Louise Mandrell
Liane Brown
Flo Samuels
Scenic City Women’s Network announces country singer Louise Mandrell as special guest speaker and performer for the 2022 Praise Breakfast on April 7 from 7-9 a.m. at the Chattanooga Convention Center (1 Carter Plaza in Chattanooga). Doors open at 6:30 a.m.
Louise Mandrell has made her mark in the entertainment world through live performances, recording albums, writing, and giving back to her community. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Mandrell signed with RCA Records, produced eight albums, and made several television appearances including the Tonight Show. She has had several hits in the Top 10, cementing her as a top recording artist.
Part of the Praise Breakfast includes awarding the prestigious Lydia Award. Lydia, an entrepreneur, was a seller of purple. Purple cloth in ancient days was a symbol of wealth. A confident, successful business woman who sold luxury goods to the elite and the powerful, Lydia knew there was more to life. It is here where Lydia’s heart was changed by God to hear the call of Jesus. Lydia was the Apostle Paul’s first European convert and provided support to him. When the heart of a working woman is opened to the gospel, she can impact the world!
In the spirit of Lydia and her extraordinary life and influence, SCWN honors an extraordinary Christian working woman – a modern day Lydia. She is chosen as someone who has exhibited a life-time of mature Christian faith, enthusiasm for life, positively impacting lives and making a difference in the world around her, and being an encourager to other Christian working women. The SCWN Lydia honoree is a woman that demonstrates leadership, dedication and faithfulness.
This year, two women – Liane Brown and Flo Samuels – will each be honored with the Lydia Award.
About Liane Brown, 2022 Lydia Award Honoree
As a 10 year old, Liane watched Hitler’s motorcade pass by in East Prussia. Within a few months, Insterburg was smoldering in ruins. Her family fled to a village that was occupied by the Red Army, where they were treated brutally. Fleeing starvation and death, Liane’s mother miraculously escaped to freedom in Berlin. In her autobiographies, Refuge and From Fear to Freedom, Liane Guddat Brown proclaims God’s sustaining grace proven through a family torn apart by war. Liane says, “I am excited about telling what God has done in our lives. I am also happy to thank the American people for having helped the Germans after WWII.” Wherever she goes, you will find Liane sharing her story of God’s goodness and her mother’s sustaining faith.
About Flo Samuels, 2022 Lydia Award Honoree
Flo was born in Lower Manhattan, New York City. She moved to Chattanooga., Tenn., in December 1980. Flo has been blessed with one daughter, Sheryl, two granddaughters and eight great-grandchildren. In September 1982, at the age of 42 and just nine months after moving to Chattanooga, Flo received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in a parking lot in Rossville, Georgia. At the time, she prayed to serve the Lord with the spiritual gifts of Bible teaching and Evangelism, and God was pleased to answer those prayers. She knew no Bible at the time, but by the grace of God and determination she soon overcame those obstacles.
Flo has been blessed to be allowed to evangelize and teach the Bible not only locally but also in several other countries on three continents. Besides having worked, served, and been involved in many local industries, Flo has also served on several local ministry boards including the Scenic City Women’s Network Board of Directors up until her retirement a few years ago. At that time, she retired from the Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation (now known as The Generosity Trust) after more than 20 years of service. For the past 25 years, Flo has been a member of New Covenant Fellowship Church. She attributes everything in her life not to chance, but to the grace and mercy of the Lord.
“This is a first for SCWN to have a tie for this prestigious award,” says Renee Nail, Executive Director of SCWN. “Liane as a survivor of Russian occupation and from the Nazis is an amazing story of courage under fire yet still living her faith in such dire unfathomable circumstances. Flo’s radical story of salvation after growing up in one of the poorest sections of New York is one of faith in action, every day, every breath, every life. Both are fearless and faithful contenders for the faith, and we at SCWN couldn’t be more proud to honor them before our fellowship during our annual Praise Breakfast!”
Individual admission is $30 and tables of eight are available for $240. Sponsorships are available starting at $500. Space is limited. Register online at SCWN.org, or call 698-6262.