San Angelo District UMs honor individuals, ministries

More than 200 United Methodists turned out Sept. 22 in San Angelo to recognize service and ministries by laypeople.
Fred Key, First UMC, San Angelo, received the 2007 Bishop’s Exemplar Award during the San Angelo District Celebration at his church.
Lorine Brown, First UMC, Rocksprings, and Sarah Holbert, Wesley UMC, San Angelo, were given District Superintendent’s Lifetime Achievement Awards.
District Lay Leader Ralph Thompson, Wesley UMC, San Angelo, took home an Appreciation Award.
Thirty-six ministries and 11 other individuals were honored for contributions to furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez gives the Exemplar Award annually to lay-people selected by each district board of laity “for witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“You know you don’t often find me speechless,” Key said. “Today I’m speechless—and humbled.
“Bishop, I’m honored to accept this award because it will be your last (San Angelo District) Bishop’s Exemplar Award. It’s been my privilege to serve in this church and at the district and conference level.”
Key was cited for showing what it means to be a “disciple who exhibits Christ’s love,” the nomination said. He was described as a “tireless worker on behalf of God’s kingdom.”
Key participates in Sunday school and the sanctuary choir at his San Angelo church. He chairs the staff-parish committee and is a member of the finance committee. He has been administrative council president, lay leader and marketing chairman for multiple capital campaigns.
He has been a lay member of the annual conference session from First UMC for many years.
Key has served on many district and Southwest Texas Conference bodies. He currently chairs the conference Commission on Communications and serves on the New Church Development Capital Campaign task force.
In the community, Key has chaired and served on many nonprofit community boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, the San Angelo Symphony and the Janus Project of San Angelo State School. He has helped mission agencies such as United Way and Children’s Miracle Network.
Brown, 90, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for many years of service at First UMC, Rocksprings. The retired school librarian plays piano for worship every Sunday and is president of the local United Methodist Women unit. She has taught adult Sunday school for many years.
Holbert earned a Lifetime Achieve-ment Award for contributions to Wesley UMC. She has been involved with the Miracle on 18th Street program, has served as president of the United Methodist Women and has been involved in Bible study and Sunday school.
Thirty-six activities in local congregations received 2007 Outstanding Ministry Recognition awards:
> Art UMC: Book covers for children on the first day of school every year.
> Barksdale UMC: Providing food for the hungry in the community.
> Barnhart UMC: Barnhart Youth Group, which studies God’s word and does numerous community service activities.
> First UMC, Big Lake: “Holy Rollers” after-school program, which teaches children 2 through 11 about Jesus.
> First UMC, Brackettville: Angel Food Ministry, which provides nutritious food to community residents at an affordable price.
> First UMC, Brady: Preschool, which is “planting the seeds of Christian attitudes for a lifetime journey with Christ” five days a week.
> First UMC, Bronte: Epiphany Ministry, which shares the love and hope of Jesus with inmates and staff members of a juvenile detention center.
> Trinity UMC, Castell: German Songfest, which brings communities together in song every September.
> Christoval UMC: Prayer shawls crocheted or knitted for people in need.
> First UMC, Del Rio: Angel Food Ministry, which provides 120 families with food at a discount.
> Eden UMC: Teachers Luncheon, which feeds about 65 teaching and staff members of Eden Independent School District the day before classes begin.
> First UMC, Eldorado: “Soul Food,” which offers Wednesday evening family meals for the community and serves more than 50 people.
> First UMC, Junction: House of Faith, a weekly after-school program with recreation, singing, refreshments and a Bible lesson.
> First UMC, Mason: Steady Steps, a licensed preschool, daycare and after-school program that serves 51 children from birth to third grade.
> First UMC, McCamey.
> Melvin UMC: Church Music Ministry, which blends every style of music into the service, from traditional to contemporary and country to gospel.
> First UMC, Mertzon: Mertzon Clinic, which provides medical service to the needy in the community.
> Miles UMC: Tri-Church Vacation Bible School, a partnership of Miles UMC, Trinity Lutheran Church and St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church.
> Ozona UMC: Roofing Committee, which works to increase church member outreach, participation and giving.
> First UMC, Paint Rock: Fifth Quarter, which provides a place to go following a home football game.
> First UMC, Rankin.
> First UMC, Robert Lee: Adult Sunday School Class Card Ministry, a team that sends cards to comfort, encourage and share prayers with the sick and downhearted.
> First UMC, Rocksprings: Ash Wednesday service and lunch, which reaches out to youths in Rocksprings every Ash Wednesday.
> Bethel UMC, San Angelo (Rio Grande Conference): Men’s Community Breakfast the third Saturday morning of every month.
> Day Memorial UMC, San Angelo: Day Memorial Clothes Closet, which provides clean, serviceable used clothing to those in need.
> First UMC, San Angelo: Spirit Youth Choir, which introduces and exposes students in grades 7 to 12 to different forms of worship through music, drama, fellowship travel and spiritual growth.
> Grape Creek UMC, San Angelo: Community Outreach, which provides support to the local community.
n Lake View UMC, San Angelo: Lake View Area Food Pantry, which feeds the hungry in San Angelo.
> Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo: Harvest Festival, an October event that raises funds for charities in the Concho Valley and the UMC.
> St. Luke UMC, San Angelo: Outreach to women at the Concho Valley Correctional Facility, which offers behavioral and lifestyle changes to inmates.
> Trinity UMC, San Angelo: Vacation Bible School, which cooperates with four other local churches to provide VBS for 74 adults and children.
> Wesley UMC, San Angelo: Daily Bread Lunch Program, which feeds and clothes those in need in north San Angelo.
> First UMC, Sonora: Trustee Committee, which supervises and maintains all property belonging to the congregation.
> First UMC, Sterling City: Methodist Pre-School, a five-day-a-week program that prepares children of the community to start public school.
> Veribest UMC: Children’s Ministry, which serves youngsters in the community and the congregation.
> Water Valley UMC: North Con-cho Valley Food Pantry, which provides food for the northern part of Tom Green County.
Eleven individuals from 10 congregations received Super Star honors for being nominated for the Bishop’s Exemplar award:
> Christoval UMC: Judy Hight.
> First UMC, Brackettville: Cathie Conrey.
> First UMC, Mertzon: Suzanne Davis.
> First UMC, Paint Rock: Susie Kingston.
> First UMC, Robert Lee: Fred and Alice Beaty.
> First UMC, Sterling City: Cathy McEntire.
> Ozona UMC: Inez Ybarra.
> Trinity UMC, San Angelo: Bertie Mason.
> Veribest UMC: Mitzi Deike.
> Water Valley UMC: Sue Mims.