Meet the General Women’s Ministries Board

Meet the General Women’s Ministries Board

As you read about these women, breathe a prayer for them and for the ministries they lead. Take advantage of their experience and ministry gifts. They are available to speak and minister at your event, whether a convention, conference, retreat, WM/GM meeting, or training sessions. Click on each lady's name to contact her directly by email.

Executive Director – Jewelle E. Stewart
Jewelle was reelected by acclamation to serve in her second term as Executive Director of IPHC Women’s Ministries at the 15th Quadrennial WM Convention, July 25, 2005, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In this role, she serves on the General Board of Administration for the church, as a member of the M21 Committee, and as a member of the Board of Administrators for Falcon Children's Home in Falcon, NC. In the spring of 2004, Jewelle was appointed secretary for the Women's Commission Committee of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).

Before her election, Jewelle and her husband Rabon lived in Florence, South Carolina, where he served as senior pastor at Christian Assembly PH Church. Prior to their pastorate in South Carolina, they lived and ministered in the Alabama Conference where Jewelle served two terms as conference WM director. She has been involved in a variety of ministries of the local church and conference. Jewelle is a graduate of Holmes Theological Seminary and an ordained minister. She and Rabon are the parents of three daughters and grandparents to three boys and one girl.

Assistant Director – Linda Thomas
Portfolio: Benevolence
Linda Thomas serves as assistant director on the General WM Board. She also served as the WM director for the North Carolina Conference for eight years. Linda and her husband Joe live in Vanceboro, North Carolina. They have four children and three grandchildren. Linda is a member at Holly Hill PH Church, where she serves in many roles, including Girls’ Ministries Coordinator, music director, and assistant CE director. In addition, she has served in many areas of public service and is currently vice-chairman of Craven County Board of Education. Linda is a certified Facilitative Leadership Trainer and also serves as a board member of North Carolina Partners for Excellence in Education, a statewide coalition of business support for public education. Linda is an alumna of the University of North Carolina.

In early 2008, Linda was name Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Emmanuel College. Congratulations, Linda, on this new appointment.

General WM Secretary – Linda Riddle
Portfolio: Hospitality/Sharing Sisters
Linda Riddle serves on the General Women's Ministries Board as secretary. She and her husband, Rev. Ray Riddle, live in Edmond, OK. They have two children, Travis, who works at The Meadows Sheltered Workshop, and Destiny, a 10th grader who enjoys being in color guard and her youth group. Their dog, Sam E. Bo-Bo, completes the family. Linda enjoys teaching and has led Ladies' Bible Studies. Currently, she is teaching Prims Club (Missionettes) at River of Life Church in Oklahoma City. She is also involved in Women's Ministries at ROL. Linda works three part-time jobs so she can have time to visit her mother daily at Bellevue Health Center in Oklahoma City.

Linda was the first full-time appointed General Girls' Ministries Coordinator for the IPHC, where she successfully led the IPHC Girls' Ministries from GEMS to Missionettes. This includes customizing all curriculum and leading training seminars across the nation. Linda served as Administrative/Editorial Assistant to four General Women's Ministries Directors and was Oklahoma Conference GEMS Director, where she also held the position of Assistant WM Director.

Erwin McManus once said, "A life touched by God always ends in touching others." That is Linda's goal–to grow in God and touch other's lives.

Board Member/Northeastern Zone Representative – Patsy C. Deese
Portfolio: Stay in Touch
Patsy is the Women's Ministries director for the North Carolina Conference was elected to her first term on the WM Board in Oklahoma City in July 2005. Patsy and her husband, Henry reside in Morehead City, North Carolina. She is a member of the Maranatha PH Church in Beaufort, NC, where she serves in several roles, including local WM director, church treasurer and a Missionettes sponsor. Patsy served eight years as secretary-treasurer for the North Carolina Conference Women’s Ministries and is currently serving her first term as conference WM director. After working full-time at First Baptist Church in Morehead City for nearly 30 years, Patsy just recently decided to go part-time. She has also served as coordinator for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving and Project Graduation. She is now the proud grandmother of two

