Several Honored During “Women of the Year” Event

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

NEWBURGH – “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So, he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” – Proverbs 31:10-12. That was the theme of the 2025 Women of the Year Event at Soul Saving Station on Sunday, February 2nd. The event honored first ladies.

“I just thank God that I was thought about… You never know who’s watching… I thank God for this moment that I am able to be here to be honored as a First Lady,” said First Lady Glenda Banks of In the Faith Christian Fellowship Ministry.

Many may think being a first lady is all “rainbows and butterflies.” First Lady Ella Bryantof Soul Saving Station, who was also honored, debunked that misconception.

“It’s not an easy job. We go through along with the pastor. Because when he’s stressed, we’re stressed. We gotta deal with them. When he comes home after dealing with everything in church… we deal with them… We love our husbands. We’re not worried about who’s looking at them, who’s talking to them. They’re pastors. People are gonna talk to them. They want them to hold their hand, touch their shoulder, whatever. We know who they are going home with. I think I’ve been married long enough… I just thank God that, I’ve been married, next month, it will be 60 years!” said Lady Bryant who is celebrating by renewing her vows to her husband Superintendent Dr. Richard L. Bryant in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

First Lady Alicia Jones of Heaven Bound Church and First Lady Lenail Wilkins Dorsey of New Life Deliverance Church were also honored at the ceremony. Lady Wilkins Dorsey gave some advice to new first ladies.

“Just be yourself and they’ll accept you. It’s hard in the beginning… Just knowing that you love your husband [will] get [you] through… Be strong and just hold your head up,” said Lady Wilkins Dorsey.

The event was the brainchild of Evangelist Corine Andrews. It was emceed by Elder Carmen Lopez. Four female ministers brought forth the word: Elder Patricia Murray from Mt. Carmel Church, Elder Lillian Brooks of Heaven Bound Church, Min. Julia Nicholas of Holy Temple, and Elder Mary McLymore of Life Restoration Church. Elder McLymore emphasized the importance of virtuousness and obedience to God. She highlighted that a virtuous woman is capable, hardworking, and has her own goals and character, even within marriage. Elder McLymore stressed the need for women to find and marry men who love the Lord, as they will be treated with love and respect. She also discussed the significance of being obedient to one’s own spouse and maintaining a safe and loving home environment from Proverbs 21:9.

“‘It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop than to dwell in a house with a brawling woman.’ A man doesn’t always want to come home to somebody that’s always fussing, never has a smile, and got your hair done… So, we have to fix ourselves, fix our mouth, fix our countenance, fix who we are. We got something to say? Give the man time. Give yourself time. Because, you know, nowadays, both people are working. So, we gotta give ourselves time to come in the house and calm down and cool down and figure out some things before we open up our mouth to talk. We have to be careful that we don’t drive him away, that he will not be happy to come home. But he ought to be happy to say, ‘I’m on my way home to my baby ‘cause she got some food on the stove or she went and got some and fixed it up like she cooked it,’” said Elder McLymore who announced that she is engaged.

Min. Julia Nichols highlighted the role of first ladies who are responsible for praying for their husbands, children, and the congregation, and being hospitable and loving. Min. Nichols stressed that they should support their pastors.

“The Bible tells them, ‘Husbands love your wives.’ And the wife sees that she reverences her husband. So, first ladies are put in a very, very honorable place, but at the same time they’re put in a place of labor. You ought to carry the burden with your husband and those nights when he’s up and he’s praying, you have to pray beside him. You got to be able to have vision. You’ve gotta be able to see where he’s trying to take the church. You got to see how much he loves the church because God put him over the flock.”

Journalist Ms. Jones