On June 11, 2020, American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) celebrated 69 years of ministry with a virtual celebration.
.” was the scripture. For 69 years, ABWM has inspired women to lead, addressed issues of economic and gender equity, and persisted in ministries amidst changing times and changing needs. ABWM journeys with women in career choices, leadership development, and changing economic and social conditions while simultaneously advancing kingdom building.
Even in this strange season wherein our country finds itself amid a pandemic and unbridled racism, ABWM sustains steadfast hope that God will heal our land. In the midst of COVID-19, ABWM is committed to finding ways to support our communities, especially women and children, as they reset and reimagine their future. Through region and state presidents, local and national partners, ABWM is continually acquiring knowledge about the best ways to serve its communities. ABWM’s Building Beloved Community Ministry sustains its commitment to deepening cross-cultural relationships, teaching, and providing safe spaces to learn cultural competence and collaborative leadership.
We stand on the shoulders of women like Violet Rudd and Blanche Hodge board president that understood that the commitment and wellbeing of women are foundational for healthy churches, healthy communities, and a healthy denomination. We are grateful that they took up the mantel and began this journey 69 years ago. We trust that ABWM is poised to be light in the darkness, to be hope in the midst of disparity, to be kind to the mean-spirited, to be bridge-builders in gaps of understanding, and to be love to the unloved. We’ve come this far by faith, and we have so much further to go. Our mission of education and prevention of domestic violence and sex trafficking, cross-cultural relationships, economic empowerment, UN sustainable goals, and building beloved community provides fertile ground for our ministries to grow. 69 years and our sisterhood are strong, our friendships are affirming, and our ministries are still blossoming,” noted Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain, executive director of ABWM.
Gift American Baptist Women's Ministries with a $69 birthday donation for 69 memorable years of ministry with women and girls: Honor the past by supporting the present and ensuring the future! Send your tax-deductible gift by check payable to American Baptist Women's Ministries, marked as "birthday gift", 1075 First Ave STE C-210, King of Prussia, PA 19406, or
click here to give online.
Guest Speaker: Rev. Zina Jacque
Zina Jacque is the Lead Pastor of the Community Church of Barrington in Illinois. She has served on the staffs of multicultural, urban, and suburban churches and has done extensive work in the areas of education, counseling, and support programs.
She has worked in the not for profit realm, founding the Pastoral Counseling Center of Trinity Church Boston and serving as the First Executive Director of the Boston Ten Point Coalition.
Prior to entering ministry Rev. Jacque completed a 20+ year career in higher education serving in senior positions at Northwestern, the University of Chicago, Mills College (Oakland, CA), and the University of California (both Santa Cruz and the Office of the President).
Jacque holds a Ph.D. in Theology (Practical Theology) and a Masters of Divinity degree (Summa Cum Laude) from Boston University, a M.A. from Columbia University, and a B.A. from Northwestern University. She has served as an adjunct professor of Pastoral Care at the University of Chicago and Boston University. She serves or has served on the boards of the American Baptist Churches USA (Board of General Ministries), National Senior Campuses, JourneyCare Hospice and Palliative Care Centers, Samaritan Counseling Centers, and Courageous Conversations Barrington.
She is described as an agent of change, a voice of hope and a source of faith.
Special Music: Jennifer Shaw
Jennifer Shaw is a Telly Award winning speaker, author, singer, songwriter and five-time Top 40 Billboard artist. Her ministry has been featured by Focus on the Family, Insight for Living, FamilyLife Today, Autism Speaks, CRU, Joni and Friends, and many more. Her book,
Life Not Typical: How Special Needs Parenting Changed My Faith and My Song, has brought national attention to the issue of Sensory Processing Disorder.
After being classically trained as an opera singer at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, Jennifer became a professor of music at Cedarville University before she felt led into her current role in contemporary music. Her testimony includes tragedy and triumph, being both an adoptive parent, and the parent of a special needs child, and losing her father to Lou Gehrig's disease. With the release of her fifth album, Nothing to Fear, her songs offer hope in any circumstance and also reflect her experiences on the mission field in Asia, Africa, Central America and the UK.
Special Music: Hornrette Washington
A native New Yorker, Hornrette Washington started playing the piano at the age of four, and it was apparent early on that she was gifted and destined for greatness. As a young adult, she established an interdenominational children’s choir, “The Starlets of Corona,” which sang at churches throughout the five boroughs and in the southland doing community work at prisons, drug rehab centers, and senior facilities. Over the course of 35+ years she has served faithfully over five choirs, sign ministry for the hearing impaired, and a liturgical dance group. Ms. Washington had the pleasure of doing her first CD “The Essence Of Gospel” which captured her versatility on the piano. Hornrette has received numerous awards, serving as consultant, musician, and praise and worship leader not only throughout New York, but also with and on behalf of American Baptists nationally and internationally.
Spoken Word: Minister Barbara Florvil
Minister Barbara Florvil, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, is a proud daughter of Haitian immigrants. Upon graduating from Tufts University in 2013 with a B.A. in Child Development, Barbara worked as an Education Coordinator at the Berean Community & Family Life Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Min. Florvil, is a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, where she received her Master of Divinity. While at Princeton she served as the co-chair of the Association of Black Seminarians Women’s Fellowship focusing her scholarship in Black Church and Women, Gender and Theology Studies. Min. Florvil was licensed to preach the Gospel at Berean Baptist Church in Brooklyn under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Arlee Griffin, Jr. Currently, she joyfully serves as the Assistant to the Pastor for Youth at Alfred Street Baptist Church, in Alexandria, VA, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley. Min. Florvil also serves as a member of the Lott Carey Global Christian Missional Community’s International Youth Development team and the Young Adult Women’s Ministries Advisory Team for American Baptist Women’s Ministries. Through her love for Christ and community, Min. Florvil works to empower children, youth and young adults to experience God in ways that are powerful and relevant.