McAllen District recognizes
49 individuals for service

Forty-nine individuals—17 men and 32 women—were honored April 5 and 6 at the McAllen District North and South laity celebrations at First UMC, Kingsville, and First UMC, McAllen, respectively.
Sue Akers of First UMC, Harlingen, received the Bishop’s Exemplar award for the southern portion of the district. Anna Holmgreen of First UMC, Alice, was given the Exemplar Award for the northern portion of the district.

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.”
Akers joined her church in 1986 and has been its treasurer for more than 15 years. She serves as a money counter and helps the church bookkeeper with duties. She is a classroom tutor and playground supervisor for the church’s midweek children’s ministry. She is chair of the Endowment Funds Committee and a seamstress for the bazaar quilt, costumes, acolyte gowns and church banners.
Akers also serves as UM Women president of the church organization and secretary of program resources for the District UMW.
Holmgreen has been a lifelong member of First UMC, Alice, said District Superintendent Larry Howard.
Holmgreen serves as a mid-elementary Sunday school teacher and was instrumental in getting the Cross Bar Coffee House going. The coffeehouse continues to grow and offers a safe and encouraging place for teens to come and experience exposure to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Holmgreen serves as the head of the church’s evangelism committee. Church leaders credit her with bringing life and vitality back into the congregation and motivating others with her enthusiasm.
She also contributes a weekly church column to the local newspaper that provides information about the church and an invitation to the public.
Other awards for discipleship were given to:
> First UMC, Alice—Sue Wiley and Johnny Johnson.
> First UMC, Brownsville—Mary Edwards and William A. Faulk Sr.
> First UMC, Bruni—Glenda Gunkel.
> First UMC, Donna—Wil Hoffman and Mary and Denny Mattson.
> First UMC, Edinburg—Scott Wilke and Marilyn Dunphy.
> First UMC, Falfurrias—Grace and Joel Mora.
> First UMC, Freer—Kent Wiederkehr.
> First UMC, Harlingen—Gloria Boling and Martha Callaway Tozzo.
> Wesley UMC, Harlingen—Linda Barfield.
> First UMC, Hebbronville—Charlotte Gonzalez.
> Christ UMC, Kingsville—Cindy Mooney.
> First UMC, Kingsville—Blaine Wise.
> First UMC, La Feria—Carol and Mark Armor.
> El Mesias UMC, Laredo—Argelia Ortega.
> First UMC, Laredo—Charles Whitfield.
> First UMC, Lyford—Betty Oaks and Eleanor Crisp.
> First UMC, McAllen—Tina Scoggins and Jane McGilvray.
> St. Mark UMC, McAllen—Jody Temple and Mary Barrera.
> Trinity UMC, McAllen—Laurie Micheletti.
> First UMC, Mercedes—Doug and Suzann Meyer.
> First UMC, Mission—Jacque and Robert Grove.
> PharrUMC—Baltazar Longoria.
> First UMC, Port Isabel—Jean Cain.
> First UMC, Premont—Linda Hamilton.
> First UMC, Raymondville—Donna McCarty.
> St. John UMC, Rio Grande City—Helen and Johnny Shuford.
> First UMC, Riviera—Stan Barry.
> First UMC, San Benito—Martha Wing and Oscar Penate.
> First UMC, San Juan—Donna Weeden and Charles Grinnell.
> First UMC, Weslaco—Elsiebel Kasch-Noe.
> First UMC, Zapata—Kathryn Beck.