2024 Christian Women Of Distinction

Chandra Cheeseborough is an  example of a multiple world record breaking Olympic Champion,  winner of 2 Olympic golds and 1 silver medal, with a  30 year successful  coaching career, after receiving one of the first ever Title IX scholarships given to deserving female athletes. 

She made history at the 1984 games when she became the first woman to win gold medals in both relays, which were held less than an hour apart.

Chandra broke onto the international  track scene at age 16, winning two gold medals at the 1975 Pan American Games, taking the 200 meters in an American record time of 22.77 seconds. She attended Tennessee State, where, in 1999 she was named head coach of both men and women’s track and cross country teams leading her Tigerbells to 9 Ohio Valley Conference Championships. 

Pamela Evette  the 93rd Lieutenant Governor, and the first female Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina demonstrates God’s love for families and  children. She has worked to support early childhood  education, school reading programs, school choice, and South Carolina non-profits. Pamela is also a staunch supporter of parental rights, the military, and law  enforcement knowing the importance of a safe  environment for the future of our country  and the next generation. 

Harris Faulkner, is a six-time Emmy award-winning news anchor who believes that faith in God  still moves mountains. She joined the FOX News  Channel in 2005 where she currently helms two top-rated daily daytime programs—“The Faulkner Focus” and “Outnumbered.” 

As a result of her excellence in broadcast journalism and serving as the only Black woman to anchor two back-to-back cable news programs, Harris has received many notable awards. She is a speaker, author, and philanthropist. 

Her 2023 FOX News Books title “Faith Still Moves Mountains,” became number one on the New York Times bestseller’s list. Harris actively raises awareness and funds for numerous organizations and in 1998, received the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Lifetime Achievement Award for her humanitarian efforts. 

 Abby Johnson is a strong advocate for life from the womb to the tomb and beyond. Her story is chronicled in a best-selling book titled, “Unplanned,” which was later turned into a major motion picture with the same name. 

Abby is the CEO of two successful prolife non-profits and hosts her own podcast, “Politely Rude.” One of her ministries, “And Then There Were None,” has helped almost 700 abortion workers leave the abortion industry and come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

 Sue Z. McGray, the president of Christian Women in Media teaches women that it’s never too late for hope. Sue has experienced personal 

triumph over low self-esteem, co-dependency, a broken marriage, and domestic violence

 and today serves as a mentor for Morning Star Sanctuary, a Christian safe place for women and children. 

Her personal life experiences have given her the insight to author several books. She is a sought-after Christian women’s conference speaker and teacher and an entrepreneur who has built a successful business that has reached the pinnacle of her industry. 

  Dr. Andrea Ramirez MBA, PhD builds bridges between cultural worlds creating ethnic harmony. Her career has spanned across public service, executive search and the non-profit sector. Her expertise in conflict resolution and cultural intelligence served her well in the White House as a policy advisor, director of Hispanic Outreach, and special assistant to the President. 

Dr. Ramirez led White House initiatives based at the U.S. Department of Education, including the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiative and the White House Initiative for Hispanics in Educational Excellence. 

 Allyson Reneau is an international space consultant, successful business owner, coach of Olympic hopefuls in the sport of gymnastics, and the mother of 11 biological children. 

She graduated summa cum laude from Harvard with her master’s degree in international relations focusing on NASA and the U.S. Space Program. 

She attended the NASA-sponsored International Space University and her thesis has been referred to as a framework for current U.S. Space Policy 

on NASA’s return to the moon. 

Allyson has advised space-emerging nations globally and in the last year has hiked 50 miles through the Amazon jungle twice to reach

 isolated tribes bringing communication technology.  In 2023 she founded a girls 

school in Afghanistan now with over 550

 students (Taliban approved) and is 

working to support the persecuted church. 

 Dr. Linda Smith is the executive vice president for the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). She previously served as president of the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, executive vice president

 and chief operating officer for NRB, chief of the office of public affairs

 for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and chief of staff for the U.S. Parole Commission. 

