NEW ORLEANS – Mary Kassian, married to Brent Kassian (Chaplain for a professional football team), the mother of three sons, as well as the Distinguished Professor of Women’s Studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, is this year’s featured speaker for the 2012 Southern Baptist Convention Ministers’ Wives Luncheon in New Orleans, La., on Tuesday, June 19 at 12:00 noon at the Morial Convention Center in Hall B-1.
She has published books, Bible studies and videos including: In My Father’s House: Finding Your Heart’s True Home, Vertically Inclined, The Feminist Mistake and Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild. She has been featured on radio shows such as Focus on the Family, Family Life Today and Revive Our Hearts and is a featured speaker for the national True Woman Conferences. Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Mary co-authored and just released True Woman 101-Divine Design, an eight week study on Biblical womanhood which every participant at this year’s luncheon will receive along with her excellent LifeWay Bible study Conversation Peace.
The theme for this year’s luncheon is “The Hidden Person of the Heart,” based on I Peter 3:3-4, “Your adornment must not be merely external…let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.” According to this year’s president, Janet Wicker from First Baptist Church of Naples, Florida, the luncheon will also highlight and bring support to several international women’s ministries: Freeset, Women of Hope of Nigeria, and The Widow’s Oil.
She shares, “we wanted to do more than just give a gift bag to the ministers’ wives…we wanted that gift to make a difference in the lives of those from whom we purchased it.” Freeset offers employment to women trapped in prostitution in Kalkata, India while Women of Hope of the Mashiah Foundation supports Nigerian women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. A “change offering” will also be received to support The Widow’s Oil, a ministry to support widowed Pastors’ wives in Nigeria.
Every attendee will also receive a brand-new devotional book centered on this year’s theme and authored by over 300 ministry wives from all over the Southern Baptist Convention and the world. Janet, acting as editor, states: “This book, a desire the Lord placed in my heart when I learned I would be the president of this fellowship, will trace what the Scriptures say about and to women from the unique perspective of Pastors’ wives. There are inspiring contributions from those married over 60 years to those married less than a year, from every avenue of ministry in the local church to mission stations overseas, from our seminaries to chaplains, from mothers and their daughters.”
Other officers ably serving are Vice-President and local arrangements coordinator Martha Bailey, wife of Dr. Waylon Bailey, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Covington, La., Corresponding Secretary Lynn Ezell, wife of Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board, and the Recording Secretary/Treasurer Sherry Blankenship, wife of Dr. Dwight Blankenship, Pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in St. Louis, Mo.
Upon entering Hall B-1, the ladies will be greeted by the music of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Jazz Band, lead by Dr. Kristine Harris. Inspiring and worshipful music will be brought by Kristin & Eric Yeldell, Janet’s daughter and son-in-law, and the Worship Band of Naples First Baptist Church where Dr. Hayes Wicker is the Senior Pastor. The luncheon will take place at noon on Tuesday, June 19, in Hall B-1 of the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. A limited number of tickets are available at $15.00 per person in advance, $20.00 on-site, and can be purchased at www.lifeway.com/sbcwives.