Sojourner Truth Women's Ministry Conference
Pre-Conference: Thursday, September 25th, 2025
Conference: Friday, September 26th thru 27th, 2025
Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland
140 Richmond Road
Euclid, Ohio 44143
As people in general and women in particular face the uncertainties, pain, and struggles of these times, we might be tempted to lose hope. Rather than retreating in despair and defeat, we can embrace and follow the words of womanist giant, Sojourner Truth:
“I will not allow my life’s light to be determined by the darkness around me.”
Conference Theme: “Empowered by God’s Light, Leading with God’s Love”
Scripture: “5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
At this pivotal moment, as women leaders, we must “retool” ourselves. The Sojourner Truth Women’s Ministry Conference is designed to assist in this endeavor. Women at all levels of ministry (clergy and laywomen) are welcome! We will focus on leadership development: leadership styles, navigating world and church politics as leaders, economic empowerment, mentorship, and nurturing holistic health (spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial) as we lead. The conference will also include components for teen girls.
Conference Schedule
Pre-Conference, Thursday September 25th, 2025
Gather at the church: 12:30 p.m.
Travel together to the Sojourner Truth Plaza in Akron, Ohio, 37 North High Street, Akron, Ohio 44308
12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
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Tour the plaza and adjoined facility
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Special ceremony honoring Sojourner Truth, highlighting the “Sojourner Truth Traveling Stole,” led by Rev. Dr. LaVerne C. Hall, President of the Board of Directors of the Dr. James and Janie Washington Cultural Center, Seattle, WA
4:30 p.m.
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Dinner together in downtown Akron, Ohio
Conference, Friday, September 26th, 2025
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Check-in: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
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Dinner: 5:30 – 6:45 p.m.
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Opening Workshop: 6:45-7:50 p.m. “Fundraising 101” presented by Rev. Brian Upton, Executive Director of Building Hope in the City
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Opening Worship: 8:00 – 9:15 p.m., Guest Preacher, Dr. Lumar Vargas, Managing Director of Leadership and Development at Teach for America
Conference, Saturday, September 27th, 2025
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Check-in and Continental Breakfast: 9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
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Opening Plenary: 10:00 – 10:50 a.m., “Post Traumatic Leadership Syndrome,” Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Dennis
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Day 2 Worship: 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Guest Preacher, Rev. Dr. TaNikka Sheppard, Executive Director, Cleveland Baptist Association, General Secretary, North American Baptist Fellowship
Afternoon Workshops 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
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"Lead like a Woman" Ms. Gimbiya Kettering, author, former Director of Interculturalism and Diversity at The Church of the Brethren, 12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
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"Financial Freedom and Empowerment " Ms. Linda Peavy, 1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
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"Caring for Ourselves as we Lead," Elder Linette Graddic, 2:30 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.
Teen Workshops concurrent with Women’s workshops: 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m., 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
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"Building our Muscles for our Future:" things to think about as you choose a career path, resume writing, soft skills, interviews, networking, things to help you stand out. Ms. Chanté Roberts, Executive Assistant, Mandel Community Center at The Sojourner Truth Building. 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
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“Self-Awareness, Self-Care, and Self-Esteem,” Pastor Sadawna Gainer 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Closing Commissioning and Holy Communion
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Commissioning Service and Holy Communion, 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Rev. LaThelma Armstrong, Executive Director, American Baptist Women’s Ministries
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Closing remarks and Benediction – 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Rev. Dr. Chris Smith, Director, Rudd Empowerment Center@ABWM, Conference Host, Senior Pastor, Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland
Speakers
Rev. Dr. LaVerne C. Hall
President of the Board of Directors of the Dr. James and Janie Washington Cultural Center, Seattle, WA
Dr. Lumar Vargas
Managing Director of Leadership and Development at Teach for America
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Dennis
Founder and CEO of the Minority Behavioral Health Group (MBHG)
Rev. Dr. TaNikka Sheppard
Executive Director, Cleveland Baptist Association, General Secretary, North American Baptist Fellowship
Rev. LaThelma Armstrong
Executive Director, American Baptist Women’s Ministries
Workshop Leaders
Rev. Brian Upton
Executive Director of Building Hope in the City
Ms. Gimbiya Kettering
Author, former Director of Interculturalism and Diversity at The Church of the Brethren
Chanté Roberts
Executive Assistant, Mandel Community Center at The Sojourner Truth Building
Ms. Linda Peavy
Entrepreneur, Advisor, Instructor, Founder, owner, and CEO of LiPav Consulting, LLC, a marketing, grant writing, and communications firm
Elder Linette Graddic
M.Ed., LPC, Director, Mercy Center Global Ministries; Therapist, Therapeutic Life Changers Counseling Center
Pastor Sadawna Gainer
Executive Pastor and 1st Lady of M.A.S.H. Ministries New Life Center, Cleveland, Ohio, Infrastructure Engineer for Cuyahoga County Department of Information Technology
Conference Host
Rev. Dr. Chris Smith
Director, Rudd Empowerment Center@ABWM, Senior Pastor, Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland
Hotel Options
Courtyard Cleveland Willoughby
35103 Maplegrove Rd, Willoughby, OH 44094
(440) 530-1100 (approx. 5.6 miles from the church)
HGI Hotel in Mayfield Heights Ohio East of Cleveland
1421 Golden Gate Blvd., Mayfield Heights, OH, 44124, US
(440) 442-8400 (approx. 8.77 miles from the church)
Registration
Pre-Conference - $25 (payment covers group transportation to Akron, Ohio for the event. Dinner cost not included)
Conference - $75 (payment covers all meals, programming and conference bag. Hotel and travel not included)
Cancellation Policy: Refunds forfeit a $50 processing fee. Refunds will be issued at the discretion of American Baptist Women's Ministries. Written cancellation notice must be received by July 1, 2024. No refund notification requests will be honored after July 2, 2024. Written cancellation notice may be emailed to info@abwomensministries.org.