‘Backbone’ of Kempner UMC gets Exemplar Award

Kerrville District United Methodists recognized “the backbone” of Kempner UMC Jan. 22 in Kerrville.
Anna Mitchell, administrative council chair for the 113-member Kempner congregation, received the 2005 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the Kerrville District.
Fifty other church members and one group were given discipleship certificates during the Kerrville District celebration luncheon for distinguished Christian witness and service. The event was at St. Paul’s UMC, Kerrville.
The Rev. Austin Frederick Jr., assistant to the Episcopal office, presented the Exemplar Award to Mitchell on behalf of Bishop Joel N. Martinez. Some 330 people watched.
“I was surprised,” Mitchell said after receiving the honor. “I wasn’t going to come, but my pastor told me I had to. I told him there’s nothing for me to do there, and he said yes there is, because all council leaders need to attend.”
Martinez gives the award annually to laypeople selected by each district board of laity “for witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Pastor Tommie Tucker described Mitchell as “the unsung heroine, the backbone of Kempner UMC” in his nomination form.
Besides serving in many elected offices for more than 20 years, Mitchell “single-handedly has organized the (fall) bazaar each year, seeing it through to a successful conclusion,” Tucker said.
For many years she has voluntarily cleaned church facilities, “spending many hours of her own time and financial resources,” Tucker said.
Before chairing the administrative council, Mitchell served on the church finance, nominating and pastor-parish relations committees.
As outreach area leader, she helped organized the church food pantry 15 years ago.
While working at the food pantry, Mitchell tells visitors about Christ and encourages them to attend church, Tucker said.
“Anna Mitchell can always be counted on to volunteer for many special projects during the church year,” Tucker said. “Anna Mitchell’s tireless devotion to Kempner UMC and the Kempner community cannot be fully described.
“She always makes herself available for whatever needs to be done without being asked or prompted. She sees the need and goes to work. She is a true disciple of Jesus Christ.”
Discipleship certificate recipients represented 20 congregations:
> Highland Lakes UMC, Buchanan Dam—Max Deel, Lucille Stanford.
> First UMC, Burnet—Debbie Clark.
> First UMC, Carrizo Springs— Martha Condry.
> Gaddis Memorial UMC, Comfort—Sally Clogston.
> First UMC, Crystal City—Annette Harkey, Marty Harkey.
> First UMC, Devine—Kristy Brand, Larry Brown, Douglas Haass, Joe and Sandra Hegar, Suzanne Martin, Teri Maywell, Christine Pyron, Kyle Pyron, George and Kay Redus, Robert Redus, Susan Stansell.
> Dilley UMC— Joey Martinez.
> Fredericksburg UMC—Judy Hutcherson.
> New Fountain UMC, Hondo—Mary Emma Mathews, Mark Weimers.
> Hunt UMC—Bill and Blythe Thomas.
> First UMC, Johnson City—Sandra Danz, Joy Feuge, Darlene Young, The Son Rise Choir.
> Barnett Chapel UMC, Kerr-ville—Martha Nolan.
> First UMC, Kerrville—Betty Scott, Winston Scott.
> Leakey UMC—Glen Bradley, David Hassell, Bill Holt, Glendora McLean.
> Lometa UMC—Josephine Ham-monds, Jerry Swinney.
> First UMC, Medina—Challie Thorton.
> First UMC, San Saba—David and Martha Gilger.
> Utopia UMC—Elinor Feland.
> First UMC, Uvalde—Bruce Agnew, Sharon Callett, Blair Dorris, Todd Dorris, Nathan Hiebert, Tommy Leonard, Brandy Sanderson.
> Yancey UMC— Eunice Zuckero.