Velma Ferrell responds to being given the Anne Thomas Neil Award. Looking on is Tyanna Day who presided.

The award is named for Neil because of her support, encouragement and leadership in the organization for women in ministry in North Carolina. It is given annually to a woman who has made significant contributions to women in ministry in North Carolina.

Ferrell's mother, Velma Preslar McGee, was the first woman to be elected a vice president of the Baptist State Convention.

McGee had served as president of Woman's Missionary Union of North Carolina before being elected first vice president of the Convention in 1964.

Tyanna Day, pastor of Garner's Chapel Church, Mt. Olive, presided at the business session which preceded a worship service.

On each round table in the fellowship hall, a loaf of bread and a cup containing the "fruit of the vine" had been placed before the session began. These two elements were later used in the communion experience.

A communion loaf and cup, used later in the worship service, were at each table at the annual meeting.

The worship service was a combination of scripture, prayer, music and reflection. Becky Albritton closed the worship session with a charge for "Empowering." The litany included: Leader: Where there is no vision, we perish.

People: Where there is no hope, visions cease.

Leader: But rejoice now in our hope.

People: Take heart in our visions.

All: For truly the Spirit of the Lord is upon us to see visions, to dream and to prophecy. "Alleluia" was used as a choral response to the charge. Albritton is minister with children at Millbrook Church, Raleigh.

The purposes of Baptist Women in Ministry in North Carolina (BWIM, NC) are "to provide a network of support, fellowship, worship, advocacy and education for Baptist women and men who are seeking to honor God's call in Christ to women in all areas of mission and ministry, lay or ordained; and to dialogue and share information with North Carolina Baptists concerning women in missions and ministry for the purpose of increasing understanding and awareness of our calling as women and men in Christ."