​Heart of A Woman International Ministries began in the heart of a simple, humble, but very influential woman by the name of Mary Ann Robinson. While serving as the youth matron of Mt. Rose Baptist Church , Liberty, Texas, her influence would extend far beyond the walls into a neighborhood… into a community... into the village.

 

Though never learning to drive, she seemed to be everywhere she needed to be, especially when it concerned a child in her ‘village.’ Despite her achievements within the youth community, she still had one dream. She longed to have a Christian retreat setting where women could come together to fellowship and worship God. It would be a dream never to be fulfilled by her, as she passed away in 1997.

​

Although she was now gone, her dream was still very much alive in the hearts of our founders, Dr. Sheri Dark-Goudeau and Minister Valerie Braxton, as the first Heart of a Woman Conference and Retreat was held at Chain of Lakes (now Artesian Lakes) in Rye, Texas, on April 18, 1998. The outpouring of the Anointing was very evident as a strong rain heralded the Spirit of God on a group of 20 ladies with keynote speaker and worship leader, Minister Betty Edwards.

​

The following year, the HOW conference and retreat was held at Del Lago (now Lake Torreta Resort and Spa) in Conroe, Texas, on June 11, 1999. The Presence of the Lord was extremely evident as purpose was revealed and callings were birthed. It was then that it was obvious to all that this was much more than a ‘woman’s weekend get-away’. Transformation, Healing and Freedom were now central woven threads.

​

On the next year, the conference was held at Heartland Conference and Retreat Center on June 9, 2000, in Brenham, Texas. Said to feel the Anointing of God as you drove over the threshold of the property, Heartland proved to be a “match made in Heaven” as it would be the host center for HOW over the last 12 years. Here, the pull into Worship, Word, and the Wonder of an awesome God proved to be the central themes. Again, women were transformed by the power of God. During this time, we have witnessed not only spiritual growth, but interpersonal and economic growth with restoration of marriages and family as well as beginning of businesses and ministries. In 2007, the first seed ministry was planted as HOW-Mexico by native delegate, Minister Nohemi Hernandez, in which all 40 participants received Salvation in its first service.  HOW is now extending ministry into the marketplace with Influence, Impact and Impression. We indeehave embraced our mantra ... 'it's the Heart for me!'