A biennial award given to someone is like being recognized for a lifetime achievement Oscar. There wasn’t one particular accomplishment but rather over many years of tasks completed, the recipient is awarded for steadfastness.
The American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) at the ABC Biennial Mission Summit by the Sea in Virginia Beach will present me with the 2019 Equipping Disciples Award for Christian education and leader development ministries. I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. And like at the Oscars ceremony, this recipient has a long list of people to thank and show gratitude.
When I was called to Educational Ministries (EM) in 1978, I learned the definition of a leader is one who enables others to lead. I know that I would not be the leader I am being recognized to be today if it were not for the many leaders who enabled me to lead in the first place.
One very significant team of “cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) was the colleagues I first served with in the Division of Church Education in Valley Forge. I remember these dear friends: Children Dept. (Linda Isham, Roger Price, Ginger Sargent, and Gracie McKay); Adult Dept. (Charles Oehrig, Margaret Cowden, and Santiago Soto Fontanez); Educational Planning (Ken Blazier, Vergie Gillespie, Vincie Alessi, and Joe Leonard; and the Youth Dept. (Bud Carroll, Marilyn Marston, Jeff Jones, and me). The division director was Grant Hanson and the executive director of EM was William McKee.
I learned editing from Vergie, biblical based curriculum from Charles, planning skills from Ken, diversity from Ginger, learning theories from Linda, supporting regions from Bud, youth evangelism from Jeff, family systems from Joe, the 5 functions of the teaching church from Grant, and a host of skills and insights from so many who have shaped and formed the person I am today.
While I’ll be receiving this award on June 22nd, the award recognizes all whom I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with in ABC Educational Ministries. They have all played an integral role in equipping leaders and making disciples.
In 1978 when the Youth Department was seeking a new program associate staff to join the other three members, the code name for this new person was “Oscar!” I was Oscar before Bud, Marilyn and Jeff knew me as Don. Now Don will get an ABC Oscar!
Thanks be to God for all the saints!