"Being a Diamond for me has afforded me the opportunity  to experience  Sisterhood, a community where shades of God’s beauty resides and love for one another is not denied. It is a community where spiritual growth has taking place and I have been able to boldly walk in my fearfully and wonderfully made identity, the identity and image of Christ. I have traveled to attend the Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Diamond Dinner since 2011 and it is a testament of encouragement, a place where I guarantee, you will walk in feeling one way and walking out feeling another way. Thank you Ms. Gentry for this opportunity to share my testimony."

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Shay Phillips ~ Belton, MO. 

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"When I think about the Diamond Dinner I am reminded as to why I try to attend every year, it hits close to home because of its strong solid foundation. Women of all ethnic backgrounds come together to uplift each other that have been through domestic violence, rape, being homeless, single mothers and a various of other situations. We get to learn that we are not alone and some of the worst days of our lives we are able to hear other people’s stories and enjoy the beautiful, elegant ambience decorated just for us. It is uplifting and reveals to us that even though we’ve been through these traumatic situations, we don’t have to stay in that same place, we can get back up and change our lives during our circumstances. I thank God I don’t look like what I been through. When I look at the woman behind the  I Am A Diamond, Inc. organization, Ms. Carlotta Gentry, when you see and hear her story, we are determined that we too can get back up again. She stands tall as a beautiful strong woman with six small, beautiful children she adopted and is taking care of them and loving them with all she has within her after losing her husband July 1, 2023, after 25 years of marriage. All of her babies’ lives have been changed for the better. God gave this event to her, and she took it and ran with it and made it into what it is today and every year it grows more and better than the previous year. Thank God I am Fearfully & Wonderfully Made."

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Paula Brown 

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"The Fearfully & Wonderfully Made Diamond Dinner really touched me and hit home on so many personal levels. I was able to hear stories of women that have been through traumatic situations in their lives.  The IAAD Board Members embraced and supported these women in front of my eyes, not knowing that I could personally relate to some of these stories. This event gives women a safe space to open up and realize there’s more women like them going through the exact same thing.  God knows our stories, and He knows who needs what, it’s as if He is strategically placed us together, with none of us knowing each one’s personal story. So, as we gathered for this event, the women get treated/pampered in an elegant setting and some of these ladies have not experiences this kind of treatment. So, to be able to fellowship and talk with them was heart felt. It was an honor for me to attend, as well as volunteer to assist with such an event with a great group of individuals to help give support and extend love to women from everywhere."

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Dee-Dee Finch 

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“When I saw the women at Harbor House Domestic Violence Shelter getting ready to attend the Diamond Dinner, they reminded me of Cinderella getting ready to go to the ball, they were so excited. When they were so proud of the gifts they received, especially the diamond. The food was wonderful, and they enjoyed taking time out for themselves. It was truly an outpouring of love and compassion for the ladies. They felt honored and blessed to be invited to the Diamond Dinner. We are so thankful that there are women in this community who will take time out of their lives to make these survivors of domestic violence feel special.”

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Mrs. Joyce Mahoney, Former Program Director of Catholic Charities Harbor House

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“Thank you for allowing the Never Alone ladies to be part of a wonderful, celebrated event. From the time we entered the room it was magical: the decorations, the program, and the delicious food, what a day to be apart of. Never Alone is a crisis prevention and intervention program that provides support to victims and families that have been traumatized by violence. This event spoke to everyone reminding them how special they are and how much you care. After the event some of the remarks were, “I felt like a queen”, “this is unbelievable”, “I could stay here all day.” I believe this was the best support and care any ministry could provide. So, Mrs. Carlotta Gentry and Diamond Team, may God bless you for taking time to care. And remember, there are many Diamonds among us. Because of your ministry, we are all blessed.”

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Chaplin Merrie Reed ~ Never Alone Ministries​

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“Just in the few years that you have started this ministry, you have touched many lives and made a difference in all of them. You have brought women together from all walks of life to celebrate our differences and to let us now that no matter what we go through or have been through, we as women are still all one together in God. We should love each other and not let anyone tell us that we don’t count; because when we all come together as women of God, we are a force to be reckoned with. Thank you, Mrs. Gentry, for bringing us all together in the Name of Jesus.”

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Jeanetta Brown 

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“I have been blessed to attend the very first Diamond Dinner in the basement of your church in 2010. Each year it only gets better and better. I am always moved by the guest speakers when they talk about personal things that have happened in their lives and how God showed His powers in their situation. It is a time when we all should have hope and are encouraged to be all that God has called us to be no matter where we’ve come from or what we been through. Keeping God first makes all the difference.”

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Taullesa Collins

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“As we entered the banquet room, women were in awe of cloth napkins, silverware and crystal decorations that was meant just for them. This was their initial reaction to a day that celebrated them as women of worth. Observing each woman’s smile as they were escorted to their seats was a sight to behold. While listening to the experience of other women whose lives were transformed, I saw hope and tears of joy even as elegant gifts were presented to each one. Entering the event were abused, neglected, and abandoned women; on this day, the same women left with a greater love, greater respect and a greater outlook for themselves and their future.”

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Mother Vicki Taylor ~ Jurisdictional Supervisor of Women's Department

Kansas Southwest Church of God In Christ

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“The Diamond Dinner was both empowering and inspiring. Spirits were uplifted and lives were touched as we were reminded that we are unique (one of a kind) Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, to fulfill the purpose that God has planned for our lives. Women who may have arrived feeling rejected, neglected, and depressed and who had/were experiencing seemingly helpless and hopeless situations, could leave with a ray of hope for the promising future. Thank you, Mrs.Carlotta Gentry, for being an instrument used by God to touch lives as you reach out to others.”

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Evangelist Pauline Gentry ~ Emmanuel  Church Of God In Christ Church Mother

 

 

 “The Diamond Dinner brought tears to my eyes when I realized the whole room was filled with hurting women. How great a need we have for all different great ministries to reach out to help others. I saw myself through the eyes of a few of the ladies, it was a reminder of some of the things I had told the Lord about how I wanted to reach back and help other hurting women that had gone through some of the same things I had gone through.”

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Missionary Joyce Glasper / Owner of Designs By Joycee