I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
MISSION
As women of God, we recognize that we receive true life when we abide (remain connected) with Jesus Christ and that we can extend that life to the people around us by producing the fruit of the spirit.
VISION
Evangelism – provide opportunities to share the Good News and plant seeds, allowing women to recognize their own personal need for Jesus Christ.
Ready and willing to share how God has worked in their lives (personal testimonies). Ready and willing to share how to become a Christian. Ready and willing to share why we follow Jesus Christ.
Education & Discipleship – provide opportunities for women to grown spiritually in their Christian walk with Jesus Christ by studying God’s word together through Bible Studies and Discipleship, as well as supporting women in their individual Christian Education.
Provide opportunities for Discipleship. Provide opportunities for more mature believers*
Sense of Community & Life Application – Women of all ages will find a welcoming sense of community whereby they may forge strong relationships with other Christian women. We seek to walk along side one another offering Christian love and support as we seek to do the will of God.
Imitating Jesus Christ – As Christian women, we seek to become more like Jesus in all areas of our lives by abiding in Jesus. Through our lives we seek to bear much fruit so that others may know we are disciples of Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8)
Provide opportunities for Christian Maturity. Provide opportunities to serve God by serving others. Follow the commands and teachings of Jesus Christ
Ready and willing to share how God has worked in their lives (personal testimonies). Ready and willing to share how to become a Christian. Ready and willing to share why we follow Jesus Christ.
Education & Discipleship – provide opportunities for women to grown spiritually in their Christian walk with Jesus Christ by studying God’s word together through Bible Studies and Discipleship, as well as supporting women in their individual Christian Education.
Provide opportunities for Discipleship. Provide opportunities for more mature believers*
Sense of Community & Life Application – Women of all ages will find a welcoming sense of community whereby they may forge strong relationships with other Christian women. We seek to walk along side one another offering Christian love and support as we seek to do the will of God.
Imitating Jesus Christ – As Christian women, we seek to become more like Jesus in all areas of our lives by abiding in Jesus. Through our lives we seek to bear much fruit so that others may know we are disciples of Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8)
Provide opportunities for Christian Maturity. Provide opportunities to serve God by serving others. Follow the commands and teachings of Jesus Christ
MISSION
As women of God, we recognize that we receive true life when we abide (remain connected) with Jesus Christ and that we can extend that life to the people around us by producing the fruit of the spirit.
VISION
Evangelism – provide opportunities to share the Good News and plant seeds, allowing women to recognize their own personal need for Jesus Christ.
Ready and willing to share how God has worked in their lives (personal testimonies). Ready and willing to share how to become a Christian. Ready and willing to share why we follow Jesus Christ.
Education & Discipleship – provide opportunities for women to grown spiritually in their Christian walk with Jesus Christ by studying God’s word together through Bible Studies and Discipleship, as well as supporting women in their individual Christian Education.
Provide opportunities for Discipleship. Provide opportunities for more mature believers*
Sense of Community & Life Application – Women of all ages will find a welcoming sense of community whereby they may forge strong relationships with other Christian women. We seek to walk along side one another offering Christian love and support as we seek to do the will of God.
Imitating Jesus Christ – As Christian women, we seek to become more like Jesus in all areas of our lives by abiding in Jesus. Through our lives we seek to bear much fruit so that others may know we are disciples of Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8)
Provide opportunities for Christian Maturity. Provide opportunities to serve God by serving others. Follow the commands and teachings of Jesus Christ
Ready and willing to share how God has worked in their lives (personal testimonies). Ready and willing to share how to become a Christian. Ready and willing to share why we follow Jesus Christ.
Education & Discipleship – provide opportunities for women to grown spiritually in their Christian walk with Jesus Christ by studying God’s word together through Bible Studies and Discipleship, as well as supporting women in their individual Christian Education.
Provide opportunities for Discipleship. Provide opportunities for more mature believers*
Sense of Community & Life Application – Women of all ages will find a welcoming sense of community whereby they may forge strong relationships with other Christian women. We seek to walk along side one another offering Christian love and support as we seek to do the will of God.
