when the flight attendant starts passing those drinks over me one by one, I begin to tell them about Jesus. I begin to tell them that they don't have to live a life of sin. I begin to tell them that if any man be in Christ, he'd be a brand new creature. Old things have passed away. I haven't kept count. I guess I'm going to start keeping count. But souls have come to the Lord through my airplane ministry. The only hope for this world is Jesus. The world must see Jesus in us. Thank you, Elder Carlos Moody. Lord, I am available to you. You gave me hands to reach out to man, to show him your love and your perfect plan. You gave me my ears. I can hear your voice so clear. But can I wipe away their tears? No. You gave me a voice to speak your word. So much unfinished business. Women of God, we must prioritize God's business. We must be strategic and purposedriven and go into the highways and the hedges because the harvest is plenteous and the laborers are few. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things shall be added to you.

Second Timothy 3:1, "In the last days perilous times shall come." They're here. Grievous times, hazardous times, the forces of evil. Don't be ignorant of his devices. The devil himself seeks to contaminate the church and defile our belief system. There's an all-out effort to mitigate and modify and alter and dilute the tenets of our faith. Jude 3 says, "Ungodly men have crept in unaware." They're on the usher board. They're in the choir. They're in strategic places. But you must know the works of the devil and cast the devil out in the name of Jesus. We are at war, saints. Demonic attacks are coming against us every hour of the day. You cannot live in a vacuum unaware of the schemes and devices. Be sober. Be vigilant because your adversary, the devil, the enemy comes to seek whom he may devour. Walk in your kingdom authority, women of God. Remember, every level has another devil. Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." 2 Corinthians 10:4, "But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God." So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm, hold fast to the teachings that have been passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or letter. Prioritize God's business. Listen, Esther, prioritize God's business. God had positioned her to speak truth to power. She was a queen. She lived in luxury. Mordecai challenged her. Said, "Well, all right. If you don't go, deliverance is going to come from another place." Shook her up. She and her maids went on a fast. She came out. She canceled her nail day, her spa day, her relaxation day. She rolled up her sleeves. She says, "I'm going into the king. And if I perish, I perish." The women were at the tomb. They prioritized God's business. They were the last at the cross and the first at the grave. The disciples were traumatized. They had to go rest. [Applause] But it was the women that proclaimed the good news. "He is not here. He has risen." Lydia the entrepreneur prioritized God's business. She opened up her home for ministry, the first church in Europe. Mary, Martha's sister, prioritized God's business. She chose the best part. Martha was in the kitchen cooking those greens and hog moss and chitterlings. But Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things shall be added. And then the woman at the well, she prioritized God's business. He told her all about herself. He told her about all her husbands and the one that wasn't her husband. But when he gave her that living water, she dropped her water pot. She went into the city and said, "Come see a man that told me all about myself. He's the light of the world." And then the widow Anna, we need widows to stand up and do the Lord's work. She was 84 years old. She went in the temple. Luke 2:37. She served God, fasting all day, praying all day. Women pastors need local churches to have praying women. Pray in the morning. Pray at noon. Pray when the sun goes down. The mothers are like Proverbs 31. She looks well to her household. The godly mother prioritizes God's business. She trains up a child in the way he should go so that when he's old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6. Fathers, Ephesians 6:4, "Provoke not your children, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Fathers and mothers, nurture your children. Let them feel love. Let them see you show affection to one another. Do it in their presence. They need models. Don't tell them you're not any good and you're not going to be any good just like your daddy or you just like your mother. That spirit will be deposited in them, and they'll carry that into their adulthood. A mother fosters growth for the ways of the Lord by precept and example. Teach them to memorize scriptures. Husbands, love your wives. Love your families. I'm so glad to see all of these men that came with their wives. Thank you, pastors. Thank you, superintendents, to all of the bishops, to the deacons. Thank you for your presence. Be gentle with your wife. I've told you. Yes. I've told the women to wash your back. What did you say? What did you say? But, but my question is, when she gets through washing your back, do you wash her back? [Applause]