Board Member/Southeastern Zone Representative – Beulah M. Sturkie
Portfolio: Education/Service
Beulah, the mother of three children and grandmother of nine, was married for 49 years to the late Albert E. Sturkie, and worked alongside him in their business ventures. Adopted daughter of early PH ministers, Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Wall, Beulah was thrust into church ministry as an adolescent and went on to serve her local church in many areas of ministry, even as a full-time employee at one point. Beulah graduated from Emmanuel College and Columbia College and earned her Master's in Education from the University of South Carolina Graduate School. She taught for many years in public and private schools in South Carolina. Beulah was the first director for IPHC ministry to girls, helping develop the Girl's Auxiliary program and served as its General Director for 16 years. She also served two previous terms as a member of the General WM Board. She resides in W. Columbia, South Carolina, and maintains a second home in Franklin Springs, Georgia, where she serves as official liaison between Emmanuel College and Women's Ministries.

Board Member/Central Zone Representative – Becky Watkins
Portfolio: Stewardship
Becky is the Women's Ministries director for the New Horizons Conference and was elected to her first term on the WM Board in Oklahoma City in July 2005. Becky and her husband Johnny live on a small acreage just north of Okmulgee, OK. Together, they own and operate a retail business in Okmulgee. Becky is a licensed minister in New Horizons Ministries Conference and is associate pastor at Abundant Life PHC in Henryetta, OK, where she wears many hats. She has served on the NHM WM Board for the past 16 years, as secretary-treasurer for 8 years before being elected as WM director in 1998. She has been actively involved in teaching, promoting, recruiting, and promoting G.A.'s, GEMS, and now Missionettes for the past 25 years. Becky holds a degree in Accounting from OSU and still likes to prepare tax returns every spring. Her family includes three sons and one daughter, as well as three grandchildren.

Board Member/Western Zone Representative – Carole Palmer
Portfolio: Spiritual Growth/Home & Family Life
Carole and her husband Bill reside in Chatsworth, California. Carole, an ordained minister, has served her local church, Calvary Temple, as an Elder and overseer of various ministries of the church, as well as director of their WM. Carole served on the Golden West Conference WM board for five years, first as secretary-treasurer, then as assistant director, before being elected in 2002 as the conference WM director. Carole holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre Arts and is employed as a part-time Enrollment Specialist for Cigna Healthcare. She and Bill are the parents of two sons and one grandchild.

Last update on 4/21/08
©IPHC Ministries. All rights reserved

As you read about these women, breathe a prayer for them and for the ministries they lead. Take advantage of their experience and ministry gifts. They are available to speak and minister at your event, whether a convention, conference, retreat, WM/GM meeting, or training sessions. Click on each lady's name to contact her directly by email.

Executive Director – Jewelle E. Stewart
Jewelle was reelected by acclamation to serve in her second term as Executive Director of IPHC Women’s Ministries at the 15th Quadrennial WM Convention, July 25, 2005, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In this role, she serves on the General Board of Administration for the church, as a member of the M21 Committee, and as a member of the Board of Administrators for Falcon Children's Home in Falcon, NC. In the spring of 2004, Jewelle was appointed secretary for the Women's Commission Committee of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).

Before her election, Jewelle and her husband Rabon lived in Florence, South Carolina, where he served as senior pastor at Christian Assembly PH Church. Prior to their pastorate in South Carolina, they lived and ministered in the Alabama Conference where Jewelle served two terms as conference WM director. She has been involved in a variety of ministries of the local church and conference. Jewelle is a graduate of Holmes Theological Seminary and an ordained minister. She and Rabon are the parents of three daughters and grandparents to three boys and one girl.

Assistant Director – Linda Thomas
Portfolio: Benevolence
Linda Thomas serves as assistant director on the General WM Board. She also served as the WM director for the North Carolina Conference for eight years. Linda and her husband Joe live in Vanceboro, North Carolina. They have four children and three grandchildren. Linda is a member at Holly Hill PH Church, where she serves in many roles, including Girls’ Ministries Coordinator, music director, and assistant CE director. In addition, she has served in many areas of public service and is currently vice-chairman of Craven County Board of Education. Linda is a certified Facilitative Leadership Trainer and also serves as a board member of North Carolina Partners for Excellence in Education, a statewide coalition of business support for public education. Linda is an alumna of the University of North Carolina.

In early 2008, Linda was name Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Emmanuel College. Congratulations, Linda, on this new appointment.

