Our Story
Trenda Hackett, the visionary and our founder/co-owner, shares how Mornings in the Word started:
“"In June 2018, during my reflection time with God, I found myself in a somewhat familiar but very unusual place. For years, I have been a business owner and worked a day job in addition to serving faithfully in my church and being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, taking care of my family and myself physically and spiritually, building a relationship with my parents, family, friends, and being a help and support to many. I must say that I have always been one who “had a lot going on” and yet managed to have rhythm and focus in my life. Something was different; I still had a lot and even more going on. In addition to what I have always done, I now own and manage two businesses, a tax and accounting company, and a leadership development company.
I was a student in the school of ministry where God had called me to become a licensed minister. My children were trying to find their way and I felt like we were failing them as parents. My relationship with my parents was not where I wanted it to be. I was involved in a lot of things, dropping balls here and there, starting new things without finishing others, starting new habits and not maintaining them, frustrating my husband as well as others, and just all over the place.
I was seeing some fruit and experiencing some wins here and there, but something was missing and I wanted more. I was frustrated and disgusted with myself and feeling defeated and tired of doing things by myself. I needed a lifestyle change and was ready to do whatever it took to get just that. As I continued to fast, pray, and seek God for direction, it was revealed to me that CONSISTENCY was that craving and desire that God had placed in my heart at this season in my life and to realize that I needed accountability and support.
I shared my frustrations and feelings with my close friend and confidant and now business co-owner, Deyona (Dee) Kirk. During the conversation, she could hear where I was and had never experienced me in this state. Before we got off the phone, she said to me, “I am going to pray and ask God to show you specifically what you need and I am here to help you in whatever way I can, just let me know”. I prayed and Dee prayed, and God revealed the answer and the solution and most of all, God showed me the what, the where, the when, and the how.
I called Dee and told her that God had revealed himself to me and we are going to go on a journey through the Word of God and call it “Mornings in the Word”. It will consist of a daily roadmap we will follow. We will start at 5:00 AM each morning and read aloud, study, and discuss two chapters of the Bible each day in a small online group setting. The 5:00 AM time caused her to pause and think twice or maybe three times, but she said, “OK, let’s do it”.
On July 1, 2018, we launched a daily Bible study called "Mornings in the Word with Leaders Growing Leaders" where four women (Trenda, Deyona, Candus, and LaToya) from different walks of life with a hunger and thirst after God spent 31 consecutive days at 5:00 each morning online. We read aloud and studied the Word of God together book by book, chapter by chapter, day by day according to the Mornings in the Word Bible Roadmap.
The hunger and thirst continues today with six women (Trenda, Deyona, Candus, LaToya, Rose, and Tia) continuing the journey together through the Word of God each morning, Monday - Friday at 5:30 AM, growing in their faith and increasing in wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and divine revelation.”
Vision Statement
Our overall vision is to help other people excel (HOPE) and grow in their faith based on our foundational premise found in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.”
Mission Statement
We are on a mission to draw others to a deeper level of intimacy and connection to their faith through a daily journey of rising early, praying, reading, studying, meditating, and discussing the Word of God (Holy Bible) book by book, chapter by chapter, together in a group setting.
Trenda Hackett
A faith-builder, hope dealer, influencer, empowerment specialist, and servant leader, Trenda Hackett is fiercely and passionately on a mission for HOPE (helping other people excel). Trenda is a reliable, empathetic, authentic leader who has spent more than 30 years of her life leading, training, teaching, speaking, consulting, and coaching others to success.
She is a devoted wife to an amazing husband, mother to three amazing sons, and proud grandmother of two. She is a certified public accountant (CPA), former IRS Agent, technical tax editor, public speaker, and certified Speaker, trainer, and coach with The John Maxwell Team.
Trenda serves faithfully in her local church. She is the owner of her own tax and accounting company and leadership development company. Trenda is the visionary, founder, and co-owner of Mornings in the Word, LLC. Trenda believes that “one is too small of a number to do anything GREAT.”
