LIVE: Interviews with Lori Salierno and Arnetta Bailey

A few weeks ago, the Church of God, Anderson (the Christian tradition to which I belong) met for our National convention in Orlando, Florida. Thought leaders and preachers from around the nation joined for four days of worship and meetings. I had an opportunity to sit down with a few of my favorite preachers, who happen to be women, and ask them a few questions about ministry, sermon prep, and real life. Here are my first two installments:
1. Rev. Dr. Lori Salierno Dr. Lori Salierno-Maldonado works as a passionate keynote speaker, is the author of several books and is the co-creator of the Teach One to Lead One philosophy. She is an avid spokeswoman for the cause of transforming at-risk youth into responsible citizens. Dr. Lori balances her time between the management of her successful non-profit organization and invitations to speak to audiences throughout the world. Dr. Lori lives with her husband, Jose Maldonado, in the Atlanta, GA area.

2. Rev. Arnetta Bailey Rev. Dr. Arnetta McNeese Bailey has served the Church of God as an advocate for reconciliation, an inspired preacher, and as a servant leader. Her passionate faith informs her life and her work. Rev. McNeese Bailey is the Executive Director of Christian Women Connection. Under Rev. McNeese Bailey’s leadership, Women of the Church of God transformed into Christian Women Connection to become “a place for every woman, where every woman takes her place.”
She is the founder and Executive Director of Pricilla’s Lost and Found and In the Company of Good Men, faith-based mentoring programs for women and men in transition. Rev. McNeese Bailey writings can be found in Bridges curriculum published by Warner Press and in Called to Minister, Empowered to Serve.
Arnetta has served numerous organizations and ministries, serving the National Association of the Church of God, Children of Promise, Circle of Missions Committee, Executive Leadership Strategic Planning Committee of the Church of God, and the Church of God Reconciliation Task Force.
While the Church is Rev. McNeese Bailey’s passion, her leadership is evident in the secular world as well where she serves on the Connect Marketplace & Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) Advisory Board and the Buffalo/Niagara Customer Advisory Council. Arnetta also served with Special Olympics and Big Brothers & Sisters of America.
Arnetta has traveled extensively as a keynote speaker for national conferences and conventions throughout the United States. In addition to being a featured guest on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, she has preached and taught internationally in the countries of India, Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Bermuda and the Caribbean.
Rev. McNeese Bailey holds a degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in African American Religious Studies and a Master of Theological Studies from Anderson University School of Theology. In 2016 she received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Anderson University.
She has three children, Merlelynn, Markus & Jamal and is the proud grandmother of two. Arnetta is a member of Sherman Street Church of God, Anderson, Indiana.