Sandra B. Crowder, International President Mrs. Crowder, the 18th International President of The Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society, was elected at the 29th Quadrennial Convention of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society in July 2019 in Orlando, Fl., and re-elected to serve a second term at the 30th Quadrennial Convention held in New Orleans, LA in July 2023. She is a life-long member of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and a member of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Norfolk, VA. On the Episcopal level, she serves as President of Overseas Missions for the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District. Her engagement with overseas mission work has extended to Ghana, India, England, and the Bahamas. Prior to her election as International President, Mrs. Crowder served on the connectional level as a member of the Global Missions Board. In the Virginia Conference, she has served as District President on both the Norfolk District and the Petersburg District. With the vision to promote “Powerful Ministries for Powerful Living,” Mrs. Crowder was elected as the 3rd General Coordinator of the Young Adult Missionary Society at the 24th Quadrennial Convention held in Dallas, TX in August 1999. Upon her election, this vision to promote ministries that met the needs of the total life of the young adults came to reality and set the course of the Young Adult Missionary Society for the twenty-first century. Mrs. Crowder was elected to serve a second term as General Coordinator of the Y.A.M.S. at the 25th Quadrennial Convention of the W.H.&O.M. Society held in Rochester, NY in August 2003. Out of her love for writing and the spoken word, Mrs. Crowder authored Y.A.M.S. Food for the Soul, a compilation of quotes and proverbs written by young adults. She also led the young adults of The A.M.E. Zion Church in the publication of Y.A.M.S. Prayers for the Soul, a compilation of prayers written by young adult missionaries that focused on various areas of life. During the 2019-2023 Quadrennial, Mrs. Crowder collaborated with The Environment Stewardship Committee of the W.H.&O.M. Society in the development of The Principles of Environmental Stewardship for the A.M.E. Zion Church. Ecumenically, she is active with the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women, the National Council of Negro Women, Church Women United, Bread for the World, The Black Women’s Agenda, Incorporated, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She has also served as the National Health Director for The A.M.E. Zion Church to The Balm in Gilead, Inc. and was appointed to the Board of Directors of The Balm in Gilead. Inc. in May 2019. In August 2024, Mrs. Crowder will serve as a delegate from the A.M.E. Zion Church to the 22nd World Methodist Conference, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Professionally, Mrs. Crowder is a career educator, and retired on July 1, 2017, after thirty years with the Virginia Beach City Public School System as a Secondary English Teacher. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Shaw University, Raleigh, NC and the Master of Arts degree in English and African American Studies at Howard University, Washington, DC. In the education arena, Mrs. Crowder was appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees at Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC with tenure beginning January 2024. Mrs. Sandra B. Crowder is the wife of Kenneth W. Crowder, Presiding Elder of the Norfolk District, Virginia Conference, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. They are the parents of three sons, and the grandparents of two grand-daughters and three grand-sons.