Thelma Wells Will Give Different Perspectives of Media

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Thelma Wells' life has been a courageous journey of faith. Wells is a core speaker for Women of Faith Conferences and she will be speaking to the November 8 meeting of the Dallas Connection of Women in Christian Media, Founder and President Suellen Roberts recently announced. Her topic for the evening is "Our perspective of media and God's perspective of media."

This year, the Dallas-based, nation-wide organization's Dallas Connection will meet at the award-winning Tower Club, Thanksgiving Tower, on Elm St., in Dallas. The Dallas Connection meets four times per year.
Thelma Wells


Wells is a trailblazer for African American women, a prominent international speaker and author, and a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

As a student at North Texas State University in Denton, Texas (now the University of North Texas), she was a member of the first group of girls to integrate the school's dormitories. She earned her Bachelor's degree there and eventually received a Master's of Ministry from Master's International School of Divinity in Evansville, Indiana. In 2002, she became the school's first African American female professor.

In 1980, Wells became the first African American woman in the South to organize her own international speaking and consulting corporation. Her natural talent for public speaking and storytelling attracted the attention of the Women of Faith Tour, and in 1996 she became the first African American core speaker for the organization. She has authored several books, including God Is Not Through With Me Yet and What These Girls Knew -How Girls Back Then Talk To Us TODAY. She serves as the president of The Daug hters of Zion Leadership Mentoring Program, an organization she founded in 2000 (another first for an African American woman). Through this ministry, "Mama T," as she is affectionately called, has mentored over 100 spiritual daughters. Wells also received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Saint Thomas Christian College, Jacksonville, Florida in 2006.


Leona Ruppert

Leona Ruppert will bring the musical performance for the evening. Leona has sung for the queen of England and played Carnegie Hall, but her ultimate musical experience has been leading the body of Christ in worship and praise.

Music has been Leona's life passion since she was a young girl growing up in Kansas. She was born in Emporia, Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University in 1982 with a degree in music.

In the past she has been an award winning country artist as well as a classical solo artist. She is now a sought after studio singer and vocal coach.

WCM Founder and President Suellen Roberts hopes the November 8 event will connect and refresh women in Christian communications who live and work in the DFW area. WCM's mission is to encourage, connect and mobilize women working in all forms of Christian media ministry. The heart of WCM is to be a source that facilitates lasting friendships and continual growth.

"WCM provides a common ground for media professionals creating a synergy to explore new horizons," said Christy Legg, Vice President of ILIFE Television Network. Legg also said she has already made through WCM invaluable connections through WCM.

Based on response from those who have attended past WCM events, the group is making an impact through enriching the lives of those involved personally and professionally. When asked about the future of WCM, Roberts continues to anticipate a remarkable outcome. "I expect that great fruitfulness will come out of all this, for women in the industry and for female media consumers," said Roberts. WCM's 2008 National Conference is co-located again with National Religious Broadcasters' Annual Convention in Nash ville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel March 6 and 7.

More information about WCM can be obtained by calling 214-319-7700 or by going to www.womeninchristianmedia.org/dallasconnection