Generation X, millennials, generation Z, you are the future of this church. You play a significant role in today's church. Mothers in Zion, a comparative narrative like back in the day is not conducive to meeting their needs. These young people are having to cope with unbelievable societal pressures. We must give them our time. That's what they want. They want our time. Let them talk without judgment. Hearing is a passive physical process. It's a passive physical process where your ear receives sound waves. But listening is an active cognitive process. It requires paying attention and understanding. Church mothers and pastors' wives, supervisors, I would love to see the auxiliaries team up together for mentorship. Ruth and Naomi, Mary and Elizabeth. Beloved women of God, it's not always what you say, but it's how you say it. The days of bullying and bossing these young women and telling them, "We took it in our age. We took it during our youth." These young women are not going to take that bossy and bully spirit. Stop it. [Applause] Colossians 4:6 says your speech should be gracious. Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." Speak with love, patience, and understanding. And then when your sister, when your sister girl falls down and makes a mistake, it is yours. According to Galatians 6:1, it's yours to go pick her up. Embrace her. Wipe the tears from her eyes. Tell her she can make it. When she goes back to church, tell her to put on her biggest hat, walk down the center aisle because she has a repentant heart. She's sorry for what she did, but we're not going to browbeat her for the rest of her life for what she did. God is a forgiving God. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Sometimes you've been saved for so long you forget that God picked you up out of the gutter, turned your life around. The older women, Titus 2:4, are to be women of sober judgment who teach the young women. And there are some of you women of God, your life at home is miserable. You live in a compromised atmosphere, many times abusive, unloving. I'm talking about pastors' wives. [Applause] You don't feel that you can talk to anybody, but we will listen. We will listen. You can pour out your heart to the mothers of the church. And we're not going to go and tell your business to anybody. That's the way it used to be where you could share your down settings with your neighbor. But the women, we're not going to tell anybody. We're going to pray for you. We're going to love on you. Mothers in Zion, James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows." Widows, you will not be forsaken in your old age where there's no family support. The young women of the church will come and see about you. They'll bring two or three bunches of greens, and then you teach them how to cook those greens.

Professionals and entrepreneurs, most of you in this church were raised in this church. You were educated and trained by this church. Your knowledge enhances the ministries of the church and it broadens our reach to the community. You have the contacts, your peers at every level. We will create initiatives that will include your expertise. We will not be intimidated by your education. Prioritizing God's business. All we ask of the professionals and the entrepreneurs is that you don't forget the protocol of the church and practice the ministry of presence, not just when you're on program. [Applause] Single women, God has a companion for you. All of the women that want to be married and you're not married, stand up. You are beautiful. You are a diamond. You are a queen. But remember, "He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing." Don't let the devil deal with your self-esteem or your insecurities. You're not weird. You're fearfully and wonderfully made. You are beautiful. You're valued in the kingdom. You are a significant part of the body. Some of the greatest intercessors in this church are single women. 1 Corinthians 7:8 says that singleness can be a gift. And when you go to the bank, first of all, if you're single, learn how to manage your money. Don't put it all on your back. Go back and get your higher education. Travel the world, purchase property, stocks, and bonds. Then when you walk in the bank, you're not Sally and Sue and Jane. You are Miss Brown. You are Mrs. Jones. You are a woman of value. I'm almost, almost through.

Finally, to the missionaries, to the women in ministry, I want you to be encouraged as you carry the work of the Lord. Some of you are in a season of obscurity. Remember when Paul had that experience on the Damascus highway? He went to Arabia and stayed three years. Listen, God is molding you and shaping you. He's building your character. You're going through some tests, but it's all coming out for your good. And we know that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. Preach the word, women. Preach the truth, not a lot of clichés. Preach the Bible. Know the word of God. It's quick and it's powerful and it's sharper than a two-edged sword. And then when you're invited to preach, you fasted and you prayed. I'm telling you, I thank God for our presiding bishop and the members of the general board. They honor women in ministry. But sometimes when you go to these churches and it's a great big podium and when they present you, they give you a little bitty lectern to stand on the side of the of the pulpit. What is that all about? You are a vessel. God has called you to ministry. Be who you are in Christ Jesus. Hold your head up high. The spirit of the Lord is upon you because he has anointed you to preach the gospel. Don't have an attitude though. Don't have an attitude that they give you a little lectern to stand behind because the anointing destroys the yoke. You can go in and out among the people and touch, lay hands on the sick and the sick shall recover, and the Lord will use you mightily. Hold your head up, lift up your head, oh ye gates, and be lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the [Music] [Applause] Kingoo woo! Woo! Woo! And the King, the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord God Almighty. He is the King of glory. [Music] [Music] [Applause] Come on, clap your hands and give God praise for this powerful word of God tonight. Come on, God in Christ. Clap your hands, open your mouth, and thank God for our general mother teaching and preaching the word of God tonight, reminding us that we need the power of the Holy Ghost. Ah, can you look at somebody and ask them, "Do you have the Holy Ghost?" Look at another neighbor and ask them, "Do you have the Holy Ghost?" According to Acts 2 and 4. Uh, we're getting ready to pray, and I want to make an appeal tonight, and it's a threefold appeal on...

