Retreat Speakers

Retreat Speakers 2019

With a sincere heart and desire to see all women evolve into an authentic expression of who they were created to be it is from this place that Scharita shares, connects, and empowers women of all ages and backgrounds to be Bold, Beautiful, and Brave. Equipping them with life skills for their journey to build successful careers, ministries, marriages, families, and homes and to fulfill the passions of their heart.

Scharita has a special calling to touch and reach those who have been victimized and who feel unloved and rejected. Those that life has dealt an unfair hand too or circumstances or events have created great hardship and bondage. Her passion reaches the very depth of the souls of these women and ministers life, encouragement, and enrichment. Allowing them to see their worth, and connect with their identity and exchange the ASHES of their life (the hurt, disappointments, set backs, failures, and rejection) for BEAUTY. Giving them Courage to LIVE AGAIN!

Scharita is the Visionary Leader of the annual Virtuous Women's Retreat and annual Women's Empowerment Summit WES Weekend and the Founding Director of Ignite HOPE Foundation. She leads hundreds of women nationally in her SLE Women's Network where she inspires women in specific areas; (married women, single women, engaged/wives in waiting, pastors & first ladies, creatives & musician wives). Her ministry also provides emotional & spiritual support to (single mothers, divorced & widowed wives, and caregivers of special needs children).  Her Virtuous Women's Network (VWN) Organization she also develops women leaders in business, ministry, and community leadership. Through her network she personally mentors and develops diverse groups of women in life guiding them in their (personal image & identity, life coping skills, goal planning, pursuit of purpose, gifts & talents, positive character, and spiritual development & growth).

Ms. Amarilys Bocz - West Palm Beach, Florida

Prophetic  Artist & Healing & Deliverance Minister

Retreat Guest Speaker

Amarilys (Amy) Bocz is a multi-dimensional prophetic minister and spiritual mother. She relies on the Holy Spirit, moment-by-moment, for direction and discernment, which often leads to inner healing and freedom for those she encounters. By the love and presence of Jesus, she changes the atmosphere wherever she goes. Her passion is for Jesus to receive the glory and the reward for which He suffered. She has many years of experience in strategic intercession, including the courts of heaven. She is a talented artist and enjoys painting prophetic art during times of worship with the Lord. She also enjoys reading, playing with her dog and spending time with her family in West Palm Beach, Florida where she currently resides.

Dr. Kesha Walton - Toms River, New Jersey

Pastor & Medical Nurse Practioner

Retreat Guest Speaker

Pastor Kesha Walton is the wife of Apostle Darryl Walton and the proud mother of four children; Ziikeeya, Ariel, Demetrius, and Darius.

In 2011, Pastor was licensed as a minister to preach the Gospel under Emmanuel Apostolic Temple and assists in the ministry along side her husband, Apostle Darryl K. Walton. In 2014, God elevated Lady to Pastor of Emmanuel Apostolic Temple. Pastor is the Founder of Wounded But Blessed Ministries, which launched its first meeting April 2014 where women and men were healed, delivered and set free. She is also the coordinator of Pumps and Pearls Luncheon that she holds every year, where approximately 200 women come together to love, encourage and fellowship. 

In May 2013, she received her MSN as Family Nurse Practitioner. Pastor Kesha is currently a Nurse Practitioner at an urgent care center. In August 2017, she received her Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Walden University and currently is in the process of starting her own medical practice.

She has been a mentor and role model to many women young and old. When Pastor is not working in ministry you can find her reading, singing, shopping, bowling and having fun with family and friends.

Overseer Alicia Collins - Bronx, New York

Pastor, Prophet, and Psalmist

Retreat Guest Speaker

Pastor Alicia Collins is a woman of God whom God has destined for greatness. Few people have the testimony of "true survivor;" she is one that God's divine favor and plan has orchestrated and mandated an anointing on her ministry that cannot be denied.

In July of 2009, Elder Collins obeyed the Lord and opened a work in the Bronx called the Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. On January 29, 2011, Elder Collins was installed as the Pastor of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. She currently serves under Apostle Stanley J. Gorrell, the presiding prelate and Chief Apostle of the Next Dimension Covenant Churches. The Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. is presently located in White Plains, NY. It is the gathering place for the wounded, broken hearted and disenfranchised. 

Pastor Collins has ministered to thousands via various pulpits across the country to echo the sounds of heaven in the earth. She is determined to be everything that God has graced her to be! She is explosive, anointed and sent by God to do his will. She is an anointed Psalmist, Prolific Preacher and a Bonafide Praiser.

Dr. Danita Thompson - Burlington, New Jersey

Mental Health Doctor, Pastor, and Intecessor

Retreat Guest Speaker

Dr. Danita accepted the Lord at a very young age and has worked in ministry for more than 40 years including working with youth, women's, and marriage ministry at Mt Sinai Cathedral COGIC, and Agape Family Worship Center, and was ordained minister of the gospel in 2005.  She supported the vision and commission that God gave her husband Pastor Arnell by joining with him to birth Mending Hearts Community Worship Ministries in 2012 where together they humbly serve as Pastors of an amazing community of believers. 

Dr. Danita worked in the field of education, seminar facilitation, and professional development for more than 27 years before answering the call to minister hope and healing to the hurting. She is the owner and clinical director of Mending Hearts Family Counseling where she passionately provides biblically based, and clinically sound counseling to individuals, couples and families. Dr. Danita is also the Executive Pastor of Mending Hearts Kingdom Church formerly, Mending Hearts Community Worship Ministries in Florence NJ. Dr. Danita recently founded Hope Haven at Mending Hearts whose mission is: to strengthen and restore faith leaders in need of emotional healing as well as equip and prepare those called to serve through counseling, mentoring, coaching and education. 

Pastor Danita truly loves the Lord and his people.  She aims to be an example of a dedicated wife, mother, friend and minister of the Gospel.

Ms. Meleasa Houghton - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

Grammy Award Winning Song Writer & Life Coach

Retreat Guest Speaker

Meleasa Houghton is the mother to three beautiful children. She has served in ministry for many years. She is a songwriter and was co-founder of New Breed Music. 

Meleasa is a life coach. She enjoys watching people find freedom from hurt and setbacks. She travels and encourages encourage women from all over to find peace for their soul. 

Meleasa loves the ocean and enjoys art therapy. She loves God and her family and feels fortunate to see each day God gives her! 

Mrs. Anissa Cole - New Haven, Conneticut

Psalmist Wife, Mother, Teacher

Retreat Guest Speaker

Anissa Cole is a Flint, MI native who currently resides in Connecticut. She is a wife, mother & teacher. The granddaughter of the late Bishop Fred Lewis, founder of the Southwest Michigan 4^th Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ, Inc., she is no stranger to the demands of ministry and selfless servitude. She has worked alongside her husband in various ministries over the span of their marriage. Currently, Anissa has been married to husband Marcus Cole for 25 years, and together they teach a Life & Bible Study entitled "Word in Worship" every Saturday afternoon. "We feel a mandate to help members of the body of Christ discover their kingdom citizenship and operate in the Christ-mind. You'd be surprised how many believers do not know their true identity."

As a teacher Anissa knows too well the importance of shaping young bright minds at an early age helping them to manifest their fullest potential.

Anissa has raised 3 children; two currently in college, and one finishing high school. She has learned to depend on the wisdom of seasoned women, co-parenting & seeking the Father for guidance to produce a beautiful, balanced & realistic home for her family.