The TW-Light Ministry Team
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16
Meet the most brightly shining lights in the world. These ladies are true light bearers of Jesus Christ. They are not perfect and have struggles in this life. They strive daily to walk with the One who has saved them by grace and given them each a purpose for His glory. These women are not famous, but they are in the eyes of God. He knows each of them so well, and now you can too.
Dawna McAfee
Dawna is a stay at home "wifey" living in Fredericksburg, TX with her husband of 38 years, JJ. She enjoys visiting her children and grandchildren in AZ and AR and Fredericksburg. Dawna loves to sing and play the piano and has a contagious laugh.
Even though this verse comes from a rough time for Israel, Micah's plea and reminder of what God requires of him/them/ us is a simple yet deep and often difficult verse to apply, but still a favorite of Dawna's. "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
When asked, what God has done for her, Dawna says, "My salvation, being saved by His mercy and grace is an everyday gift that I have to start with when I think of what God has done for me. Having been told by doctors that we would probably not be able to have children, yet God healed us and we have three children is a part of our God story. Also part of that process included the Lord laying heavily on my heart to ask for forgiveness from someone. Acts of obedience are still hard for me sometimes, but I know God uses me most when I will surrender to Him!"
Jacee Creech
Jacee lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband John and son, Lachlan. Being a stay at home mom, she draws, crafts, writes… there is ALWAYS something to be done around my home, craft or chore!
Jacee's favorite passage is The Fruit of the Spirit. She says, "I think having them in mind helps correct me and guide me through general day to day existence. Am I being kind? Selfless? Patient, gentle, and loving? Am I holding fast to true Joy? Am I practicing self-discipline? Does my life show goodness and faithfulness?"
Jacee believes the events good and bad of her life have shaped her and are worth remember and re-telling, because they all share a constant theme of a very constant God. She said, "I see things that once hit me upside the head and rattled my existence entirely.. but those things now lay in the dust behind me, powerless. Not because I slew the dragons, but because God provided healing and restoration and newness and mercy. He declared victory over it all. I am currently amidst new trials and seasons of life and EVEN NOW I see the Lord at work to make much of little, all for His glory’s sake. He’s a VERY good Father!"
Kandee Justus
Tammy Myers
Tammy is a business owner and software coach, musician, motorcyclist, crafter and gardener. She is married to Tom and mother of Cassandra.
Tammy as a survivor of sexual abuse and having family members dealing with bipolar issues, holds fast to the One who holds her in the palm of His hand.
Tammy's favorite passage is Luke 12:22-26: "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God fees them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life: Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"
Trish Wilson
Trish lives in Kerrville, TX with her husband David and fur baby, Emma. She has a wonderful family, including her two grown children, a daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. Spending time with family and friends is one of many things she loves to do.
Trish, a seminary graduate and ordained minister has served both in churches and in the secular world with children, youth, and adults. She has a heart and passion for the encouragement and building up of women in their walk with Christ in their daily lives.
Isaiah 41:10 has been a stronghold for Trish through life in good and in bad times, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Ann Buck
Ann’s passion to help women grow from surviving to thriving is born out of her own experiences and years of pastoring women.
Raised in Central Illinois, Ann’s Bachelor degree and Master’s hours in music are from Southern Illinois University and Vienna, Austria. She moved to the Hill Country in 2008 after serving 22 years as the Fine Arts Pastor and Women’s Pastor to a church in Tulsa, Okla. Ann has also ministered world-wide as a speaker and worship leader, traveling for 20 years primarily in the Middle East.
Ann began volunteering as a Bible Teacher at the Christian Women’s Job Corps in 2010, and became the Executive Director in January, 2011 to present.
She is a wife, mother, and grandmother of 6.
Tonya Carson
Tonya has been married the past 25 years to Conn, and has three children, three grandchildren, and two fur babies. She loves to sit on the beach and watch the ocean waves roll in and out speaking to her of God’s majesty.
Tonya like everyone has had many jobs in the past, but her dream has always been to be a counselor. She always enjoyed listening to and helping people. God has brought this dream come to pass, and recently she graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in Professional Counseling.
God has walked Tonya through many trials, the most difficult was losing her five year old daughter to cancer. God's continual kindness, patience and understanding of her anger, deep sadness, and questions comforts her. One of her favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."
Lucretia Wilferth
Pamela Blackwell
Pam is a wife & mother who desires to find the joy in creating a beautiful life…one that encompasses her many passions as a whole…the true reflections of her art & soul.