Tonight, if you are not saved and you need to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, uh, the altar is open to you. We offer Jesus Christ to you tonight. Hallelujah. Is there one in the house tonight that needs to be saved?

And then my next appeal tonight is if you do not have the baptism of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2 and 4, our mother has let us know tonight that we need the Holy Ghost so that we can live this life, not just to shout and dance, but to live this life of holiness and sanctification.

And then, if you have the baptism of the Holy Ghost and you want to do what Mother has taught us tonight—you are a holy woman, but you want to recommit to prioritizing the business of God—you need the Holy Ghost. And if you need a refilling tonight, you can run to the altar right now. Come, come, come, come, come. And even at your seat, Glory, I feel God. Lift up your hands all over the room tonight. Hallelujah. I ask that you will not walk. Come on, lift up your hand. The whole house is an altar tonight. And we're going to ask God to fill us again in the name of Jesus.

Oh God, tonight we come before you. Uh, we repent tonight for putting other things above you. We repent tonight for prioritizing other things. Uh, but God, tonight we pray, uh, in the mighty name of Jesus that you would wash us again. Come on, women. That you would wash us again in the blood of the lamb. Uh, in the name of Jesus, oh God, tonight save your sons and daughters. Uh, deliver tonight. Uh, set free tonight. Uh, deliver and set free in the mighty name of Jesus. And God, we pray in the name of Jesus that you would fill us again, uh, with the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2 and 4, with evidence of speaking in tongues. Lift up your hands all over the room and say, "Feel me, Jesus. Feel me, Jesus." In the name of Jesus, we give up tonight. We give up everything, uh, that's not like you. Uh, and we say come the more in our soul. Come the more in our will. Uh, come the more in our mind. Uh, come on and call on him. Oh Jesus. Do it again. God, do it again. God on the inside. Uh, we got work to do. We got unfinished business. So God, we need your power to witness to the drunkers. Uh, we need your power to witness to those that are confused. Uh, we need your power. I dare you to lift up your hands and cry yes, Lord. Come on, church, shout yes, Lord. I surrender tonight. Have your way in me. I surrender tonight. We give up the ground tonight. Oh Jesus. Come on, church. Oh Jesus. Do it on the inside. Do it on the inside. Uh, fill us tonight in the name of Jesus. And we thank you for the feeling. They told me if you thank him, the more you thank him, the more he'll come in. Now come on, open your mouth and thank him tonight. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Come on, open your mouth. Clap your hands and thank him. Thank him for the Holy Ghost. Thank him for the Holy Ghost. Thank you for the Holy Ghost. Thank you for doing it. Come on, cry out to him. Cry out. Cry out to him. Oh, and we thank you tonight. And we thank you tonight. Come on, women. Press in and thank him tonight. Thank all. Thank you for the Holy Ghost. Thank you for keeping power. Thank you for do-right power. Thank you, Jesus. Come on and thank him for the Holy Ghost. Yes. We say yes. And we thank you tonight for another yes. We thank him tonight for another yes. Uh, now God, tonight we thank you for these that have stepped out to the altar. And Father, we pray, uh, that you would do it for them, uh, in the name of Jesus. Uh, set free, uh, and deliver, uh, in the name of Jesus. Uh, we thank you for a refilling tonight. Uh, ah, if you believe that he's refilled you tonight and you know it, come on, clap your hands and open your mouth and thank him. We thank you for doing it in the name of Jesus. And Father, we pray tonight, uh, that the remainder of this conference, this convention will be a Holy Ghost revival in the mighty name of Jesus. Uh, and we give God glory. Come on, clap your hands. And we give God glory. And we give God glory. These young people are crying out, church. We give God glory. We got time for souls. And we give God glory. Hey. And we give God glory. I dare you to clap your hands like the devil's head is between it and begin to thank God for the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus.