Imitating Jesus Christ – As Christian women, we seek to become more like Jesus in all areas of our lives by abiding in Jesus. Through our lives we seek to bear much fruit so that others may know we are disciples of Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8)
Provide opportunities for Christian Maturity. Provide opportunities to serve God by serving others. Follow the commands and teachings of Jesus Christ
UNITY: What’s at Stake
5:30 p.m. Friday, February 27 through 3:30 p.m. Saturday, February 28
Join us this year as we hear from guest speakers, have opportunities for conversation and prayer, time to be still, and time to get to know others better! We will escape to the Aloft Downtown El Paso.
Registration is closed!
Retreat Speakers
Dr. Bennye Bryant
Dr. Bennye Bryant is Director of the Women In Ministry Network for Texas Baptists. At Texas Baptists, she connects women ministry leaders to flourish in calling and life. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. She owns Encounter Change, a startup that provides transitional and ministry coaching for individuals seeking to use their God-given gifts. Dr. Bryant lives in Palmer, TX, and serves with her husband and pastor, Willie H. Bryant, Jr., at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Jacksonville, TX. Her life philosophy centers on Matthew 28:19-20. Dr. Bryant is also a mother and grandmother. Her passion is to inspire others to be extraordinary leaders to answer God’s call with love and serve His people with their God-given gifts.
Cheryl Kolesar
Cheryl along with her husband, Mike, are founders of Telos Academy, a hybrid/micro school in El Paso, Texas, and Frictionless Families, a ministry that equips parents through seminars, YouTube videos, and conferences on discipline as discipleship, navigating technology, sibling rivalry, raising emotionally and spiritually thriving children and helping them retain their faith into adulthood.
A missionary kid who grew up in Venezuela and Mexico, she has homeschooled all three of her sons through graduation and serves alongside her husband Mike—the love of her life—in both their school and family ministry. Their eldest son is soon to be engaged, their youngest is in college in Alabama, and their middle son works with them at Telos Academy.
Living in El Paso, Texas, Cheryl’s journey into motherhood and marriage began with a divine redirection. Fresh out of Bible college, she was ready to change the world as a single missionary in Africa. But she heard the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice whisper: “You will change the world by getting married, loving your husband well, and raising your children to fear God.” That calling has become her greatest joy and her most important ministry.
A missionary kid who grew up in Venezuela and Mexico, she has homeschooled all three of her sons through graduation and serves alongside her husband Mike—the love of her life—in both their school and family ministry. Their eldest son is soon to be engaged, their youngest is in college in Alabama, and their middle son works with them at Telos Academy.
Living in El Paso, Texas, Cheryl’s journey into motherhood and marriage began with a divine redirection. Fresh out of Bible college, she was ready to change the world as a single missionary in Africa. But she heard the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice whisper: “You will change the world by getting married, loving your husband well, and raising your children to fear God.” That calling has become her greatest joy and her most important ministry.
Shelly Morkovsky
Shelly is a member of First Baptist Church, El Paso. She is currently in her second year as the leader of the Abide Women's Ministry Team here at FBC. Shelly's husband Jeremy is also an active member and serves as a deacon at FBC. The Morkovskys are almost empty nesters, the parents of Kaleb (22), Jaylan (20), and Georgia (16) who all spent their middle and high school years in the youth ministry at FBC.
Shelly was a church kid growing up, the daughter of a deacon where she grew up at First Baptist Church in Ozona, Texas. As a stay at home mom, Shelly has always been involved in ministry, serving as a Sunday School teacher in the children, youth, and young adult ministries in multiple churches as The Morkovskys moved around, as well as singing with choirs and praise teams and serving women through ministry at Scotsdale Baptist in El Paso, Bulverde Baptist in San Antonio, and First Baptist in Frisco before landing in El Paso a second time in 2018 to serve at FBC. Shelly is a bookkeeper for her parent's business as well as The First Baptist Church Foundation which works directly with our foundation board and the business staff at FBC. She has served as treasurer and president of various booster organizations at Franklin High School, and continues in those roles as her children complete high school.
