amazing women's conference
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Elder Brenda Stokes
Brenda M. Stokes is the daughter of Aubrey and Essie L. Perry (both deceased) of Hampton, Virginia and Everett L. Hollins, Sr. (also deceased) of New York City, NY. She spent most of her formative years in the home of her beloved aunt and uncle, both educators, in North Carolina. She holds a BA in Psychology from Hampton University where she was also commissioned as Ordnance Officer in the United States Army. She is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and also holds the degree of Master of Religious Education from Christian Outreach Bible Institute Fayetteville, North Carolina. Upon her retirement from the Army in 1995, Elder Stokes became employed as a Senior Military Analyst and Learning Architect. In 2009, she left corporate America to pursue her greatest passions i.e. reaching the lost for Christ, ministering to women in all walks of life, and serving as Co-Pastor of United Family Worship Center, Hampton, VA, which she co-founded with her husband in 2004 and from which they retired in September 2021. She is an Ordained Elder with the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic). She and her husband, Bishop Lewis L. Stokes, Sr. are the proud combined parents of nine children (one deceased), twenty-five grandchildren and eleven great-grands.
Elder Jeanette Ruffin
Elder Jeanette Ruffin is an Analyst with Highmark Companies/LabCorp of America, co-owner of Assurant Health Services LLC, and EJR Solutions & Development LLC, the Director of sHeTwirlz Inc., Board Member of FB2B, Inc. and an EVO Travel Agent. She has worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years.
Jeanette (aka-Jenny) received her education from the Suffolk Public Schools and graduated from Lakeland High School in 1996. In March of 2016, she obtained her associates degree in Healthcare Management from UMA, Tampa, FL., and is currently pursuing her Bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership.
She is a lifelong member of Faith Temple Ministries Apostolic were she serves in many capacities such as FTMA Ministerial Ministry, Music Ministry, Liberal Arts Ministry, and Administration. She also served as the Coordinator of the Children Church 1998-2002, choir director 1995-2016, and as the Pastoral Care Assistant of the late Bishop Dr. Obadiah Colander, were she gained much knowledge and wisdom from his daily teachings and countless hours of conversations.
In 2008, she accepted the calling to serve and did so as an evangelist until her promotion to Elder in October, 2022. She shares that her mission in life is to “strive towards perfection in all things”, especially her walk with God. Unselfish giving makes her feel good inside and she is convinced that the rewards are unlimited.”
Jenny is the wife of 26 years to Deacon Ervin Ruffin and they are the parents of two daughters, Adele and Raven Ruffin, and the grandparents of twins - Amir & Aden Ruffin. She is the youngest daughter of the late Alethia Colander Stokes and Bishop Lewis & Brenda Stokes, Sr.
She encourages others to keep God first in their lives and that, if there is a problem in life that is to hard for them to handle, just turn it all over to God and he will fix it. Declaring that “Now Faith” is her testimony. (Hebrews 11:1)
Pastor Camelot Shuff
Camelot is Vision Pastor of the Newport News Church of the Nazarene. Originally from Greenville, SC. She did not grow up religious, but rebellious. At the age of 20, the Lord Jesus gloriously rescued her from herself. Six days later, Camelot married Sam Shuff. They have one daughter, Emily. She and her husband live in Newport News along with their two Goldendoodles, Charlie and Albi.
As president of the Field Coordinator and VA District President of Nazarene Discipleship International, Camelot’s mission echoes the Church of the Nazarene Mission Statement, “Make Christ-like disciples in the nations.”
Her heart cry is simply “Be reconciled to God!”