[Music]

Well, there are souls on the altar and I wish some mother would get excited, be like this was your daughter on the altar. Come on. Come on, Zion. The evangelist said, "We have time for souls." Hallelujah, Jesus. Glory be to God. Hallelujah. Why don't you just look back at somebody around you and just say, "I am prioritizing God's business." Find somebody else and say, "I am prioritizing God's business." Please clap your hands and celebrate God and our general supervisor who stood so tall tonight. Come on, women of God. Let's thank him for the word of God tonight. And we thank God for the souls that are still being ministered to. And we know that our altar workers are very well equipped and prepared to continue to minister to them to make sure that their soul is anchored in Jesus Christ. We're going home. Women of God, could you do us a favor? Just hold your seat just for about seven minutes. God is conducting business. Amen. And when God is conducting business, we don't want to walk out on his agenda. If you can just hold your seat. Hold your seat. Hallelujah. Our first assistant presiding bishop is coming to present our presiding bishop and after which our benedictory prayer will be brought to us by Lady Katherine Crawford Hawkins from Guatemala jurisdiction. Again, let's hold our seats and hold our feet because God is handling business. Let everybody stand. We have heard from heaven tonight. Thank you, Mother Lewis. Thank you so much. What a tremendous move of God. Without any further delay, we receive the leader that God has ordained for this church and for this hour, presiding bishop of the church of God in Christ, Bishop, I want to share something that's very important. We cannot be in the city of St. Louis and not pay attention to what's going on in our surrounding. Amen. Watch this video just a moment.

[Music]

Then the Lord, he spared my life. Oh yes, he did. Now I can say that I'm still here and it's by the grace, the grace of God. My brothers and sisters, a powerful tornado, one mile wide and 23 miles long, has devastated the St. Louis metropolitan area. Winds topping 150 mph have destroyed homes, displaced families, and severely damaged several of our KIC churches. Many of our members are now without shelter. Some have lost everything. In this moment of heartbreak, KIC charities, the benevolent arm of our church, is stepping in. But we can't do it alone. We need your help. Your gift to the relief fund will help restore what was lost. Not just buildings, but hope, dignity, and faith in action. Please scan the QR code on your screen or visit coojic.org to give today. Let's show our brothers and sisters that even in the storm, the church still stands and that love, God's love, will always rise from the rubble. Thank you, and may God bless each and every one of you.

[Music]

My brothers and sisters, as we gather today here in St. Louis, Missouri, our hearts are heavy for our brothers and sisters here in the city of St. Louis who have been impacted by the recent tornado. Many have lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their sense of security. They're facing unimaginable challenges. Are you hearing me? And as the body of Christ, we've got to respond. I want you to know that, uh, I will be touring along with some other leaders of the church, our local KIC churches, and visiting families who have been directly affected. I will be there to listen, to encourage, and to ensure that every person knows that they are not alone. We are the church of God in Christ. And when one of us hurts, we all hurt. In response to this crisis, we are launching the 2025 disaster relief fund. This fund will provide immediate assistance to those who need it most, offering temporary housing, food, clothing, and other vital resources to help our families recover and rebuild. I am also pleased to share that COIC Charities will have attorneys available at several of our local churches this Thursday and Friday, May 29th and 30th. And they will provide free legal support to support families, uh, as they navigate insurance claims and much more. We want to ensure that every possible need is met in this hour of crisis. Thank you, Mother Lewis. Because while here in St. Louis for the 75th International Women's Convention, let us show the spirit, the true spirit of this great gathering by extending our love to the people of St. Louis who have been devastated by this storm. Let us be the hands and feet of Jesus, showing our love through tangible acts and generosity and support. I stand here today and I think Mother Law is somewhere around to say that we cannot do this alone. We need your help. Look at somebody and say, we need your help.