Shelly takes seriously Christ's call to go and make disciples by actively engaging in discipling relationships with young adults and by being discipled herself. After her brother's murder in 2017, Shelly has become an avid learner about the forgiveness we are called to offer as Christians and enjoys leading and speaking from a heart of learned grace.
Shelly was a church kid growing up, the daughter of a deacon where she grew up at First Baptist Church in Ozona, Texas. As a stay at home mom, Shelly has always been involved in ministry, serving as a Sunday School teacher in the children, youth, and young adult ministries in multiple churches as The Morkovskys moved around, as well as singing with choirs and praise teams and serving women through ministry at Scotsdale Baptist in El Paso, Bulverde Baptist in San Antonio, and First Baptist in Frisco before landing in El Paso a second time in 2018 to serve at FBC. Shelly is a bookkeeper for her parent's business as well as The First Baptist Church Foundation which works directly with our foundation board and the business staff at FBC. She has served as treasurer and president of various booster organizations at Franklin High School, and continues in those roles as her children complete high school.
Shelly takes seriously Christ's call to go and make disciples by actively engaging in discipling relationships with young adults and by being discipled herself. After her brother's murder in 2017, Shelly has become an avid learner about the forgiveness we are called to offer as Christians and enjoys leading and speaking from a heart of learned grace.
UNITY: What’s at Stake
5:30 p.m. Friday, February 27 through 3:30 p.m. Saturday, February 28
Join us this year as we hear from guest speakers, have opportunities for conversation and prayer, time to be still, and time to get to know others better! We will escape to the Aloft Downtown El Paso.
Registration is closed!
Retreat Speakers
Dr. Bennye Bryant
Dr. Bennye Bryant is Director of the Women In Ministry Network for Texas Baptists. At Texas Baptists, she connects women ministry leaders to flourish in calling and life. She holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Ministry from Dallas Baptist University. She owns Encounter Change, a startup that provides transitional and ministry coaching for individuals seeking to use their God-given gifts.
Dr. Bryant lives in Palmer, TX, and serves with her husband and pastor, Willie H. Bryant, Jr., at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Jacksonville, TX. Her life philosophy centers on Matthew 28:19-20. Dr. Bryant is also a mother and grandmother. Her passion is to inspire others to be extraordinary leaders to answer God’s call with love and serve His people with their God-given gifts.
Cheryl Kolesar
Cheryl along with her husband, Mike, are founders of Telos Academy, a hybrid/micro school in El Paso, Texas, and Frictionless Families, a ministry that equips parents through seminars, YouTube videos, and conferences on discipline as discipleship, navigating technology, sibling rivalry, raising emotionally and spiritually thriving children and helping them retain their faith into adulthood.
A missionary kid who grew up in Venezuela and Mexico, she has homeschooled all three of her sons through graduation and serves alongside her husband Mike—the love of her life—in both their school and family ministry. Their eldest son is soon to be engaged, their youngest is in college in Alabama, and their middle son works with them at Telos Academy.
Living in El Paso, Texas, Cheryl’s journey into motherhood and marriage began with a divine redirection. Fresh out of Bible college, she was ready to change the world as a single missionary in Africa. But she heard the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice whisper: “You will change the world by getting married, loving your husband well, and raising your children to fear God.” That calling has become her greatest joy and her most important ministry.
A missionary kid who grew up in Venezuela and Mexico, she has homeschooled all three of her sons through graduation and serves alongside her husband Mike—the love of her life—in both their school and family ministry. Their eldest son is soon to be engaged, their youngest is in college in Alabama, and their middle son works with them at Telos Academy.
Living in El Paso, Texas, Cheryl’s journey into motherhood and marriage began with a divine redirection. Fresh out of Bible college, she was ready to change the world as a single missionary in Africa. But she heard the Holy Spirit’s still, small voice whisper: “You will change the world by getting married, loving your husband well, and raising your children to fear God.” That calling has become her greatest joy and her most important ministry.
