Rev. Dr. Valerie Carter Smith, Executive Director/Treasurer of the Women’s Missionary Union of Virginia, will give this year’s Taylor Religious Heritage Lectures on Monday, September 23th, and Wednesday, September 25th, at 11:00 am in Turner Auditorium within Chowan’s historic McDowell Columns Hall.

For the last ten years, Smith has led a ministry in The Prostitution Zone in Richmond, VA. The Streetwalking Ministry aims to reach women caught in prostitution with the good news that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God has plans for an abundant life for them through Christ.  Valerie is married to Eldridge F. Smith, Jr, a Richmond native and owner of EFS4 Transport. The Smiths are members of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.

Established in 1994, the Taylor Religious Heritage Lectures are funded by a generous endowment given by Dr. and Mrs. Hargus Taylor in order to provide strong Christian role models for generations of Chowan students and community members. Chowan is grateful that these lectures bring religious leaders of diverse expertise and rich experience to our campus.

For more information on the Taylor Religious Heritage Lectures, please contact Rev. Mari Wiles, Minister to the University, at wilesm@chowan.edu or (252) 398-6268.