Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 11-25-16 Online Edition

Local
Prayerline Ministry Celebrates 25th Year
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Prayers on the Prayerline begin at 4 a. m.
The Mary E. May Intercessory Prayerline Ministry will celebrate its 25th year for the “Joy To The World Prayer Brunch” and 20th year for the “Women of Valor Prayer Conference.”
The events will be held December 9th and 10th at the Hilton Tampa Air- port Westshore. The Women’s Con- ference is Friday, 9 a. m. – 4 p. m., and the Brunch is Saturday, 9:30-3 p. m.
Mrs. Mary E. May, founder and president of the ministry says, “God has been good to us since our humble beginnings and he continues to bless the ministry and each of the mem- bers.”
As she asked the Lord to show her what He wanted her to do, Mrs. May says a stranger came to her and asked her to start a children’s Bible Study group. “I started the Bible Study group with the children in my home. The stranger came only once. I am convinced that that was the Lord
MARY E. MAY ...Founder/President, Mary E. May Intercessory Prayerline Ministry
sending an angel to me,” she ex- plained. That was in 1978.
However, that was not the begin- ning of the Prayerline Ministry, which actually came to fruition in 1991. Be- fore that time, a Prayer ministry was held at her church, Peace Missionary Baptist Church. The group started with 3 that met on Saturday mornings at 5 a. m. It wasn’t long before the group of 3 had grown to 18.
The ministry now begins the
MRS. CHLOE CONEY ...Brunch Guest Speaker
Prayerline at 4 a. m. daily, with Mrs. May connecting with Mrs. Ozie Brown. By 4:30, they connect with 12 others. By 6:30 a. m. prayers are sent up for world leaders and public workers. At 1 p. m., those on the prayerline reach out to senior adults. At 9 p. m., another group of women come together. The final prayer for the week is at 11:30 p. m on Friday, which is called the “Midnight Cry.”
During the Women Of Valor
Prayer Conference on Friday, several women will be speaking on a variety of topics.
The guest speaker on Saturday for the “Joy To The World Brunch” will be Chloe J. Coney, District Director for Congresswoman Kathy Castor. Mrs. Coney has a passion for build- ing strong communities and began her professional career as the first Black female Probation and Parole of- ficer in Hillsborough County in 1972. She would then become an intake counselor / mediator with the Thir- teenth Judicial Circuit Court of Hills- borough County and marketing representative for Florida Power, Inc. in Clearwater.
She is married to Pastor Ernest Coney, Sr. and together they founded the Spirit of Truth Min- istries. She speaks at Women’s re- treats and churches about Christian Community Economic Development.
The Coney’s are blessed with three children and three grandchil- dren.
For additional information on the conference and brunch, call 813) 248- 6650 or email: ymcgriff@yahoo.com.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B