Recipients of the GARBC 2007 service awards exemplify building the body of Christ with passion, vision, and commitment.
Mrs. Carol Hinds has served Christ longer than most of us have been alive. At age 95, she is the longest-standing member of Bridgewater Baptist Church in Montrose, Pa. Her service to Christ spans teaching junior high girls and then a ladies class for over 30 years, providing music as church organist over 60 years and instilling a musical heritage in three generations beyond her own. She continues serving with prayer support and by exercising the gifts of hospitality and helps in meeting needs in the church. In the words of her children, “We . . . believe that our mother exemplifies the Proverbs 31 woman . . . and is deserving of special recognition for her life well lived for the Lord.”
When Terry and June Little jumped into the work of planting Columbia Heights Baptist Church in Boise, Idaho, Pastor Sam Farlow and the congregation received an instant boost. Since Terry and June became church members four years ago, they have assisted in Bible studies, taught Sunday School, participated in music ministry, opened their home, befriended newcomers, discipled believers, and had a personal ministry in the lives of their pastor and wife. “It is hard to imagine ministering without this godly and precious couple,” says their pastor.
Reese A. Johnson’s service for Christ has led him through pastorates in two states and to ministries in nine other countries on three continents around the world. His roles as a pastor and as a board member of both a mission agency (ABWE) and a Bible college (Faith Baptist Bible College) included numerous missions trips and a teaching ministry in Bible institutes on several mission fields. In addition to pastoring three churches, Reese advised and counseled pastors and congregations as the Illinois State Representative. His “retirement” to Kokomo, Ind., means more time for teaching Sunday School at the Bible Baptist Church, for kindling in others his passion for missions, and for leading the seniors’ ministry he founded. His son Jim says, “My father is the type of servant who would merit our Lord’s commendation, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”
Richard (Dick) Pettit Sr. turned down a contract to play professional baseball, convicted that God wanted him in ministry. During five pastorates in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Ohio, Dick has preached and taught God’s Word vigorously and exercised gracious pastoral care for his congregations. His service on various councils and mission agencies includes being instrumental in organizing Baptist Church Planters, ministry with ABWE’s Project Hope in the Philippines, and a conference ministry here in the States and in Canada. His retirement has included two interim pastorates, teaching ministry at First Baptist Church in Findlay, Ohio, and writing a book on the Jehovah titles in the Bible. In nominating Pastor Dick Pettitt, Trigg and Betty Peterson wrote, “He is truly a man of God who lives what he preaches.”
Harold and Joan Wolcott’s investment of leadership and administrative skills has impacted the spiritual lives of many children and adults; they currently serve at Capitol Baptist Church, Lothian, Md. During five decades in church planting and Christian school education this husband and wife have touched hundreds of lives in serving as pastor, teacher, administrator, deacon, school board member, trustee, school secretary (information manager, confidante, encourager), church treasurer, participant in ladies’ and hospitality ministries, Sunday School teacher, speaker, and prayer supporter. “Their legacy of longstanding service for Jesus Christ serves as a living testimony of the faithfulness of God and the truth of His Word,” says fellow church member Ron Harrison Jr.