My brothers and sisters, I learned a few days ago that the siren or alarm on police cars, ambulances, or fire trucks is very important. A recent study showed that it took approximately 15 minutes to get to a destination without sounding their alarm. But with the alarm, that same trip took 11 minutes. Church, time is of the essence. And I stand here tonight to sound the alarm. Please scan the QR code on your screen and make a generous donation to the KOIC Charities disaster relief fund. Every single dollar that you give brings hope and healing to those in desperate need. Together, let's demonstrate the love of Christ that it's stronger than any storm. And so, I'm asking those of you who will, if you'll stand with me and let's make a donation to help our brothers and sisters in St. Louis, Missouri, and the surrounding areas. My wife and I are going to start this fund by donating $10,000 tonight. And I'm going to ask that some of our leaders would come forth and help me with this. Our first assistant, Bishop J.W. Mlin, is giving $5,000. Thank you. Thank you, Bishop. Come right on, bishops. Come on, preachers. Help me. I'm going to… Thank you, Bishop Jerry Maynard. $5,000. Thank you, $000. Bishop Hankerson and Missouri Midwest. $5,000. Thank you, Bishop Lynwood Dillard. $5,000. Thank you, Bishop Brandon Porter. $1,500. White. Thank you, Bishop Frankon White. $5,000. Bishop C.H. Mlin, $5,000. Thank you, Bishop Prince Bryant, $5,000. Thank you, Bishop Bishop Daryl Hines, $1,000. Thank you, our dear mother, who gave us such a tremendous word tonight. Mother Barbara Makul Lewis, $5,000. Bishop Bishop Michael Golden, our financial secretary, is giving $2,000. Bishop Lawrence Wooten, who is affected by what has happened, is giving $1,000. Thank you. Bishop Walker is giving $2,000. Come on, let me hear from you. Come on, let me hear from you. Our general secretary is coming. Let me hear from you. Our general secretary, Bishop Robert Rudolph, $2,000 and Bishop Talbert Swan, is giving $1,000. Bishop Michael Hill, who is our assistant secretary for the board, he had knee surgery, and that's why he's not here, but he is giving $5,000. Bishop Sheldon Road, $1,000. Our chairman of the board of bishops, Bishop Donald Murray, $2,000. God bless Bishop Milton Hawkins is giving $3,000. God bless Bishop Neville, $1,000. Come right on. God bless you, uh, President Chairman of the AIM Convention, Superintendent Nathaniel Green. $1,000. God bless you, Bishop Hardy. $1,000. God bless you, Bishop Kershaw. $1,000. God bless President Spreewell. $1,000. Our chairman of the general assembly, Bishop L.F. Thon. $1,000. Thank you, Bishop Green. Uh, Bishop the um Bishop Philip Green, $1,000. God bless you. Our dear Bishop uh Proctor is giving $1,500. Our chairman of the pastors and elders council administrative assistant Michael Edy, $1,000. Thank you. Bishop Bishop Fleming, $1,000. Our chairman of the trustee board, Bishop Designate Timmans, $1,000. Albert Mlin, New Sweet Home Church, $1,500. Thank you. Thank you. Come on. Anyone else? Listen. Anyone else? Come right on. I see some more coming. Ladies, I can take your money, too. Yes. Thank you so much. Our first assistant, uh, one and only Mother Dr. Wilma Huey, $500. Thank you, Bishop Al Gatlin. $1,000. God bless Bishop uh Clarence Sers, $1,000. Bishop Rodrik Hennings is coming. $1,000. Yeah. Bishop Nixon. $1,000. Come on. Come on. Come on. I see some some walking. Some… Thank you. Bishop Melvin Smith. $1,000. God bless you, Bishop Patrick Wooden. $2,000. Bishop Marquella Fruit, $1,200. $1,000. God bless you. Uh, is that 10? Oh, that's one $1,000. Bishop Hall here. $1,000. Bishop Forson, $500. Bishop Ethan Shear, $1,000. Bishop Samuel Duncan, $1,000. Bishop Ben Fitzgerald, $1,000. Bishop uh beautiful um his beautiful wife is MC and Grant, $1,000. Come on. Bishop Bishop Norfleet, $1,000. Thank you, brother. God bless you. Anyone else, please? You don't have to be a preacher. I see you. That's elder. No, that's Bishop, assistant treasure.

