Davis receives service award

In observance of Pastor Appreciation Month in October, the Rev. John Davis, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, was presented with the Servant Heart Award during morning worship services on Oct. 19.

Tom Hitzhusen, chairman of the staff parish relations committee at the church, made the presentation, explaining the award recognizes pastors who show an extra measure of compassion and care for others. 

The award is sponsored jointly by CTA, a Christian organization, and Billy Graham ministries.  He said, “In their words, a servant heart is marked by the selfless love and service that Christ modeled and is lived out in response to all God has done for us.  We felt our pastor certainly met those qualifications so submitted the nomination.”

Hitzhusen wrote the letter of nomination for Davis and it reads:

“God has blessed our congregation through Pastor John’s gifts of preaching, compassion, and service which encourage each of our members to grow spiritually. 

“He has helped us realize the vision of taking the gospel message outside the walls of our church by supporting outreach programs through our prayers, our gifts, and our active involvement in mission trips to other communities, states, and countries.  

“His gifts of compassion and understanding have helped our congregation deal with grief resulting from the sudden and unexpected deaths of our two previous pastors in less than four years.

“Pastor John shows a servant heart when he travels with our mission teams to Mississippi and Haiti; when he brings compassion, empathy, and comforting words to members who are suffering or grieving a death; when he humbly joins the kitchen clean up crew after a church function; or when he patiently sits for hours in hospital waiting rooms with family and friends of a patient.

“I see Jesus Christ in Pastor John when he sits on the floor and gathers the children around him for a children’s sermon, when he walks his talk and demonstrates what it means to be a disciple of Christ, when he shows unconditional love and forgiveness while harboring no grudge nor prejudice, when his wisdom and insight into the scriptures helps us better understand and apply biblical principles in our own lives, and when he sets such a good example of treating all people with dignity and respect.   Our pastor exudes the Gifts of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”