Kiya Ward Shears is a compelling speaker and enthusiastic leader with a contagious hunger for God! As an internationally published author, Pastor Kiya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Communication Studies and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies: International Public Relations from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kiya is the founding president of The Journey Collective Inc. a national women’s empowerment movement. In just three years, she grew this national network from 0 to over 850 women served annually! Through The Journey, Kiya hosts several women's empowerment initiatives throughout the year, including a national weekly women's Bible study online, women's conferences, retreats, social events, and virtual group coaching.
Kiya's civic engagement, dynamic preaching and heart for empowering others has gained her local and national recognition haven been named one of the Top 40 under 40 leaders to watch by the Triad Business Journal, the 2018 recipient of the Frederick Buchner Award for excellence in preaching, awarded by the faculty of Candler School of Theology at Emory University and one of the 2022 Most Influential African Americans Under 40 In The Triad by Black Business Ink.
Kiya is also the First Lady of New Hope Baptist Church in North Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas, where her husband, Dr. George Shears III, is the Senior Pastor. In addition to being the loving wife to Pastor Shears, Kiya is most proud to be the mother of their adventurous three-year-old and the bonus mom to an incredible teenager!
Kiya is the founding president of The Journey Collective Inc. a national women’s empowerment movement. In just three years, she grew this national network from 0 to over 850 women served annually! Through The Journey, Kiya hosts several women's empowerment initiatives throughout the year, including a national weekly women's Bible study online, women's conferences, retreats, social events, and virtual group coaching.
Kiya's civic engagement, dynamic preaching and heart for empowering others has gained her local and national recognition haven been named one of the Top 40 under 40 leaders to watch by the Triad Business Journal, the 2018 recipient of the Frederick Buchner Award for excellence in preaching, awarded by the faculty of Candler School of Theology at Emory University and one of the 2022 Most Influential African Americans Under 40 In The Triad by Black Business Ink.
Kiya is also the First Lady of New Hope Baptist Church in North Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas, where her husband, Dr. George Shears III, is the Senior Pastor. In addition to being the loving wife to Pastor Shears, Kiya is most proud to be the mother of their adventurous three-year-old and the bonus mom to an incredible teenager!