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Centenarian Celebrates a Wonderful Life

By May 29, 2013June 21st, 2014No Comments

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—Great Commission Baptist Church honored one of its members for her 100th birthday. Iva Greening recently celebrated a century of life, faithfully serving the church, family, and friends. The event capped off a week of celebration, including a party hosted by her apartment complex during which James Schwantz, mayor of Palatine, Ill., presented Iva with a plaque for her contribution to the community.

Iva continues to be active and take a keen interest in others, preparing meals for family and friends, baking muffins for neighbors, providing wise counsel, and being a prayer warrior. The birthday celebrations were illustrative of the influence she has had in others’ lives. The party at the church brought together individuals from different circles whom she has blessed over the years—individuals from the grocery store where she shops, children who receive her special snacks on Sundays, relatives from her homeland in Canada, and church members from current and previous ministries.

Scott Greening, pastor of Great Commission Baptist Church and grandson of Iva, notes the impact she has had on him and the church family: Iva “has been a wonderful impact on me during my entire life and I count it one of the greatest blessings for her to be a part of our church plant. She has taught our church how to welcome people and live their lives faithfully to the end. We are so thankful to God for her.”

In 2012, Iva received the GARBC Service Award for her faithful service as a pastor’s wife and church member. Read about her in “GARBC Service Awards Announced.” Her trademark has always been hospitality (see “Iva’s Hospitality Tips”).

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