2026 - 2027 Speaker Schedule
Esther Women will meet at St. Luke’s Downtown Campus on Wednesday, with lunch service at 11 a.m., and the presentation starting at noon. A season pass is required to attend the Esther Women luncheon. The presentation is available via livestream at noon. If you are a Season Pass Holder, you do not need to register for the Live Stream Pass. If you are not a Season Pass Holder, please sign up for the Live Stream Pass by clicking the link above.
Special thanks to Richard and Mo Anderson, who have helped to underwrite the amazing speakers each year.
September 9: Summer Lacy
Summer is a teacher at heart. She spent years as a professor of Communication Studies, helping students find their voice and connect with the world around them, before trading the lecture hall for her most meaningful role yet: full-time mom. That background gives her a rare gift for making big ideas feel simple, warm, and personal.
Whether she’s talking about connection, communication, or the everyday moments that shape a family, Summer speaks the way you’d want a friend to: honest, relatable, and genuinely encouraging.
When Summer takes the stage, expect a conversation that feels less like a lecture and more like a heart-to-heart. Her warmth and authenticity have a way of meeting you right where you are and leaving you with something worth carrying with you.
Lunch Menu: Chicken Marsala, Alfredo Pasta, Roasted Zucchini /w Red Peppers, Garlic Bread, Romaine Salad
October 7: Tim Tebow
Season Pass holders can bring one friend, and additional tickets are available for only $25.
The program is at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, and a reception follows in the CLC with heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Tim Tebow is a speaker, entrepreneur, college football analyst for ESPN and SEC Network, and the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including Shaken, This is the Day, and the children’s book Bronco and Friends: A Party to Remember. Prior to his current endeavors, Tim was an NFL quarterback, a two-time NCAAF national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
He’s also the founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, dedicated to bringing Faith, Hope and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. Since 2010, the foundation has served some of the world’s Most Vulnerable People – the real MVPs – across more than 100 countries through ministry focuses in Anti-Human Trafficking & Child Exploitation, Orphan Care + Prevention, Profound Medical Needs, and Special Needs.
Tim is married to Demi-Leigh Tebow – speaker, author, entrepreneur, and former Miss Universe 2017. They live in Jacksonville, Florida with their three dogs, Chunk, Kobe, and Paris, and their first child, a daughter, Daphne.
November 4:Scott O'Grady
Scott is a former United States Air Force Captain and fighter pilot whose story is one of the most remarkable survival accounts of our time. On June 2, 1995, his plane was shot down over Bosnia, leaving him alone behind enemy lines with nothing but his training, his wits, and his faith. For six days, he evaded capture, survived on rainwater and insects, and held tightly to hope until a daring rescue finally brought him home.
That experience shaped everything about who Scott is today. As a motivational speaker, he shares hard-won lessons on survival, faith, courage, and the kind of resilience that only shows up when life pushes you to the edge. His story isn’t just gripping; it’s a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we’re never truly alone.
Lunch Menu: Turkey w/ Gravy, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Carrots, Dinner Roll, Three Bean Salad, Spinach Salad
December 9 (2nd Week)
Broadway Stars Concert
Four remarkable Broadway talents share one stage for an unforgettable celebration of song, story, and pure heart. Season Pass holders can bring one friend, and additional tickets are available for only $25.
The program is at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, and a Holiday Reception follows in the CLC with heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Dan Micciche is the Music Director and Conductor of WICKED on Broadway for more than nine years. He knows how to make a room come alive, and he brings that same energy to every note of this concert.
Eryn LeCroy is the last actress hand-picked by the legendary Hal Prince to play Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Her voice carries the kind of beauty that gives you chills
Isaiah Bailey found his voice early when he started singing in church at just three years old, and that soulful spirit still shines through in everything he performs. He is currently the Phantom in the touring production of The Phantom of the Opera.
Keri René Fuller is a proud Oklahoma native whose career spans Broadway and national productions. She brings power, joy, and a whole lot of personality to the stage. She is currently playing Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway.
January 6: Vanessa Van Edwards
Ever walked into a room and wished you just knew how to connect with the people in it? Vanessa Van Edwards has spent her career answering that very question.
