Leading Lady LaToya Bell with the speaker, Pastor Debra Morton, photo credit: KC’s portraits Ken Riddick
On Saturday October 8th the Wife Support Ministry led by First Lady LaToya Bell hosted Queens Honoring Queens at the Tubman Museum in Macon, GA. It was a lavish event that honored leading ladies from the area for their Christian service and love to the Kingdom. Five leading ladies were honored, Pastor Debra Morton of Greater St. Stephen FGBC, who was also the speaker for the evening; International Association of Ministers Wives and Ministers Widows President Beverly Glover of Greater Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church; Leading Lady Michelle Clarke of Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Leading Lady Brianna Sharpe of House of Hope Macon; and Leading Lady Doris Terry of New Fellowship Baptist Church.
The Queens Honoring Queens celebration was the vision of First Lady LaToya Bell, who also organized the Wife Support Ministry. First Lady Bell said the idea for the celebration came to her during a conversation with Harold Young, the owner of Macon It Better, LLC. The title for the event came a Facebook page that she follows, The Queen Code. In addition, AARP Georgia sponsored the event as part of their ‘Community Cares’ initiative.
First Lady Bell has been married to her husband Overseer Eric Bell for three years. As a young wife, she was led to start Wife Support because of the times she felt alone. For her, the challenges of being a pastor’s wife include being under a constant microscope and the periods of feeling alone. Not wanting to talk to just anyone, she felt that another first lady would understand her plight.
No doubt about it, in her three years of ministry marriage LaToya is dynamic and fruitful in her service. This was an amazing event that inspired and encouraged women in ministry marriages, in the Macon area and beyond. The pictures reflect that a good time was had by all.
First Lady LaToya Bell with IAMWMW President Beverly Glover, photo credit: KC’s Portraits Ken Riddick
Wife Support is not bound by a fixed schedule. They meet quarterly, or more as necessary. The meetings may take place at Lady Bell’s home, or a restaurant, sometimes they involve shopping trips. They also have retreats.
First Lady Bell with her husband Overseer Eric Bell, photo credit KC’s Portraits Ken Riddick
For a minister’s or pastor’s wife who is considering starting a group in her area, Lady Bell would advise her to start small with a group of women who are like minded and to organize around a common goal.