General WM Secretary – Linda Riddle
Portfolio: Hospitality/Sharing Sisters
Linda Riddle serves on the General Women's Ministries Board as secretary. She and her husband, Rev. Ray Riddle, live in Edmond, OK. They have two children, Travis, who works at The Meadows Sheltered Workshop, and Destiny, a 10th grader who enjoys being in color guard and her youth group. Their dog, Sam E. Bo-Bo, completes the family. Linda enjoys teaching and has led Ladies' Bible Studies. Currently, she is teaching Prims Club (Missionettes) at River of Life Church in Oklahoma City. She is also involved in Women's Ministries at ROL. Linda works three part-time jobs so she can have time to visit her mother daily at Bellevue Health Center in Oklahoma City.

Linda was the first full-time appointed General Girls' Ministries Coordinator for the IPHC, where she successfully led the IPHC Girls' Ministries from GEMS to Missionettes. This includes customizing all curriculum and leading training seminars across the nation. Linda served as Administrative/Editorial Assistant to four General Women's Ministries Directors and was Oklahoma Conference GEMS Director, where she also held the position of Assistant WM Director.

Erwin McManus once said, "A life touched by God always ends in touching others." That is Linda's goal–to grow in God and touch other's lives.

Board Member/Northeastern Zone Representative – Patsy C. Deese
Portfolio: Stay in Touch
Patsy is the Women's Ministries director for the North Carolina Conference was elected to her first term on the WM Board in Oklahoma City in July 2005. Patsy and her husband, Henry reside in Morehead City, North Carolina. She is a member of the Maranatha PH Church in Beaufort, NC, where she serves in several roles, including local WM director, church treasurer and a Missionettes sponsor. Patsy served eight years as secretary-treasurer for the North Carolina Conference Women’s Ministries and is currently serving her first term as conference WM director. After working full-time at First Baptist Church in Morehead City for nearly 30 years, Patsy just recently decided to go part-time. She has also served as coordinator for Mother’s Against Drunk Driving and Project Graduation. She is now the proud grandmother of two

Board Member/Southeastern Zone Representative – Beulah M. Sturkie
Portfolio: Education/Service
Beulah, the mother of three children and grandmother of nine, was married for 49 years to the late Albert E. Sturkie, and worked alongside him in their business ventures. Adopted daughter of early PH ministers, Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Wall, Beulah was thrust into church ministry as an adolescent and went on to serve her local church in many areas of ministry, even as a full-time employee at one point. Beulah graduated from Emmanuel College and Columbia College and earned her Master's in Education from the University of South Carolina Graduate School. She taught for many years in public and private schools in South Carolina. Beulah was the first director for IPHC ministry to girls, helping develop the Girl's Auxiliary program and served as its General Director for 16 years. She also served two previous terms as a member of the General WM Board. She resides in W. Columbia, South Carolina, and maintains a second home in Franklin Springs, Georgia, where she serves as official liaison between Emmanuel College and Women's Ministries.

Board Member/Central Zone Representative – Becky Watkins
Portfolio: Stewardship
Becky is the Women's Ministries director for the New Horizons Conference and was elected to her first term on the WM Board in Oklahoma City in July 2005. Becky and her husband Johnny live on a small acreage just north of Okmulgee, OK. Together, they own and operate a retail business in Okmulgee. Becky is a licensed minister in New Horizons Ministries Conference and is associate pastor at Abundant Life PHC in Henryetta, OK, where she wears many hats. She has served on the NHM WM Board for the past 16 years, as secretary-treasurer for 8 years before being elected as WM director in 1998. She has been actively involved in teaching, promoting, recruiting, and promoting G.A.'s, GEMS, and now Missionettes for the past 25 years. Becky holds a degree in Accounting from OSU and still likes to prepare tax returns every spring. Her family includes three sons and one daughter, as well as three grandchildren.

Board Member/Western Zone Representative – Carole Palmer
Portfolio: Spiritual Growth/Home & Family Life
Carole and her husband Bill reside in Chatsworth, California. Carole, an ordained minister, has served her local church, Calvary Temple, as an Elder and overseer of various ministries of the church, as well as director of their WM. Carole served on the Golden West Conference WM board for five years, first as secretary-treasurer, then as assistant director, before being elected in 2002 as the conference WM director. Carole holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre Arts and is employed as a part-time Enrollment Specialist for Cigna Healthcare. She and Bill are the parents of two sons and one grandchild.