State President: Valerie Abbott
wmpresident@indianacog.com
Valerie Abbott is actively involved in women’s issues, encouraging spiritual growth, personal development and leadership among women and contributing to the general welfare of our homes, churches and communities.
Mrs. Abbott served as State Girls’ Club Coordinator for Wisconsin/Upper Michigan, the Pacific Northwest, South Georgia and Alabama. Under her leadership thousands of girls’ were ministered to as programs saw unprecedented attendance and balanced budgets with surplus. Valerie has always viewed ministry as an important means of education for women and girls.
While her husband consecutively served as Assistant and Director to International Youth and Christian Education for the Church of God, Mrs. Abbott served as International Girls Clubs Coordinator and listened to the concerns of young people, women, and community leaders in the United States and around the world, drawing attention to programs that help children in some of the most impoverished of places. For the past four years, she held the position of Administrative Assistant to the Chaplains Commission and is passionate about the importance of chaplaincy in reaching “beyond the gates” to those in need with material support for our troops overseas, clinical, correctional and industrial outreach and disaster relief for victims of natural and other disasters.
In honor of her mother who died of cancer, Mrs. Abbott supports awareness for women’s health and wellbeing. Until a Church of God-based wellness program can be established, she supports numerous cancer research organizations and encourages women to practice daily habits of healthy eating and exercising.
Valerie was born in Greenwood, Delaware, to Reverend Roy and Jean Judy. In 1976, she married her high school sweetheart, Mark Stephen Abbott, and joined him in pursuit of ministry training. God’s path for them included two inner-city pastorates, Baltimore Inner Harbor and Milwaukee Metro. They are the proud parents of five sons, Mark Stephen, Benjamin Paul, Joel Daniel, Caleb Isaac and Jacob Aaron. Benjamin and his wife, Lara, have blessed them with three grandchildren, Katelyn Elizabeth, Sarah Abigail and Aubree Clair.
Women play a vital role in the ministry of the Church of God in Indiana. Yearly, the women enjoy times together such as the Awards Luncheon during the annual Camp Meeting and the annual retreat which is held late winter or early spring and the national women's conference held semi-annually.
Women in Indiana are very supportive of our projects which include the Smoky Mountain Children's Home, Missions to Zambia and Brazil, and our Covenant Sisters.