She is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, including

 the Myrl E.Alexander Award from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, which recognizes the development of new techniques in correctional programs and implementation of new and innovative procedures. Office for the District of Columbia for her work with crime victims. 

  Sam Sorbo is an education freedom advocate. After an award-winning Hollywood film career as an actor, producer, and writer Sam stepped back

 from her Hollywood career to homeschool her three small children. 

That is when she realized there is more to education than the school system accomplishes or addresses. Sam scripted and produced “School’s Out with

 Sam Sorbo” for Epoch TV and currently hosts “The Sam Sorbo Show” daily

 on Patriot TV and as a podcast. 

Fluent in five languages, Sam speaks internationally on how to “Educate... differently.” She has written several  books. Remarking on the lack of Biblical study in our government’s schools, Sam notes, “How can anyone claim to educate while ignoring the most important book in the history of the world?”

  Terry Anne Meeuwsen is a leading personality in Christian broadcasting. Crowned Miss America in 1973, Terry’s gift for singing and acting introduced her to the Christian Broadcasting Network where she has been on air for more than 30 years. Terry is an accomplished author and founder of Orphan’s Promise CBN’s ministry to children around the world; taking vulnerable children from at-risk to thriving in more than 60 countries.

 Dr. Larinda King is an inspirational leader and entrepreneur, training and employing young urban women to be successful businesswomen. As an Elite Executive Senior Sales Director with Mary Kay since 2019, Dr. Larinda’s team ranked number 1 in the U.S. for 2021, and number 2 in in 2022.  She is a Pastor, author, speaker, multimedia specialist, and broadcaster for both T.V. and radio, and founder of several community organizations, a church and private school in Augusta, Georgia.

Charmaine Hedding is an outstanding Global Development Manager for the non-profit sector, with a particular focus on the protection of persecuted Christians and other minorities in the Middle East and Africa., She recently ran the evacuations of over 9000 people from Afghanistan including members of the Afghan underground church, religious minorities, and Afghans that had worked for the US and other governments and the military.

  Dr. Susan Michael is USA Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, a member of the ICEJ’s international board, and has been a pioneer in furthering Christian engagement with Israel and the Jewish people for more than four decades. She is  gifted teacher,  international speaker. and an author leading one of the strongest networks of Evangelical leaders in America—the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI).

 Jaci Velasquez is a multi-platinum-selling, Grammy nominated and multiple Dove award winner as a Christian singer/songwriter recording albums in English and Spanish and performing on stages around the world. Jaci is an actress, author, and has hosted a syndicated radio program. She has used her celebrity to launch a non-profit clothing line and as a mother of a special needs child, raised awareness of autism.

  Lori Windham is vice president and senior counsel at Becket, where she defends religious freedom for all. She has represented parties before the Supreme Court, arguing the unanimous victory on behalf of foster families in Fulton v. Philadelphia and working with the Becket team on its Supreme Court victories in Hobby Lobby and Little Sisters of the Poor. She is recognized in Washington as an expert on religious freedom issues, and is sought-after speaker on First Amendment law.☆She Leads America Young Christian Women of Distinction 2023:

  Hannah Castillo  Hannah served two years in the White House Office of Public Liaison and as President Trump’s Coalitions Director in 2020,  built the most expansive coalitions effort in Republican history, culminating with President Trump receiving the largest percentage of the non-white vote for a Republican candidate since 1960. At 29, Hannah was one of the youngest political operatives ever to serve in a senior role on a Presidential campaign.She is now with Prayer House DC – a ministry dedicated to worship, prayer and building a community focused on Jesus.

  Riley Gaines is a courageous spokeswoman for fairness in women’s sports. A recent graduate from the University of Kentucky where she was a 12 time NCAA All-American swimmer she competed and tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at their NCAA championships. Since directly experiencing the injustice of allowing men in women's sports, Riley has been outspoken on why this issue is blatantly unfair and harmful to females.  Through “The Riley Gaines Center” she is  building a movement to stand up for women’s sports and common - sense American values.