Rev. Dr. Cynthia L. Hale is the founding and Senior Pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Hale has been in ministry for 46 years. She established ELAH Pastoral Ministries, Inc., a mentorship program that assists in the development of pastors and para-church leaders in 2004 and convened her first Women in Ministry Conference in 2005. In 2010, she authored her first book, I’m A Piece of Work: Sisters Shaped by God.

Dr. Hale presently serves as the Chairperson of the IC3 Conference Board, a member of the Board of Trustees at Hollins University, a member of the UNCF NFEI Advisory Council, a member of the Welcome.US Council and an emeritus member of the Board of Visitors of the Divinity School at Duke University. She is most recently the past President for the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference. Dr. Hale is an active Lifetime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Dr. Hale is a native of Roanoke, Virginia.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hollins College. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. Dr. Hale is a contributing writer for many books and publications and the recipient of numerous honors and recognitions including in 2023 when she was honored with the Duke University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Rev. Dr. Ossie McKinney serves as Worship Pastor and Director of Worship Arts at Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. For more than 40 years, she has led congregations in music and worship. She is also the Director of Research and Administration for Outreach and Growth with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, where she develops resources that share the stories of racial justice advocates and equip congregations to engage in faithful action.

A gifted preacher, teacher, and storyteller, Dr. McKinney serves as an adjunct professor at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, where she teaches a spring course on African American Spirituality and Social Justice. She is passionate about creating worship that weaves together song, scripture, and story to call the church toward justice, unity, and hope.

Ossie is married to Rev. Charles McKinney, Jr., and is a proud mother and grandmother of four. She brings her love of family, community, and the gospel into every space she serves.

Nikki serves as BWIM’s Director of Advocating for Women in Ministry. She received a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University and a Bachelor of Arts from Mercer University. Following her education, she served local churches in Georgia through youth, young adult, and homebound ministry roles. She also ministered on the state denominational level as associate coordinator for congregational life at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia. She has also recently completed a tenure as Interim Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, GA, the home congregation of President Jimmy Carter. Nikki also writes and produces a small-group Bible study curriculum called FaithElement.