Shelly Morkovsky
Shelly is a member of First Baptist Church, El Paso. She is currently in her second year as the leader of the Abide Women's Ministry Team here at FBC. Shelly's husband Jeremy is also an active member and serves as a deacon at FBC. The Morkovskys are almost empty nesters, the parents of Kaleb (22), Jaylan (20), and Georgia (16) who all spent their middle and high school years in the youth ministry at FBC.
Shelly was a church kid growing up, the daughter of a deacon where she grew up at First Baptist Church in Ozona, Texas. As a stay at home mom, Shelly has always been involved in ministry, serving as a Sunday School teacher in the children, youth, and young adult ministries in multiple churches as The Morkovskys moved around, as well as singing with choirs and praise teams and serving women through ministry at Scotsdale Baptist in El Paso, Bulverde Baptist in San Antonio, and First Baptist in Frisco before landing in El Paso a second time in 2018 to serve at FBC. Shelly is a bookkeeper for her parent's business as well as The First Baptist Church Foundation which works directly with our foundation board and the business staff at FBC. She has served as treasurer and president of various booster organizations at Franklin High School, and continues in those roles as her children complete high school.
Shelly takes seriously Christ's call to go and make disciples by actively engaging in discipling relationships with young adults and by being discipled herself. After her brother's murder in 2017, Shelly has become an avid learner about the forgiveness we are called to offer as Christians and enjoys leading and speaking from a heart of learned grace.
Shelly was a church kid growing up, the daughter of a deacon where she grew up at First Baptist Church in Ozona, Texas. As a stay at home mom, Shelly has always been involved in ministry, serving as a Sunday School teacher in the children, youth, and young adult ministries in multiple churches as The Morkovskys moved around, as well as singing with choirs and praise teams and serving women through ministry at Scotsdale Baptist in El Paso, Bulverde Baptist in San Antonio, and First Baptist in Frisco before landing in El Paso a second time in 2018 to serve at FBC. Shelly is a bookkeeper for her parent's business as well as The First Baptist Church Foundation which works directly with our foundation board and the business staff at FBC. She has served as treasurer and president of various booster organizations at Franklin High School, and continues in those roles as her children complete high school.
Shelly takes seriously Christ's call to go and make disciples by actively engaging in discipling relationships with young adults and by being discipled herself. After her brother's murder in 2017, Shelly has become an avid learner about the forgiveness we are called to offer as Christians and enjoys leading and speaking from a heart of learned grace.
Ladies' Bible Study
January 15 – March 12, 2026
9:15 am. – 11:30 a.m.
9:15 am. – 11:30 a.m.
Led by Connie Skarda | Cost is $10
Security in God’s love, confidence in God’s purposes, and dependence upon God’s power come through understanding the covenant which God has established with each of His children. It is the missing piece of the puzzle which ties everything together. God’s covenant begins in the book of Genesis, runs through the entire Bible, and ending in the book of Revelation.
In this 9 week study we’ll learn about God’s solemn, binding agreement with His people, what this means to us as believers, and why He always keeps His promises. These truths will show us why we can trust Him as our covenant partner and what our responsibility is to Him in this covenant relationship.
Ladies' Bible Study
January 15 – March 12, 2026 | 9:15 am. – 11:30 a.m.
Led by Connie Skarda | Cost is $10
Security in God’s love, confidence in God’s purposes, and dependence upon God’s power come through understanding the covenant which God has established with each of His children. It is the missing piece of the puzzle which ties everything together. God’s covenant begins in the book of Genesis, runs through the entire Bible, and ending in the book of Revelation.
In this 9 week study we’ll learn about God’s solemn, binding agreement with His people, what this means to us as believers, and why He always keeps His promises. These truths will show us why we can trust Him as our covenant partner and what our responsibility is to Him in this covenant relationship.