San Antonio, TX—Church of God World Missions held a pre-Assembly banquet on Monday, July 25, 2022, at the Grand Hyatt Lone Star Ballroom. Winners of church and state awards were announced at the event.
Historically one of the highlights of General Assembly week, the banquet attendees enjoyed Geron and Becky Davis and Voices of Lee from Lee University. The featured speaker for the evening was Dr. Mark Rutland, founder and director of the National Institute of Leadership and Global Servants, a missions organization with focused efforts in Ghana and Thailand.
One of the many highlights of the evening was the time set aside to honor the General Director of World Missions, David M. Griffis, and Assistant Director, M. Thomas Propes, for their six years of service to Church of God World Missions. Their charge to “Send the Light to the Cities” was touted as making “a lasting impact on the dissemination of the gospel around the globe.”
As part of the honor for Griffis he was presented a beautiful painting which captured his leadership of World Missions. In his remarks, Griffis thanked supporters from around the globe. He also made a surprise announcement that Sudan became the 186th country where the Church of God has a presence.
[1]State and Church winners pose for a group photo following the banquet on Monday, July 25, 2022 in San Antonio (click image to enlarge)
Church of God World Missions Partnership Award Winners for 2020 – 2022 include then following, listed by categories, church, and/or state/region:
Church Awards & Recognitions
Multi-Cultural
First Romanian Territory Chicago-Philadelphia Florin Cimpean
Category 1 – 50 in Membership
First Tennessee Ladd Springs Dennis McGuire
Runner-Up Kentucky London-Grace Fellowship Dale Campbell
Category 51 – 100 in Membership
First South Carolina Huggin Oak Edgar Foster
Runner-Up W. North Carolina Wagram Richard Brewer
Category 101 – 200 in Membership
First Florida-Tampa Ocoee Lloyd Odom
Runner-Up E. North Carolina Alligood Gary Bateman
Category 201 – 300 in Membership
First N. Georgia Cleveland- The Bridge Patrick Ballington
Runner-Up Pennsylvania Greencastle Floyd Myers
Category 301 – 400 in Membership
First Tennessee Bristol-Grace Point Brandon Smith
Runner-Up Florida-Tampa Restoration John Morgan
Category 401 – 500 in Membership
First Florida-Tampa Williston Wes Smith
Runner-Up South Carolina Palmetto Pointe Jamie Barfield
Category 501 – 750 in Membership
First: Florida-Tampa Gainesville Edward “Chris” Chrisopulos
Runner-Up Florida-Tampa Gulf Coast Randal Morris
Category 751 – 1000 in Membership
First W. North Carolina Kannapolis-West A Greg Sloop
Runner-Up Virginia Azalea Garden Rodney Vickers
Category 1001 – 1,500 in Membership
First Alabama Life Church Huntsville Kevin McGlamery
Runner-Up Florida-Tampa Cooper City Victor Massey
Category 1,501 – 2,500 in Membership
First Tennessee Restoration International Outreach Ronald Hepperly
Runner-Up South Carolina Fort Mill Mark Leonhardt
Category 2,501 – UP in Membership
First South Carolina Praise Cathedral Jerry Madden
Runner-Up Tennessee North Cleveland Mark Williams
State Awards & Recognitions
Multi-Cultural
First Romanian Territory Florin Cimpean
Category C
First Hawaii Fred A Abbott
Runner-Up Rocky Mountain Region David B. Smith
Category B
First North Central Region David L. Kemp
Runner-Up Minnesota Clayton Watson
Category A
First Alaska Jeffery McGirt
Runner-Up Arizona J. Shea Hughes
Category AA
First Pacific Northwest J. Pat Wright
Runner-Up Illinois Rick Whitter
Category AAA
First Pennsylvania Tony D. Cooper
Runner-Up Mississippi Melvin R. Shuler
Category 4 Star
First Western North Carolina Kenneth R. Bell
Runner-Up Eastern North Carolina L. Dennis Page
Category 5 Star
First Tennessee T. Wayne Dority
Runner-Up South Carolina Bruce Rabon
Category 6 Star
First Florida – Tampa Timothy E. Brown
Runner-Up North Georgia Thomas A. Madden