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Speaker Bios for the Greater Richmond Women’s Conference – Life…On Purpose Melody loves Jesus and loves working with students as they discover Jesus, worship Him with their lives, and share His glory around the world. As a college student, Melody experienced God shaking up her “plan” and her perspective on the world…and she discovered His plan and perspective were much bigger and better (notice this does not say easier or more comfortable) than her plan! Melody has worked with high school and university students in the U.S., Australia, and multiples countries in Southeast Asia for the last 15 years. She is continually blown away by the opportunities God gives her to be part of what He is doing in the lives of people around the world and especially in the lives of students! Melody did her undergraduate studies at Samford University, and has graduate degrees from the University of Alabama and Union University. She is single with purpose, loves the outdoors, and loves to travel and experience the diversity of God’s people and creation.

Dawn Cornelius describes herself as a “pressured abortion survivor” seeking God and using her mixed-bag of experience, skills, passions, and academic prowess for something of value and eternal significance. In short, I want my life to count in the end. Dawn is a mom and wife to Michael, and they live in Nashville, Tennessee. Dawn has served at LifeWay Christian Resources as Marketing Strategist driving strategy across women, and international/global and ethnic markets, and as Director of Student Publishing. In 2012, Dawn and her husband took a step of faith to begin their own business. 1907 Apparel is a philanthropic apparel store opening in Nashville, Tennessee, September 2012. For every purchase, 7 percent of profits are given to support organizations making an impact around the country and the globe in three areas: poverty, education, and sustainable agriculture. The company is based around Dawn’s story, an abortion survivor who was adopted and raised by her grandmother, Olivia Witherspoon, who was born in 1907. Read more about her story at http://1907apparel.com

or find her on below, and stay in touch with us by following our updates on Twitter http://twitter.com/1907apparel and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/1907Apparel.

Sandy Hammack grew up in New York as a North American Mission Board "MK” (missionary kid) and a "PK" (preacher's kid). She studied Nursing at Mississippi College and has been a registered nurse for 31 years. Second only to her personal relationship with Jesus, Sandy's greatest source of joy on earth is being married for 31 years to Duane, her best friend and lover of her soul. Duane just happens to be a professional counselor which comes in quite handy when Sandy is in need of a little therapy. They have three adult daughters, Courtney, Katie, and Carrie, an amazing son-in-law, Jimmy, and a 2-year-old grandson named James. They are anticipating their second grandbaby in February. As a family, they have served for eighteen years with the International Mission Board as missionaries in East Asia and in the home office in Richmond, Virginia. Sandy and her husband have a call to minister to missionaries in the role of counseling and soul care. Sandy's passion is studying and teaching the Word of God, encouraging women with laughter, and connecting with people at the heart level. She believes that the abundant life is simply: Jesus abiding in us, walking in the assurance of God's sovereignty, and knowing He will use everything for our ultimate good and for His glory! Sandy lives in Louisa, VA., and is a member of New Life Community Church.

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Carol Jones is originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. She fell in love with the South when she attended Wingate University in North Carolina, where she received a B.A. in Fine Arts. She is approaching her 17th wedding anniversary and has three awesome kids. Carol and her husband both felt called to full-time ministry at a young age. After they married, they had plans to serve and be used by God to see lives changed for Christ. Yet when the circumstances of life took their lives in a different direction, Carol tried to control what she saw as her dream unraveling before her eyes. After trying in desperation to “fix” her situation and those around her, she sought the Lord and gave Him complete control. Christ has changed her perspective, and she seeks daily to “let go” and let God have control. Carol is passionate about God’s Word, and she has written and facilitated

“Letting Go…,” a Bible study for women. She teaches truths from God's Word and applies them to life’s challenges. She is not afraid to ask the hard questions. Carol lives in Richmond, Virginia, and she is a member of Grove Avenue Baptist Church. Charlene Kneisel is a native of Oklahoma, and she attended Oklahoma Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Charlene and her husband, Harvey, recently celebrated 61 years of marriage and have served in ministry together in Texas, Oklahoma and around the world. The Kneisels have four daughters, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The call of God to serve as church planters and missionaries took Charlene and Harvey to the Cayman Islands, Guyana, South America, India, and the Philippines. Charlene’s call to missions and her lifetime in ministry developed a prayer life that taught her to trust in God’s call and sovereignty wherever He leads. Charlene loves to read and enjoys walking and running. She has competed in and won a half marathon in the Avon Race in the Philippines. Her love for the Lord, and her passion to pray and disciple women, is still impacting lives across the globe. Charlene and Harvey are members of Houston’s First Baptist Church, and they live in Pearland, Texas.

Rebekah Robb is passionate about serving the Lord and helping others do the same. Originally from Indiana, Rebekah and her husband, Tim, live in Richmond, Virginia. They have three children and a Sheltie, Lacy. Rebekah led a Moms in Touch (www.momsintouch.org) prayer group in her home for 7 years. She has taught on prayer, and written prayer guides and articles on parenting, writing, and prayer for many years. Prayer has been her passion. Sharing from her own personal experiences, Rebekah developed a prayer journal that allows her to regularly see the benefits of prayer in her daily walk with God. Rebekah

serves as co-director of Richmond Christians Who Write (http://rcww.blogspot.com), and she serves as an encourager and mentor to aspiring writers. Learn more about Rebekah on her website at rebekahrobb.com. Rebekah is a member of Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Sharon Pumpelly has been married to Larry for 39 years, and they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. God has richly blessed by allowing them to serve in ministry in Ohio, in Uganda as International Mission Board missionaries for 26 years, and in leadership in Eastern and Southern Africa and Virginia. In the process of God’s call to missions, Sharon and Larry sensed God’s desire to go to a “desperate place.” God blessed the Pumpellys with a productive ministry in Uganda, but they also experienced years of daily gunfire, wars and government coups, and having 7 vehicles stolen at gunpoint. Sharon learned a lot about God’s love and nature through these events, and she personally experienced God’s power over fear. While working with youth and university students in Uganda, God led Sharon and Larry to develop a Biblically-based, interactive abstinence program which, with permission from LifeWay, they called True Love Waits. True Love Waits greatly impacted Uganda, and after retirement, Sharon directed True Love Waits International for over 5 years, partnering with LifeWay Christian Resources. Traveling and working in twelve African countries, Sharon’s ministry with True Love Waits International impacted lives across the continent. Sharon and Larry have a desire to help couples have great marriages, and they invest in couples through pre-marital counseling and marriage enrichment. Sharon is passionate about mentoring and discipling women helping them move from where they are to experience a more intimate relationship with God and others. Sharon is a member of Grace Community Church in Richmond, Virginia.