VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/30/15)—American Baptist Women’s Ministries has established a Young Adult Women’s Ministries Advisory Team to work with the nationally-elected Young Adult Women’s Ministries Coordinator Jenn Leneus to help set the direction for AB Women’s Ministries focus with young adult women.

Serving on the team are Joy Andrews, 22, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and program coordinator at Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Mary Burnett, 20, from Salt Lake City, Utah, and social justice leadership scholar at Kalamazoo College; Grace Martino, 19, from New London, Connecticut, majoring in Christian Ministries and Sociology at Gordon College; Christina Turner, 25, from Tacoma, Washington, Community Development Coordinator for a large non-profit health care organization; and Jasmine Turner, 22, from Wilmington, North Carolina, where she works as an anchor and reporter at WECT News. Jennifer Leneus, 25, from Linden, New Jersey, an LPN at HCR-ManorCare of Mountainside and studying registered nursing, convenes the team.

“Being part of the team has been such a blessing,” says Grace Martino. “We are working hard to make sure young adult women assert their place as members and contributors to the church. We can’t wait to see what God has in store!”

Joy Andrews states, “My overarching goal for AB Women’s Ministries young adult women’s ministry is to connect with other young adult women of various races, ethnicities, and origins in an effort to collectively build a strong body of powerful women, who will use their giftedness in leadership in their respective churches and communities.”

Jenn Leneus, coordinator of Young Adult Women’s Ministries, says it succinctly: “Making a place at the table for young adult women: No woman left behind!”

The young adult women’s ministries advisory team is planning experiences for young adult women at the national women’s event hosted by American Baptist Women’s Ministries, “Dwelling, Discovering, Discipleship/Dedicando, Descubriendo, Discipulando,” based on Romans 12, July 21-24, 2016, in Washington, D.C., as well as leadership development experiences for the future. The team also serves as resources for region/state and local women’s ministries groups seeking to engage young adult women more meaningfully.

“I am passionate about young adult women’s ministries,” says Rev. Angel L. Sullivan, national president of American Baptist Women’s Ministries. “It is a vital part of American Baptist Women’s Ministry. In fact, young adult women’s ministry is the reason that I am who I am today. Many people began their journey in American Baptist Women’s Ministries through their churches; however, my introduction to AB Women’s Ministries was through its national young adult women’s ministry. I started out as seminary intern ten years ago and I was introduced to an entirely new world: a world in which women could be leaders, a world in which I was encouraged to embrace my call as an ordained minister, a world in which my gifts were celebrated and cultivated. That entry ten years ago eventually led to my current role as the national president of AB Women’s Ministries. Young adult women’s ministry is an invitation to grow into a world of endless possibilities through AB Women’s Ministries.”

American Baptist Women’s Ministries is a Christ-centered ministry with a commitment to encourage and empower women and girls to serve God.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.