The Mount Zion Baptist Church Women’s Ministry invites the community to celebrate faith, fellowship, and purpose at its inspiring prayer breakfast this Saturday, Jan. 24, at 9 a.m.
This year marks 84 years of Mount Zion’s Women’s Ministry empowering generations of women through service, worship, and leadership. The Rev. Dr. Julie Vaughn, president of the ministry, announced the theme for the anniversary celebration: “Empowering Women in Faith Through Praise and Prayer,” with an emphasis on the scriptures Jeremiah 29:11 and Proverbs 31:30.
Sister Chelsea Riddick-Most, an Emmy Award-winning producer, will serve as the mistress of ceremonies, ensuring a meaningful experience for all attendees.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Romanita Hairston, a Seattle native and accomplished team builder, convener, and leader with more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit, for-profit, philanthropic, board service, and ministry sectors.
She began her career in the nonprofit sector at World Vision, the largest child-focused private charity in the world. She spent 20 years there, serving as vice president of U.S. programs for 10 years. She now serves as the president and founder of MORE320. As chief executive officer, she oversees all grantmaking, investments, programs, and operations of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, a private nonprofit foundation. She is also a director at Microsoft.
She accepted the call to preach and teach the gospel while still in college. Her calling has given her the ability to witness the gospel’s power to transform through words and actions. She believes in the power of purposeful collective action to end poverty, fight injustice, and build a better world for children. She is part of the preaching team in her local church and has held numerous church leadership roles, from children’s church director to youth leader to elder.
Hairston holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Washington and an MBA from Eastern University in Philadelphia.
Tia Naché Yarbrough, a dynamic spoken word artist, longtime educator, and passionate community leader, will share her poetry with a voice that speaks truth and a heart rooted in justice.
Josephine Howell will bless attendees with her God-given, powerful gift of song. The passion, inspiration, and melodious sound experienced in her breathtaking performances are birthed from a life of challenging struggles and immense victories.
The prayer breakfast was started by Sister Elma Horton to unite the community in prayer.
Community members are encouraged to attend the 84th Women’s Ministry Celebration events and to save the following dates: Workshop on Feb. 28; Marketplace on March 7; Intergenerational Prayer Service on March 18; and on March 22, Worship Service with guest preacher Dr. Cheryl Ivey Green, executive minister of First Baptist Church of South Richmond, with a reception immediately following.
The prayer breakfast co-chairs are Deacons Carol Versey Cobb and Juanita Riddick. There is no charge for the breakfast, but a freewill offering is suggested. The co-chairs for the MZBC 84th anniversary are Sisters Cindy Brown-Gibbs and Elisheba Wokoma. All events will take place at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
