Record crowd honors Seguin woman for life of service

A record number of Victoria District United Methodists honored a Seguin woman Feb. 25 for acting as the hands and feet of Christ in her daily living.
Nell Martin of First UMC, Seguin, received the 2005 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the Victoria District.
More than 530 people—the largest crowd ever assembled at any district celebration—witnessed the presentation at the Yoakum Community Center during the annual Victoria District event.
Along with Martin, 120 individuals and five groups took home certificates for Christian outreach and service.
Bishop Joel N. Martinez gives the Exemplar Award annually to laypeople selected by each district board of laity “for witness, commitment and service after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“It is a pleasure and honor to accept this award,” Martin said. “It is with great gratitude that I serve my Lord, my church and my conference.”
A retired teacher and principal, Martin was recognized for years of selfless work at her church, in the Seguin community and across the Southwest Texas Conference.
The former First UMC lay leader takes Holy Communion to shut-ins in Seguin, makes home and hospital visits, and writes thank-you notes to church members for their volunteer service.
Martin has chaired the council on ministries for the 1,384-member Seguin congregation and served as vice president of United Methodist Women. Martin started the board of laity and prayer ministry at First UMC. She has made meals for staff members and photographed shut-ins for the recent church directory.
Martin was the first person from Seguin to attend a Walk to Emmaus spiritual renewal weekend. She has supported the Emmaus community for more than two decades.
In the community Martin has distributed food to the needy at the Christian Cupboard, volunteered at both the Pregnancy Center and Children’s Advocacy Center, and given many hours to other community causes.
Martin now chairs the Southwest Texas Conference Futures Committee, is one of two laity observers on the Board of Ordained Ministries’ Committee on Investigations and is lead Partners in Ministry trainer for the Board of Laity.
She has served as associate conference lay leader and been a member of the conference Council on Ministries.
“Nell Martin truly acts as the hands and feet of Christ,” Rosemary Davis wrote in the award nomination. “When you are in her presence, you can feel the glow of Christian love.”
Eight other nominees for the Exemplar Award received certificates for distinguished discipleship:
n John Behrens, First UMC, Point Comfort.
n Clara Bell, Henson Chapel UMC, Gonzales.
n Claudia Bures, First UMC, El Campo.
n Johnnie Fogle, First UMC, Gonzales.
n Mathis Fryer, Henson Chapel UMC, Gonzales (posthumous).
n Eula J. Purnell, Scruggs Chapel UMC, Edna.
n Elaine Thomas, Freyburg UMC.
n Cheryl Trott, First UMC, Yoakum.
Sixteen teens received Youth Disciple Awards for displaying their faith in church, school and community:
n Khevin Armelin, Henson Chapel UMC, Gonzales.
n Delicia Bolden, Henson Chapel UMC, Gonzales.
v Damon Dorsey, First UMC, Point Comfort.
> Joel Frankel, First UMC, Edna.
> Callie Herrington, First UMC, Hallettsville.
> A.J. Kuizinas, Thompsonville UMC.
> Charles Major, Wesley Harper UMC, Seguin.
> Whitney Petty, First UMC, Hal-lettsville.
> Danielle Schroeder, First UMC, Victoria.
> Brice Sitka, First UMC, Hal-lettsville.
> Darrin Staloch, First UMC, Port Lavaca.
> Dustin Staloch, First UMC, Port Lavaca.
> Dewey J. Smith, Monthalia UMC.
> Kari Lynn Swearingen, New Life UMC, Bloomington.
> Evan Wedig, First UMC, Port Lavaca.
> Katherine Williams, St. Paul UMC, Columbus.
Five groups took home Spirit of Christ Awards for outstanding participation in church and community:
> Feed My Sheep Food Ministry, First UMC, Seadrift.
> Lydia Circle, United Methodist Women, Monthalia UMC.
> Singles Circle of Friends Class, First UMC, Seguin.
> United Methodist Women, First UMC, Shiner.
> United Methodist Women, Wesley Harper UMC, Seguin.
Ninety-six individuals from 34 congregations—listed alphabetically by city—were given Christian Witness and Service certificates for outstanding work in their churches and communities:
> First UMC, Austwell—Euner Johnson.
> Belmont UMC—Weldon Corporon, Beverly White, George White.
> St. Paul UMC, Columbus—Howard Evans Jr., Vastine Olier, Pandora Waddle, LaDell Wilson.
> First UMC, Edna—Gail Jordan, Patsy Porche, James Simons.
> Scruggs Chapel UMC, Edna—Ruth Barnes, James Bryant, Pat Bryant, Vivian Bryant, Ora Mae Butler, Billie Harris, Gail Jones, Billy Stafford, Zachary Robinson.
> First UMC, El Campo—Jo Ella Biggerstaff, Cathy Kunz, Russell Raun.
> St. Paul UMC, El Campo—Ouida Bergstrom, Evelyn Martin.
> Flatonia UMC—J.W. Crane, Shannon Crane.
> Oakman Chapel UMC, Ganado—Alvie Callis, Calvin Callis, Carrie Callis.
> Evans Chapel UMC, Gonzales—Beverly Woodson Day, Edna Jones, Felton Scallion, Earnestine Stoval, Annie Williams, Joyce Woodson.
> Henson Chapel UMC, Gon-zales—Fenita Bolden, Florence Fryer, Frank Fryer, Lawrence Fryer, Lisa Hood, Eugene Wilson.
> First UMC, Hallettsville—Natalie Dupre, Bobbie Hobbs, Jean Walker.
> Johnson’s Chapel UMC, Hallettsville—Pamela Brooks, Joyce Woodson.
> Kingsbury UMC—Doris Woods.
> Lolita UMC—Lester Ellison, Syluvia Ellison.
> Monthalia UMC—Clifton Raeke.
> Nursey UMC—Suzanne Rich-ardson.
> First UMC, Point Comfort—Will Behrens, Sue Heffernan.
> First UMC, Port Lavaca—Joan Auld, Boyd Blake, Emalou Markek, Carol Smith, Otto Thyssen.
> Rock Island UMC—Donna Bryant, Karen Edds.
> First UMC, Schulenburg—Jackie Shaller.
> Freyburg UMC, Schulenburg—Elsa Gabler.
> Stevens Chapel UMC, Schu-lenburg—Janice Collins, T.D. Glass, Ora Mae Moore.
> First UMC, Seadrift—Allan Braun, Nancy Childress, Violet Colianni.
> First UMC, Seguin—Lisa Dow-dy, Vickie Erxleben, Louise Lutz.
> Wesley Harper UMC, Seguin—Coleta Bryd, Clarence Little, Linda Redix, Catherine Smith.
> First UMC, Shiner—Bill Brad-field, Eva Eddy, Carolyn Hilscher, Josh Kaspar, Karen Schrieber, Mona Wendtland.
> Staples UMC—Dawn Elam, Debbie Powers, Teri Werlein.
> Thompsonville UMC—Bill May-er, Jeanette Mayer.
> First UMC, Victoria—Harold Farris, Nancy Farris.
> St. Mark’s UMC, Victoria—Mark Ryon.
> Waelder UMC—Juanita Gosch.
> First UMC, Weimer—Bill Chesser, Pat Chesser.
> First UMC, Yoakum—Christine Brown, Fay Coldeway, Bill Schmittgens.