Vanessa is the founder of Science of People, a human behavior research lab where curiosity meets real, practical insight. As a bestselling author and self-described behavioral investigator, she digs into the science of how we relate to one another and turns it into skills you can actually use. Body language, communication, charisma, social dynamics; if it shapes how we connect, Vanessa has studied it.
She’s trained more than 5 million students in the art and science of people skills, and her gift is making dense behavioral research feel simple, accessible, and surprisingly fun. You don’t just leave inspired. You leave with tools you can try right away.
Lunch Menu: Creamy Spinach Lasagna Roll-ups, Meatballs w/ Marinara Sauce, Roll, Green Beans, Red Skin Potatoes, House Salad
February 3:Debbye Turner Bell
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Debbye first stepped into the national spotlight when she was crowned Miss America 1990. But that was only the beginning. She went on to earn her degree as a veterinarian, proving that a heart for service and a mind for science can live comfortably in the same person.
From there, her path kept widening. Debbye became a respected broadcast journalist and television anchor, sharing stories and connecting with viewers across the country. She’s also a minister and a motivational speaker, with a gift for meeting people right where they are and pointing them toward hope.
Through it all, she remains a devoted wife and mother, grounded in the things that matter most.
What makes Debbye so easy to listen to? She talks like a friend who genuinely wants the best for you. Her warmth, honesty, and faith shine through every word she shares.
Lunch Menu: Blackened Chicken, Shrimp and Pepper Skillet, Roasted Asparagus, Rice, Corn Bread, Mix Green Salad
March 3: Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Wright
Season Pass holders can bring one friend, and additional tickets are available for only $25.
The program is at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary, and a reception follows in the CLC with heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Some legacies are passed down through names. Others are passed down through faith. For Anne Graham Lotz and her daughter Rachel-Ruth Wright, it’s both.
Anne is the daughter of Billy and Ruth Graham, and she has spent her life sharing the same message of hope that shaped her family. As the president and CEO of AnGeL Ministries, she pours her heart into helping people meet Jesus in a real, personal way. She’s also a bestselling, award-winning author whose books, including Preparing to Meet Jesus and Jesus in Me, have encouraged readers all over the world.
Right beside her is Rachel-Ruth Wright, born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. As Anne’s daughter and Billy Graham’s granddaughter, Rachel-Ruth carries that same deep faith into her own ministry, teaching and leading others with warmth and grace.
Together, this mother and daughter bring something rare to the stage: two generations, one shared faith, and a genuine heart to point people toward God.
April 7: Taya Kyle
Taya is the widow of Chris Kyle, the legendary U.S. Navy SEAL whose courage became known around the world. But Taya’s own strength is a story all its own. She turned unthinkable loss into purpose, and she’s spent the years since standing up for the families who understand that kind of sacrifice firsthand.
She shared her heart with readers in her bestselling book American Wife, an honest, tender look at love, faith, and resilience. Her words remind us that even in our hardest seasons, hope has a way of holding on.
Taya is also the founder and Executive Director of the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation, established on Veterans Day 2014 to honor Chris’s legacy as a husband and father. Through the foundation, she pours her energy into serving military veterans and their families, helping them stay strong and connected to what matters most.
Lunch Menu: Honey BBQ Chicken, Gouda Mac& Cheese, Roasted Broccoli, Cheddar Biscuits, Coleslaw, Romaine Salad
May 5:Heather Rice-Minus
Heather is the President and CEO of Prison Fellowship, but her story there started long before the corner office. She joined the organization in 2013 and rose through the ranks as Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives before stepping into her current role. Along the way, she’s built real partnerships with churches and strengthened relationships with people who’ve been touched by the justice system.
Here’s what makes her work so powerful. Heather doesn’t see those behind bars as problems to be managed. She sees people worth reaching, worth restoring, and worth walking alongside. That belief shapes everything she does.
When Heather speaks about hope, redemption, and the difference a caring community can make, you feel it. She has a gift for reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of grace.
Lunch Menu: Chicken Fajitas, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans, Cauliflower, Chips and Salsa, Southwest Salad
