AC2018 awards celebrate what God is doing through us

The 2018 Annual Conference Awards Breakfast served as a celebration of all that God is doing through the work of South Carolina United Methodists and the local churches that they represent.

Dominic Brown, chief meteorologist for WIS-TV in Columbia, introduced each of the award recipients, and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston presented the awards.

Here are the recipients:

Joseph Benjamin Bethea Distinguished Service Award

• Lay: The late Donnis Kinder | Joseph B. Bethea UMC-Myrtle Beach
• Clergy: The Rev. Dr. Mike Smith | Trenholm Road UMC-Columbia

Harry Denman Evangelism Award

• Lay: L.W. Smith III | Rehoboth UMC-Columbia.
• Youth: Charena Myers | Mechanicsville UMC-Dalzell.

There was no clergy nominee this year.

Michael C. Watson Volunteer In Mission Award

• Lay: Willie Rowe | Bethel UMC-Greer
• Clergy: The Rev. Fred Buchanan | Barnwell UMC-Barnwell.

Students in Mission

• Sonna Boothroyd, a student at the University of South Carolina who will serve at Rural Mission Inc. on Johns Island.
• Fashoda Bradley, a student at Lander University who will serve at Camp STEP, a ministry of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Sumter.
• Iris Gadsden, a student at Erskine College who will serve at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in North Charleston.
• Natalie Hungate, a student at the University of South Carolina who will serve at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in North Charleston.
• Samoria Session, a student at Francis Marion University who will serve at Camp STEP at St. Mark’s in Sumter.
• Abigail Smith, a student at the University of South Carolina who will serve at Rural Mission Inc. on Johns Island.

Annual Conference Seminary Student Scholarships

• Carsten Aubrey Bryant, a seminary student at Duke Divinity School.
• Zachary Dollard deMoya, a seminary student at Duke Divinity School
• Emma McClain Mathis, a seminary student at Duke Divinity School.
• Jad Taylor, a seminary student at Candler School of Theology.

T. Dennie Smith Scholarship

• Rev. Shirley P. Gordon, a student at Asbury Theological Seminary.
• Mamie Lee Pierce Hannah, a student at Hood Theological Seminary
• Alston Flynn Lippert, a student at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.

Bessie Bellamy Parker Memorial Scholarship

• Nona Margaret Woodle, a seminary student at Boston University School of Theology.

South Carolina United Methodist Conference Merit Scholarship

• Sarah Mohler, a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Newberry, who plans to attend Wofford College.

Janie Robinson Thomasson Memorial Scholarship

• Gracie Anne Pope, a member of Woodland United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, who plans to attend Clemson University.

South Carolina United Methodist Advocate Scholarship’

• Andrew Whelchel, a rising sophomore at Wofford College and a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Spartanburg.

Herbert Hucks Award

• Livingston UMC, where the Rev. Graham M. Bennett is pastor and Martha Sligh is church historian.
• Mountain View UMC in Taylors, where the Rev. Chris Arries is pastor and Frieda Anne Liston and Dr. Rosalind Wood are church historians.
• Tabernacle UMC in Lancaster, where the Rev. Larry King is pastor and Karen Flynn and Mary Riner are church historians.

Bishop’s 5-Star Awards:

• Advent UMC in Simpsonville, where the Rev. Michael Turner is pastor and the Rev. Laura-Allen Kerlin is associate pastor.
• Brown Swamp UMC in Conway, where the Rev. Ann Kovan is pastor.
• Chapin UMC, where the Rev. Jody Flowers is pastor.
• Fair Lawn UMC in Columbia, where the Rev. Scott Bratton is pastor.
• First UMC in Clover, where the Rev. Tommy Wilkes III is pastor and the Rev. Meg Wilkes is associate pastor.
• John Wesley UMC in Greenville, where the Rev. Charlie Thomas is pastor.
• Mt. Carmel UMC in Ninety Six, where the Rev. Thessa Smith is pastor.
• Mt. Harmony UMC in Clover, where the Rev. Sharon Gamble is pastor.
• Mt. Zion UMC in Sumter, where the Rev. Gwendolyn White is pastor.
• North Orangeburg UMC, where the Rev. Dwight Nelson is pastor.
• Reidville Road UMC in Moore, where the Rev. Danny Wiley is pastor.
• Smyrna UMC in Bennettsville, where the Rev. Ebbie Abraham is pastor.
• St. Matthew UMC in Taylors, where the Rev. Brenda Thomas is pastor.
• Trinity UMC in Greenwood, where the Rev. Thessa Smith is pastor.

Bishop’s Award of Excellence:

• Red Bank UMC in Lexington, where the Rev. Dr. Robert Dunn is pastor and Robin Smith is scouting ministry coordinator.
• Trinity UMC in Spartanburg, where the Rev. Neal Woods is pastor and Karen Smith is scouting ministry coordinator.