On those occasions when Thelma was taken to her grandparents' home, her grandmother abused her, just as she had tormented Thelma's mother. She was locked in a dark, smelly, insect-infested closet until just before her grandfather came home when her grandmother would bring her out of the closet, clean her up, and act as if all was well. In spite of her deep fear, little Thelma spent her time in the closet singing every hymn and praise song she could remember. She would sing herself to sleep in that closet, and the Lord received this little girl's innocent praise and rewarded it with an abundant life of joy, protecting her from feelings of anger or bitterness.

Thelma grew up to become a trailblazer for black 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 black female professor.

In 1980 Thelma became the first black 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 black core speaker for the organization. She has authored several books, including her latest Don't Give In - God Wants You to Win, based off Esphesian's 6:10. On the cruise, Thelma will teach from this book and you'll learn how to fight - but never start one, fix your hair, pad your bra, tighten your girdle, put on your stomping shoes and get ready to win. As Mama T to many women throughout the world, she's fought many battles and won. So it's her desire to teach you what she knows from experience based off the Word of God. Are you ready to win?

Thelma has been married to George Wells, her best friend, supporter, and encourager, for over 45 years. The couple lives in Dallas, Texas, and has three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Babbie Mason has had the honor to sing for conferences, crusades, presidents, prime ministers and kings all over the world. She also considers it a privilege to sing in remote villages in East Africa and in prisons in her hometown. "Whether the audience is young or old, many or few, it is always an honor." Babbie's releases include Right Where You Are, Timeless, No Better Place, Praise Celebration, and many more.

Allison Bottke is the founder of the acclaimed God Allows U-Turns © outreach ministry and is the author or editor of twenty-four published non-fiction and fiction books. Her newest non-fiction book, Setting Boundaries with your Adult Children, is being heralded as a landmark resource for parents and grandparents. Allison also writes contemporary fiction for baby boomer women, and volume one in a new trilogy series called Va Va Va Boom! will be release in 2009.

Recently, Lisa completed 8 years as a worship team member with Women of Faith, the largest nationally-known Christian Women's Conference. She now leads worship with Beth Moore's Living Proof praise team and for women's events and other ministries in Houston and surrounding areas.

She enjoys her church membership at Houston's First Baptist Church, and loves the lord, her husband of over 20 years, and their two terrific teenagers.