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The Ladies’ Session of the Empower Evangelism Conference will be from 1:30-4 p.m. on Feb. 27 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, across the street from the Frisco Convention Center.
As usual, the session is free of charge and will feature Laurie Cole of Priority Ministries in Houston, two wives of pastors—Lois Evans and Donna Gaines—and LaDonna Gatlin, musician, speaker and sister to the Gatlin Brothers of country music fame.
Cole is the founder and president of Priority Ministries, dedicated to encouraging and equipping women to “love God most and seek him first.” Raised in a strong Christian home, Cole became a Christian at an early age. But in her early 20s, God tested and taught her the importance of truly giving him priority in her life.
For over 20 years, Cole has taught and spoken at numerous women’s events and conferences, and published three Bible studies. Her hunger for God and his Word continues to grow. Cole is married to Bill, who is the associate pastor of worship and praise at Sagemont Church.
Evans is wife of Tony Evans, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. She is senior vice president of The Urban Alternative, a ministry born through her husband’s ministry, and is a speaker and vocalist. Evans founded the Pastors’ Wives Ministry and The First Lady Conference with a mission to give help, hope and a safe haven to pastor’s wives experiencing isolation, fear and silent abuse. This ministry provides education, biblical counseling and support and a myriad of other Christian resources.
Evans and her husband combined to write “Our Love Is Here To Stay” (Multnomah, 2004). Also, she wrote “Seasons Of A Woman’s Life” (Moody, 2000), and “Stones of Remembrance: A Rock-Hard Faith from Rock-Hard Places” (Moody, 2006) with Jane Rubietta.
Gaines, wife of Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, is a Bible teacher and discipler of women. She is the author and contributor to several books, including “There’s Gotta Be More: Enjoying the Spirit-Filled Life,” published in 2008 by Broadman & Holman, and “Chronological Bible Discipleship, Women’s Ministry Edition,” with Iva May, which focuses on the “big story” of Scripture.
She has also written Bible book studies on Ephesians, Colossians, James, Romans, 1 and 2 Peter and Exodus.
In 2009 she was appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention to serve on the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.
Gatlin grew up on stage singing with her brothers—the legendary Gatlin Brothers. In the early 1970s the Gatlins went to Nashville. But a detour appeared on the road to stardom when she got married. So she took a leap of faith, chose to follow her heart, and “sing a different song” apart from her brothers.
Gatlin is also a noted speaker. In July of 2005, she was one of five speakers (and the only woman) inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame (CPAE Council of Peers Award for Excellence), a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. She’s recorded four solo CDs and is a contributing writer to the best-selling book series “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”
