Capitol Hill Church Celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness

This fall about 100 women met at Allegheny East Conference's Capitol Hill church (CHC) in Washington, D.C., for “Tea, TaTas and Testimonies,” an event organized by the Capitol Hill church’s women’s ministry team.

Story by Capitol Hill Church Staff/ Photos by Gigi Mattox

Volunteers: Capitol Hill church Women's Ministries team and the teen hostesses

The women gathered for fellowship and testimonies from five breast cancer survivors: Linda Carter, a Sligo church (Takoma Park, Md.) member; Toni Walker, a New Life church (Gaithersburg, Md.) member; Regina Barnes, a Community Praise Center (Alexandria, Va.) member; Grace Taylor, a Restoration Praise Center (Lanham, Md.) member; and Rosamond Leacock-Martin, a Capitol Hill member. They shared their journeys from diagnosis to treatment and how it impacted their walks with God. They also discussed the facts, their fears and, most importantly, their faith.

Five breast cancer survivors spoke at the event: Linda Carter, a Sligo church (Takoma Park, Md.) member; Toni Walker, a New Life church (Gaithersburg, Md.) member; Regina Barnes, a Community Praise Center (Alexandria, Va.) member; Grace Taylor, a Restoration Praise Center (Lanham, Md.) member; and Rosamond Leacock-Martin, a Capitol Hill member.

The evening was the brainchild of Rosamond Leacock-Martin and Tanya Taylor, Women’s Ministries co-leader. Hazel Lofton-Gregg prepared a dinner served by the CHC teen hostesses. Barbara Donaldson, wife of the senior pastor, gave the opening prayer, and Lynda Hodges, a breast cancer survivor, and CeCe Henry, provided special music.

Many of the ladies brought co-workers, friends, sisters, mothers and daughters. Everyone had a chance to meet and greet and talk to the survivors. The evening ended with a circle of prayer and special anointing by the church’s female elders. Each woman also left with a goodie bag filled with information on breast cancer awareness and inspirational reading.

“All the women that attended say they were richly blessed,” shared Leacock-Martin.