The 63rd annual N.C. Baptist Ministers’ Wives (NCBMW) retreat was held at Caraway Conference Center near Asheboro, N.C., on July 7-9, and had 84 attendees — 23 of which were first timers — from all across the state. This year’s retreat theme was “More Than Conquerors,” based on Romans 8:37.
Each year, NCBMW offers a retreat as a time to carry out its mission, which is to be fully devoted to Jesus and to support the ministers’ wives in North Carolina as they support their husbands and their churches. The retreat is an opportunity for ministry wives across North Carolina to relax, recharge and reconnect.
“Before I attended a Ministers’ Wives Retreat, I was not prepared for the amount of joy and laughter I would experience. It’s medicine for a broken spirit and strength from God to keep going,” said Anna Golden, associational mission strategist (AMS) wife at the Sandy Creek Baptist Association in Sanford. “We were given the truth and reality this week that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Because of the cross, we fight our adversary from a place of victory that has already been won through Christ! I’m so thankful for an organization that cares for Ministers Wives and the unique lives they lead.”
Retreat Co-chairs Sandy Cooper from South Fork Baptist Church in Todd, N.C., and Barbara Murdock from God’s Will Missionary Baptist Church in Sparta, N.C., spent the past year planning and praying for this retreat and its attendees. Tara Lorencen, from Johnson City, Tennessee, poured into the wives, focusing on identifying adversaries, having confidence in battles and living victoriously.
Kristin Kellen, associate professor of biblical counseling and director of Ed.D. studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), led multiple sessions on counseling women. Worship was led by a trio of ministers’ wives: Rebecca Autry from Temple Baptist Church in Eastover, N.C.; Megan Knight from Lebanon Baptist Church in Eastover, N.C.; and Kelly Self from Zion’s Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lumberton, N.C.
Attendees were encouraged and prayed over by Cindee Kissinger, and they heard from representatives from Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU), Never2Scarred Ministries out of Spruce Pine, N.C., and Energize Ministries. The Sandy Creek Baptist Association had 11 ladies in attendance, the most from any one association.
New and returning leadership team members were presented at the retreat and will be voted on at the November meeting. Current officers are:
• President: Megan Kuykendall, Corinth Baptist Church, Louisburg
• Vice President: Jenny Sears, Shepherds Baptist Church, Sanford
• President Elect: Barbara Mitchell, Friendly Chapel Baptist Church, Maiden
• Treasurer: Harriet Lovett, Bonlee Baptist Church, Bear Creek
• Assistant Treasurer: Joy Townsend, Fall Creek Baptist Church, Bennett
• Secretary: Megan Knight, Lebanon Baptist Church, Eastover
• Publicity Chair: Kelly Self, Zion’s Tabernacle Baptist Church, Lumberton
• 2026 Retreat Co-Chairs: Carolina Baptist Association Wives
• 2027 Retreat Co-Chairs: Enjonae Anderson, The Refuge, High Point; Karen McLean, Freedom Baptist Church, Rockingham
Current regional representatives are:
• Region 1: Stacy Duncan, Webbs Chapel Baptist Church, Macclesfield; Renee Howell, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Youngsville
• Region 2: Emily Jones, Halifax Baptist Church, Halifax
• Region 3: Amanda Berryhill, Union Grove Baptist Church, Clinton
• Region 4: April Charland, Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church, Sanford
• Region 5: Robin Duncan, Sharon Baptist Church, Reidsville
• Region 6: Maleah Fraley, Euto Baptist Church, Marshville
• Region 7: Talitha Gwaltney, Holly Springs Baptist Church, Hiddenite
• Region 8: Beverly Honeycutt, Faith Baptist Church, Iron Station
• Regions 9 & 10: Teresa Halford, Mountain View Missionary Baptist Church, Hendersonville; Lauren Rayfield, Oak Grove Baptist, Newland
In the fall, the N.C. Baptist Ministers’ Wives will hold its annual meeting on Nov. 10 at the Koury Convention Center in conjunction with the N.C. Baptist pastors’ conference. The 2026 retreat is already in the works for July 13-15, 2026, with the theme “Fear Not; He Can and He Will” and guest speaker Karen Scoggins.
