CeCe Winans, Judy Woodruff, Bishop Nhanala to Attend Assembly

United Methodist Women is pleased to announce that renowned vocalist and performer CeCe Winans, award-winning journalist Judy Woodruff, and newly appointed United Methodist Bishop Joaquina Nhanala of Mozambique are slated to participate in Assembly 2010, the seminal gathering of United Methodist Women across the United States.

 

Assembly 2010, taking place in St. Louis, Mo., April 30-May 2, 2010 will celebrate women of faith and the mission work of women, children and youth in more than 80 countries.

 

Inspired by faith and activated by justice, Assembly 2010 is a movement of women from all walks of life who come together as one body to worship, fellowship with each other, and also to address and act upon issues affecting women, children and youth. The Assembly theme of “Faith · Hope · Love in Action” solidifies this gathering into a movement for all women of faith.

 

This event is hosted by one of the largest and most diverse groups of women of faith from the largest denominational faith organization for women, United Methodist Women.

 

"I am looking forward to being in St. Louis next year in Assembly,” Bishop Nhanala said. “The exciting theme of Faith · Hope · Love in Action is so relevant for the women today, and not only for the women…it is relevant for the whole church, so I will be there, God willing."

 

Andris Salter, coordinator of the event, said, “I am delighted that such noted women as CeCe Winans, Judy Woodruff and Bishop Joaquina Nhanala will offer additional opportunities at Assembly, along with all the sensory experiences that will be provided.”

CeCe Winans is a mutli-Grammy winning American Gospel singer. In 20 years she has released eight solo albums and nine albums with her brother as duo BeBe and CeCe Winans.

 

Her singles, “Everlasting Love” and “Alabaster Box” hit #1 on the Gospel Charts. In 1996, she performed “Count on Me” with Whitney Houston for the hit movie, Waiting to Exhale. In 2008, she released her eighth solo album, Thy Kingdom Come. In October 2009, Ms. Winans will reunite with her brother as BeBe and CeCe Winans for Still, the duo’s highly anticipated ninth album. Click here to read her bio.

Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff has covered politics and other news for more than three decades at CNN, NBC and PBS. Most recently, she serves as a senior correspondent for “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” and anchors a monthly program for Bloomberg Television, “Conversations with Judy Woodruff.” For CNN, she was the anchor of the weekday political program, “Inside Politics.” She anchored PBS’ award-winning documentary series, “Frontline with Judy Woodruff,” and completed an extensive project on the views of young Americans called “Generation Next: Speak Up. Be Heard.” At NBC News, Ms. Woodruff served as White House correspondent.

 

Ms. Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting and encouraging women in communication industries worldwide. Click here to read her bio.

 

Elected as the first female United Methodist Bishop in Africa in 2008, Bishop Joaquina Nhanala has coordinated women’s projects for the Mozambique church and led a World Relief HIV/AIDS program designed to mobilize churches for education and advocacy in Mozambique’s three southern provinces.

 

She was accepted for theological studies at the 1985 Mozambique Annual Conference, received sponsorship from the Women's Fellowship and was ordained a deacon in 1989. When the civil war in Liberia disrupted her studies, she completed her diploma in theology at Trinity College in Ghana. She graduated from a theological school in Kenya with a master's degree in Bible studies and theology while serving as a teacher and dean of students there. A beneficiary of a United Methodist Women scholarship for her studies, Bishop Nhanala now presides over the Mozambique Episcopal Area covering Mozambique South Annual Conference and South Africa Provisional Annual Conference. Click here to read her bio and watch her excited for Assembly!

 

Click here for more information on Assembly 2010.