Austin man, Industry group receive awards for service

Ten individuals and eight groups were honored Feb. 23 during the Austin District laity celebration at Asbury UMC, Austin.
Ralph Eckwall of Crestview UMC, Austin, received the 2008 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the Austin District.
The 2008 district Innovative Programming Award went to Hand to Hand Mission Circle of Industry UMC.
Nominees for both awards were also recognized.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez gives the Exemplar Award annually to laypeople selected by each district board of laity “for witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Eckwall was cited for the “joy and goodness of Jesus Christ” that radiates everywhere he goes, said District Superintendent Kim Cape. He has been an active member of Crestview UMC, Austin, serving as a lay leader for three years and as a charter member of the visioning committee. He has been a member of the church council for many years and is a Sunday school teacher.
Eckwall has been a certified lay speaker since 1978 and is a longtime member of United Methodist Men. He is past president of Crestview UM Men and was elected Austin District UM Men president in 1997.
Eckwall became Southwest Texas Conference UM Men vice president in 1999 and conference president in 2000.
During his time with UM Men, Eckwall is credited with helping establish the Homeless Clothes Closet in October 1999 for homeless men in Austin. As of December 2007, the organization had served 12,500 clients.
The 10-year-old Innovation in Programming Award, a traveling plaque, recognizes creative ministry initiatives by local congregations.
Industry’s Hand to Hand Mission Circle was honored for outreach to Hispanic families. The program began in the fall of 2006 when a core group of churchwomen realized that many unchurched Hispanic families were living in isolation. These families were unable to form relationships with others in the community or gain the language skills they needed.
The Industry women went door to door, inviting other women to a group that would share homemaking and craft skills. To date, 15 women from Hispanic families and 10 Anglo women have joined in monthly gatherings to share homemaking skills, fellowship and a devotion in Spanish and English.
In December 2007, the Industry congregation asked that a part-time pastor be appointed to lead a weekly Spanish service at the church. Since January, Elsa Ramirez has led the services, with 20 people in attendance.
Others nominated for the Bishop’s Exemplar Award were:
> Amy Brinkley, Wimberley UMC.
> David and Vicki Matustik, Oak Hill UMC, Austin.
> John McGlothlin, Bethany UMC, Austin.
> John and Pat Stine, Manchaca UMC.
> Jim Talbot, Cedar Creek UMC.
> Diana Wiley, First UMC, San Marcos.
Other Innovation in Programming Award nominees were:
> Café Susanna, Wimberley UMC, which began as a way to serve the community and raise funds for a new sanctuary.
> Confirmation, Bethany UMC, Austin, a confirmation program offered twice each year for 10 weeks for eighth graders through high school students.
> Genesis Seminar, Westlake UMC, Austin, a 10-week multimedia seminar that addresses issues in Genesis by teaching a narrative method of reading the oldest stories in Scripture.
> Ramp Up for Christ, The Rock UMC, Cedar Park, a construction ministry that has completed projects in the community primarily for people with disabilities.
> The Saturday Soul Celebration, Cedar Creek UMC, a blues-focused seeker service on Saturday nights.
> The Sunshine Sunday School Class, Oak Hill UMC, Austin, a group of mentally challenged adults.