In addition to passing a budget and receiving reports, annual conferences take time to celebrate the ministries of local churches as well as their laity and clergy. This year’s Special Annual Conference was no different as time was taken to recognize the recipients of the One Matters Award and the Harry Denman Evangelism Award.
The 2020 recipients of the One Matters Award are:
* Central United Methodist Church in the Potomac Highlands District;
* Lerona United Methodist Church in the Southern District; and
* Morris Memorial United Methodist Church in the Midland South District.
The One Matters Award is sponsored by Discipleship Ministries, an agency of The United Methodist Church, said Ken Willard, Director of Discipleship, Leadership, and Congregational Vitality for the West Virginia Conference. The award celebrates professions of faith and baptisms as signs of a growing church.
Another facet considered this year was worship attendance. The three churches selected for the 2020 award had increases in professions of faith, baptisms, and worship attendance.
The 2020 recipients of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award are:
* Bob Cover from Central United Methodist Church in the MonValley District;
* Rev. Brad Davis, formerly of the Seventh Street/Logan Memorial Shared Ministry in the Little Kanawha District but newly appointed to Nighbert Memorial United Methodist Church in the Midland South District; and
* Rev. Dr. Matt Johnson of Suncrest United Methodist Church in the MonValley District.
The Harry Denman Evangelism Award is sponsored by the Foundation for Evangelism. The award is named for a former General Secretary of the General Board of Evangelism of the former Methodist Church. It recognizes the accomplishments of laity and clergy in evangelistic ministries.
According to the foundation’s website, the ministry of evangelism is “expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) [and] brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball noted that those receiving these awards demonstrate the importance of searching, caring, and inviting others to Christ and to his Church.