Pamela lives in Fredericksburg, TX with her husband, Jeff, their two youngest children, and their dog & cat. They are a blended family with nine children between the ages of 15 to 29.
Pamela has worked in the network marketing industry for 25 years as an independent business owner. She currently specializes in helps maturing women (50+) with their skincare & makeup needs. She is also a crafter at heart and is passionate about preserving her family’s photos and memories through the art of scrapbooking. Pamela is a John Maxwell Team Certified Coach, Speaker & Teacher and she enjoys helping others grow in their personal & professional lives.
Mary Catherine Hannah
Mary Catherine has lived in Fort Worth with her husband, Luke, and sweet dog, Jovie, for the past two years while Luke is in school for his music and ministry degree. She just finished her first year teaching elementary special ed. in FWISD, but her first love is music therapy. She believes that music is a tool given by God with so many different benefits, including worship through song. God has used her training, as well as her passion for loving people, to equip her for ministry in the local church and in the community.
In her spare time, Mary Catherine enjoys playing games with her friends, drinking coffee, and taking care of her many houseplants. One of her favorite Bible passages is found in Matthew 6:25-30: “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (verses 31-33)
Margaret McCormick
Margaret (Maggie) McCormick is a Christian wife, mother, third grade teacher, and life coach who lives in Pflugerville, Texas. She is active in her church and community, and she loves spending time with her husband and her kids more than anything.
Maggie is working on being more and more obedient to the calls that God places on her heart, and as a result has been blessed with the opportunity to work with TW-Light Ministries.
Maggie’s favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will go with you everywhere you go.”
Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith is a full-time student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. She is pursuing her Master of Music Degree in Worship Leadership.
Courtney is originally from Mississippi where she grew up, but felt led to move to Texas to pursue ministry. One thing God has taught her in the past few years is, as she states in her own words:
“My main purpose in life is not to lead worship or even to do ministry work. My main purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In my ministry work, my prayer is that I always do it out of a heart for God, for if I do it out of a heart of selfishness then I’m not longer glorifying God in my ministry My prayer for me and for you is that in whatever we do, God will receive the glory and as a result we will enjoy Him forever.”
Jodi Carpenter
Jodi lives in the Texas Hill Country with her husband David and their three wonderful children, Samuel, Lili and Abigail. She serves as a worship leader in her church and has served leading worship for 20+ years throughout the Hill Country.
Being a lifestyle photographer, allows Jodi to capture the world and the lives of those around her to freeze the beauty that is God's creation. Another aspect of her creativity is a newly found passion of watercolor painting.
But above all, Jodi is a Christ follower and knows that beauty for ashes is real. Her favorite Bible passage at this moment is all of Isaiah 61- "The Year of the Lord's Favor". Verse 1 sets the tone of the passage: "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
Lucy Thompson
The 92 year-old youngster and a stellar prayer warrior, Lucy joined the TW-Light Ministries team in 2023 as the Ministry Scribe.
Whenever attendees receive a note of encouragement it comes from Lucy. She's a faithful prayer warrior and knows that God is eager to answer if only we ask.
Mother of 5 girls, two of which are on the TW-Light Ministry Team, cares for all she meets. Lucy values God and family and doing whatever she can to serve as long as she is able.
Her long life is due to knowing where her peace comes from. Her favorite scripture says it all. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - Matthew 16:33
Dena Dyer
Dena Dyer loves Jesus, her family, all things literary, coffee, and British television.
She’s an author of ten books and many articles, a professional speaker, and a book proposal coach who’s been married to her hubby Carey for 23 wonderful years (and a couple they don’t talk about). They have two young adult sons, Jordan and Jackson, and in 2020 the family was “rescued” by their Maltese pup, Sully.
Her passion is sharing words of humor and hope with wounded and weary people, and she enjoys singing on the praise team at the church where her husband is the worship pastor. She spends too much time online or in the fast food drive-through--but she and the Lord are working on it. Connect with her: website, Instagram or Facebook.
Karen Walsh - Zion Lutheran Church
The overall experience was positive. Everyone I spoke with felt that they were blessed and thanked us for hosting such a wonderful event!
Personally, I felt that God was leading us not only to find joy in our lives, but to be more aware of bringing joy to others. I enjoyed the fellowship with other Christian women.
The conference flowed nicely from one activity to the next. Kept us active. Each activity was enjoyable and meaningful.
I would absolutely recommend TW-Light Ministries to others! We would certainly them back. Several ladies who were not able to attend would like us to have it again at Zion.