[Music]

500,000 $500. Thank you, Mother Georgia Min Low. $500. That's Bishop Anderson. Yeah. God bless you, Bishop Steam. Bless you. $1,000. Thank you, Bishop Patterson. $1,000. Thank you, uh, Deacon Savage. $250. Thank you. Anyone else? Come right on. Help us. Mother Sims is getting my attention. Go see what I want you to go there, Bishop, and see what Mother Mary Tucker, cuz I learn to listen when she speaks.

[Music]

1,000 for Bishop Hogan. 1,000 for Mother Tucker. $2,000. Mother Sam's $500. Mother Keys, $500. Dr. Brian, $500. Thank you, ladies. Thank you so much. Yes, Sister Grant is pointing to her husband. I see uh Dr. uh Vanderolin Kennedy, $500. Yes. Um um Dr. Grant is saying her husband gave for her as well. Bless you. Yeah. Yes, sir. from Alabama. Wheeler Wheeler $1,000. Thank you. Yes. Oh, yeah. Bishop Knight, $1,000. God bless you, Bishop Mcome. $1,000. $1,000. Thank you. Thank you. Come on, Mother Gatlin. Who directed that choir tonight? $500. Thank you, Mother. Come right on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. This is a good cause. I wish somebody would say amen. Amen. Supervisor Dickerson, Mrs. Yes. Mary Dickerson, $1,000. Dr. Cole is giving how many? 500. She… Thank you, Dr. Cole. Amen. Amen. As Mother Taylor is giving 500. Bless you, Mother Taylor. Thank you. Did I miss it? There. Dr. Rogers has given $500. Thank you, Mother Rogers. Pastor Kenny from Memphis. $500. Who is that? Kenny. Dr. Kenny from Memphis. $500. Thank you. Thank you. I see that. That's uh Sister Mother Millie Kobe. $200. Thank you. Thank you. 500. Mother, God bless Mother Mlin. $500. All right. I see somebody in the choir. 500. Who is that? Mother Mother Law. Help me. Mother No. Right. Straight. Mother Boen. 500. Thank you. Balden. I'm sorry. Mother Balden. Yes. $500. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. All right. Anybody else? There's the president of the um of the women's department, music department, the Barbara Sego is giving 250. Thank you, Dr. Sego. I see somebody up there. Is that mother? That's Mother Hightower. Ain't it mother? Forgive me. I just had a little a little procedure on my eye, so I'm not real clear. That's why I need y'all to help me. Mother Washington 500. That's it. God bless you, my sister. Sister Edy, First Lady Edy, $500. Ron Hill from Los Angeles. Ron Hill. Bishop Ron Hill, $3,000. Bishop Ron Hill, $3,000. God bless you, Bishop Cranford. $1,000. Thank you. Here's Pastor Jackson is coming. Thank you. $500. Pastor Andrew Jackson. Make checks payable to KJIC Charities. I see Mother Mother. Yeah, that's Mother Francis Kelly. $200. Mother Walton is $100. McKenna. Mother Mary Jane Walton. $100. Lady B.J. McKenna, $250. Mother Darlene Stone, $500. Mother Lee, $500. And did you say Mother Stone? Yes. Mother Stone, $500. Darling Stone, Deborah Rose, $500. Mother Deborah Rhodess. And myself, Mother Renee Murray, $250. Sister Gla Haron is sending $2,000. Mother Glory. Yeah, I call Mother Rogers. 500. Yes. Anyone else? There's a hands. Help me. That's Mother Malone. Mother Sandal from Virginia. $200. Help me. Mother Janice Sandalin. $200. Moody. Mother Moody. $200. Let's make it on easy on Bishop tonight. Mother Mallister, $1,000. Thank you, Mother. Mother Barnes from Texas. $1,000. Bishop Leroy Jackson. Bishop Leroy Jackson. $1,000. That's Mother Keys jurisdictional prelet. That's right. Elder Derek Scott. $500. Dr. Lewis, $500. The son of our supervisor of women. Dr. Curtis Daniels, $200. We're going to ask everyone to stand with a gift. Those of you that can get that $200 gift in your hand. Get that $100 gift in your hand. Get an $80 gift in your hand tonight. Stand all over the building. Each and every one of you, we've heard our presiding bishop's call. Let's make this easy on him. I want you to get that gift. Get that gift. Get that gift. Get that $40 gift. $50 gift. We're standing all over the building. No one should be seated. We've seen the call. We've heard our brothers and sisters. We see the need. We sense the moment. We're here to support. Lift that gift all over the building tonight. Father, as there is a sensitivity to our brothers and sisters tonight, I pray, Father, that as we release seed tonight, you will release favor concerning us. And that before we get home, Father, the evidence will be in our lives. And so, Father, as we come from all over this building and bring our seeds tonight, bless the hearts of those here in St. Louis. Let them feel our love. And for those watching us online tonight who are seated in this moment, who feel this burden, who understand the vision and the call of our presiding bishop tonight, Father, favor them as they release seed and we give you praise and honor you in Jesus' name. I don't want you to wait on anybody. I want you to come from wherever you are and start coming, coming, coming all over this building. Don't you wait on anybody. Come, come, come. Start moving in this direction from all over the building as the choir is singing and providing support to us tonight. