Hebbronville, San Benito
laymen get Exemplar Awards




McAllen District United Methodists honored laymen from Hebbronville and San Benito last month for faithful service to their congregations.
Charles Schroeder, First UMC, Hebbronville, received the 2007 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the northern portion of McAllen Feb. 24 in Alice.
Allen Bills, First UMC, San Benito, was given the Exemplar Award for the southern portion of the district Feb. 25 in McAllen.
In addition, 57 individuals and three groups from 32 of the district’s 35 congregations were recognized at the two events as laypeople of the year.
More than 100 people attended the Feb. 24 “McNorth” gathering at First UMC, Alice. Another 270 came to the “McSouth” event Feb. 25 at St. Mark UMC, McAllen.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez gives the Exemplar Award annually to laypeople chosen by each district board of laity for “witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Schroeder expressed great surprise and pleasure at having received the honor.
“I’m not a speech maker,” Schroeder said.
Pastor Leo Carrasco of First UMC, Hebbronville, said Schroeder is “the perfect example of what a servant of God should be.” He does everything with “pure agape love” and “is totally humble and unassuming and prefers to stay in the background.”
For 13 years, Schroeder has picked up youths from their homes and prepared breakfast tacos for them when they arrive at the church. After the service, he takes the young people home.
He has for many years prepared unleavened bread for Holy Communion. He’s been church treasurer and a member of the administrative board.
Once a month, Schroeder drives a trailer from Hebbronville to Edinburg to pick up the Angel Food order distributed to the Hebbronville community.
Schroeder is typically the driver of the church van when members take trips to youth camps or adult get-togethers.
He is known as the church handyman and keeps the church repaired.
Bills was recognized for his leadership in the Master’s Builders Program.
For 11 years he has managed the organization, which works in conjunction with the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services to help people make repairs and add handicap-accessibility renovations on their homes.
Bills was cited for his “great knowledge and knowhow in basic home repairs” and his “huge, tender and loving heart.”
Since the inception of the Master’s Builders Program, it has helped about 60 families in the San Benito area, replacing roofs in disrepair, building handicap-accessible bathrooms and repairing damaged floors.


During the Alice event, Martinez commended all the laity for the work they do every year.
“These celebrations are about recognizing and affirming the work of laity in our district,” the bishop said. “Not all of you will receive an award, but all of you will be represented through the faithfulness of the laity recognized today.”
Laypeople of the year from district congregations were:
> First UMC, Alice—Anna Holm-green, Judy Holmgreen and Martha Holmgreen.
> First UMC, Brownsville—Ernest De Leon.
> Bruni UMC—Ralph “Buddy” Moglia.
> First UMC, Donna—Bonnie Chambers, Paul Chambers, Ann Boonstra and Bill Boonstra.
> First UMC, Edinburg—Susan Wiesehan.
> First UMC, Falfurrias—United Methodist Women.
> First UMC, Freer—Norman Jenkins.
> First UMC, Harlingen—Diane Callaway, Martha McLemore and Mrs. Lee Means.
> Wesley UMC, Harlingen—Bert Allen.
> First UMC, Hebbronville—Agnes DeBusk.
> Christ UMC, Kingsville—Kathy Baca.
> First UMC, Kingsville—Flo Steen.
> First UMC, La Feria—Cindy and Alan Moore.
> El Mesias UMC, Laredo—Irma Lozano.
> First UMC, Laredo—Hank New-mann.
> Los Fresnos UMC—Charles Bennett and Jane Bennett.
> First UMC, Lyford—Leah and Louis “Butch” Harding.
> First UMC, McAllen—Pat Mills and Peggy Miller.
> St. Mark UMC, McAllen—Julie Thompson, Roger Thompson and Carroll Frankenberger.
> Trinity UMC, McAllen—Doug Timmer, Skip Timmer and Steve Fankhauser.
> First UMC, Mission—Carol Jon Zimmerman and Leo Ryan.
> Pharr UMC—Darlene Lawson and Otto Lawson.
> First UMC, Port Isabel—Bob Gillespie, Wayne Palmer, Charles Harmon, Joan Ciarocco and Chris Helms.
> First UMC, Premont—Ralph Stoltzfus.
> First UMC, Raymondville—Rosie Serna Buchanan.
> St. John UMC, Rio Grande City—Costo Bazan Sr., Gil Alva and St. John Youth Group.
> Riviera UMC—Congregation.
> First UMC, San Benito—Ginni and Earl Kling.
> San Juan UMC—Mary Lucas, Ruby Johansen and Ed Johansen.
> Santa Rosa UMC—Patricia Parks.
> First UMC, Weslaco—Mary Church, Rosemarie Ellis and Brenda Haley.
> Zapata UMC—Charles Walter.