A Cape Girardeau congregation will host its denomiation's top woman leader during a conference here Sept. 28 and 29.

The Greater Dimension Church of God in Christ will welcome Willie Mae Rivers of Goose Creek, S.C. She is the general supervisor of the Department of Women for the church worldwide.

"She's a wonderful lady," said Rosemary Bird, who heads the women's department at Greater Dimension. "We are more than excited to have her come to our area."

Because Rivers leads the denomination's women's division, she is often speaking at conferences around the country. She has been to meetings in the St. Louis area but never made it to Southeast Missouri.

Because of that, Bird expects women from churches throughout the region to attend. The area jurisdiction of the Greater Dimension churches includes congregations south of St. Louis all the way to Hayti, Mo.

The theme for the annual women's conference is "Preserving our history; marking our evolution and demonstrationg our legacy of excellence."

Events include an 11 a.m. brunch Sept. 28 with three guest speakers. They are district missionary Mary Wade, missionary Jean Vann and evangelist LaCrissa Bird.

A 7 p.m. musical that evening will be presented by the Greater Dimension music ministry.

Dr. William Bird Sr. will speak during the morning worship at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 29. Rivers will speak during a special afternoon service at 3 p.m.