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Bring those gifts. Bring those gifts in this direction. Thank you, my brothers. Thank you, my sister. My storage is empty. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you, beloved. As you come tonight and those that are giving online, thank you. Tomorrow, as our presiding bishop goes into the neighborhoods here in the St. Louis area. They need to know he's done the work and that he's there to support and that the Church of God in Christ is endorsing the call and we're able to stand under the moment. Thank you so much. Thank you for your kindness and your liberality tonight. Some of you are even giving that $500. You don't need to be seen. Your name does not need to be called, but you are sensitive to this moment. Thank you so kindly for releasing that $300 gift, that $1,000 gift. My storage is empty. Thank you so much, Bishop Ar. Hopkins, Senior, $1,000. There are those leaders that are watching us online. You're not in the building. You'll be here by the end of the week. But you said, "I'm supporting my presiding bishop. I'm supporting leadership tonight. I feel the call." Oh, thank God for leadership sensitive to its constituents, to its pastors, its superintendent, its leaders, and needs the moment every time. Come on, beloved. Come on, beloved. Thank you. Thank you so kindly. And as you walk back to your seat, as you prepare to go to your hotel, walk in a new favor and a new joy. My storage is empty. The Hogans from Mississippi. $100. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. They're yet coming tonight. They're yet coming. They're yet coming. Thank you. Thank you. The Lord bless your gift. One more time. My storage. My storage is empty. My storage is empty. I am I am I am failable. The Lord bless you. Getting under this burden, getting under this moment, and now may God get up under your burden and meet your need is our prayer. Thank you so much. The final gifts are coming. Thank you for this opportunity. Hallelujah. Gifts are coming from all over the building. Thank you. Thank you. Church of God in Christ standing on the front line doing what we always do. Thank you. Thank you to those watching online. Thank you for your… Will you clap your hands all over the building and thank God for the sensitivity of our presiding bishop and his love and passion for the ministry. Final gifts are coming. Hallelujah. Thank you so [Music] much. We're going to ask at this time the presiding bishop's designate will come. Thank you so much. The offering is blessed. The Lord bless you. Praise God. Praise God. While we're yet giving, please let us stand for the final blessing and benediction. Our hearts are still burning from the words from our mother. We love you. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hallelujah.

Thank you, gracious mighty God, our heavenly father. As we come to the close of another program, as we're yet feasting upon the words from our general supervisor, encouraging us to complete the unfinished business. Oh, great God, bless her; restore her strength in the mighty name of Jesus. Lord, continue to bless her cabinet as they work during this week. Bless our great leader, the Bishop John Drew Shear. Hallelujah.

Lord, bless the general board. Bless our first lady, Lord, and bless the saints, the women and men of God, as they depart, whether by walking or by car. Lord, cover them, protect them, shield them from danger, seen and unseen. Lord, as they rest tonight, Lord, restore their strength so that we'll be ready to come in the morning to serve you the more.

Lord, as we depart this service, we do not depart your presence because we're filled with the Holy Ghost and we're praying for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost as we prepare for your return because we have business, unfinished business to complete. Lord, bless us, bless us, keep us, cover us, Lord Jesus.

In the name of Jesus, it is our prayer that the Lord bless thee and keep thee. That the Lord shine his face upon us and be gracious unto you. That the Lord lift his countenance upon you and grant you peace. And the church said, "Amen."

God bless you, saints, as we depart. [Music]