Early tickets for annual event draws crowd

By Arthur E. Foulkes
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE April 15, 2009 10:10 pm

— More than 100 ladies from around the Wabash Valley and beyond were standing in chilly weather outside Hulman Center early Wednesday to get tickets to this year’s Ladies Unity Night.
“We are hoping to have all of the seats filled,” said Bonnie Morris, a member of the event planning team and the third person in line for tickets when the they became available at 10 a.m. Despite the chilly conditions, Morris had been standing in line since 6:15 a.m., she said. “It could have been raining,” she noted.
This is the third year Ladies Unity Night will take place in Hulman Center and the sixth year overall, said Jona Hayhurst, coordinator of the event, which is set for May 15 at 7 p.m. in Hulman Center.
Last year’s event drew a crowd of more than 5,000 and at least 6,000 are expected this year, organizers said.
“Every year it gets bigger and bigger,” Hayhurst said. “We’re really blessed by it.”
Ladies Unity Night will begin with 30 minutes of praise and worship followed by guest speaker Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries. There is also a “love offering” and a pre-and-post slide show, Hayhurst noted. A men’s prayer room will also be available, organizers said.
“It is just an evening of fun and fellowship and unity,” Hayhurst said.
Many of the ladies standing in the long line outside the Hulman Center ticket office Wednesday said they attend the event every year. They also said they appreciate getting a chance to spend an evening with other women and learn that they share many of the same problems, concerns and thoughts.
“It’s just a ladies night out,” said Crystal Todd, who was picking up tickets for members of her Terre Haute church. “You’re all united for one night.”
The crowd at Ladies Night Out fills about 3⁄4 of Hulman Center, Morris noted. While tickets are free, the event costs around $40,000 to put on, she said. Money to pay for the event is raised by donations from churches, businesses and individuals.
Ten percent of the gross proceeds of the event are given to local ministries, Hayhurst said.
Ladies Unity Night “shows you are not alone in this walk,” said Mary Jo Vandeventer of Ellettsville, one of the first people in line Wednesday morning.
“It’s a night of fellowship with the ladies,” said Denise Sebring of Terre Haute. “We always like to spend time together and learn new things about the Lord,” she said.
For more information about Ladies Unity Night, see the Wabash Valley Ladies Unity Vision Web site, www.wvluv.org, or call (812) 460-0230.

Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.