Deyona Kirk
Deyona is passionate about her family and children. She is a divorced mama of two adult children and four grandchildren. Having her first child at the age of 12 years old, Deyona is an overcomer.
Deyona believes that God has not wasted any of her experiences including abuse, teen pregnancy, divorce, and being a single mom. The experiences have only made her on fire for Christ. She believes the experiences were opportunities that God used to reveal his power to her and show her who He is.
Deyona is a co-founder of Mornings in the Word. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior. She has worked in the affordable housing field for more than 20 years. She is an entrepreneur who has owned several businesses. Deyona is a servant leader in her local church, prayer warrior, consultant, and author.
Rose M. Dorn
Rose is a retired mother of twin girls and one amazing son. She is a mana to three handsome grandsons. Rose is originally from Arkansas but grew up in California. She graduated from Pine Bluff High School and moved to California a year later.
Rose worked at the USPS for 30 years and retired 2 years ago. She moved to Texas in 2012 to help her daughters with her grandsons. Rose believes God sent her here to keep her grandsons out of ungodly school programs. She has been able to have Bible studies with them and tell them how important it is to memorize the Word of God.
Rose is co-owner of Mornings in the Word and a member of TPHND since 2013. She worked as a greeter and also worked in hospitality and on the phone ministry welcoming visitors for several years.
She believes God grew her up while here at TPHND. She has learned how to truly forgive and be forgiven. God is truly Lord of her life. She is excited every morning to sit at His feet to gain more insight, into who He is and why He loves her so much.
Tia Airington
Tia is co-owner of Mornings in the Word. She is a servant and child of the King. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Education and a vast number of years working with children. Tia is a wife of more than 24 years, a mother, a mentor, a motivator, and a visionary who has birthed through God’s Word a foundation called “Above All Things Dream Foundation.”
Through this vision, this foundation gives back to the community by feeding and empowering our youth and young adults to be Kingdom-minded and to live healthy and whole lifestyles while promoting fitness and fun. Tia believes that helping one person may not change the world, but it can change the world for that one person.
LaToya Howard
LaToya Howard is a co-owner of Mornings in the Word. She is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and moved to Texas in 2006. LaToya is married to a funny and God-fearing man, and is a mother to three amazing children.
She is the preschool coach at her church and she teaches the living Word of God to her smaller children as well as a liaison to her servant leader peers. She makes sure that all needs are met when it comes to ministering to our little ones in Christ. She is so intrigued by the word of God and how it is a road map to our everyday lives.
She is an encourager, nurturer, innovator, supplier, motivator, and servant. LaToya is so grateful to God that He blessed her with the wonderful relationships that I have with the five other women she has co-partnered with to bring Mornings in the Word into fruition.
They want to help present a road map for other Bible study groups as they all dive deeper into the word of God. Getting to know God on a more personal level is the goal and they want to help get you there two chapters a day.
Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) says, “Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Her prayer is that God meets you and your group where you are, and lifts you higher into His Word and will for your life. She prays that blessings over blessings overtake you and your family. May all the Glory belong to God. Amen.
Candus Rucker
Candus Rucker epitomizes integrity, hard work, and has a true servant’s heart who loves helping others. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Candus has made the great state of Texas home where she currently serves as a real estate professional in both
Texas and Michigan.
Candus has a love for all things real estate and entrepreneurship, so her time is always well-utilized in learning and growing. She also holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development as well as a Bachelor's degree in Business Management.
Candus is also a co-owner of Mornings in the Word. She is passionate about serving in her local church as well as ministering to now’s and the next generation. Through her passion for serving and helping others, she now serves as a small group leader for young children from kindergarten through first grade.
Candus also has volunteered at the local “Boys and Girls” Club to teach financial literacy to the youth as well as host “Homebuyer’s Seminars” to educate the community about the importance of homeownership.