San Angelo man honored for
work with 3 churches

Mertzon woman gets
special presentation
for lifetime achievement

A San Angelo man was recognized March 25 for exemplifying Christ’s love by serving three congregations and the community.
Rick Dyke, Day Memorial UMC, San Angelo, received the 2006 Bishop’s Exemplar Award for the San Angelo District.
In addition, Shirley Payton, First UMC, Mertzon, received a special Lifetime Achievement award from the Rev. David Edgar, district superintendent.
Dyke and Payton were among 69 individuals and two groups honored at First UMC, San Angelo, during the annual district celebration. Several people took home more than one award.
Some 165 people from at least 22 congregations attended the gathering.
“I am following many of your footsteps,” Dyke said after receiving the Exemplar Award. “You have been a blessing to me, and I hope I can be a blessing for you.”
The Rev. Fred Martin, Kerrville District superintendent, presented the Exemplar Award on behalf of Bishop Joel N. Martinez. He couldn’t attend because he was traveling to Cuba to meet with Methodist leaders there.
Edgar gave Payton the achievement award for working “for us, with us, beside us throughout the years.”
“Whenever God says, ‘My grace is sufficient,’ trust him that his grace is sufficient,” Payton said. “Once in a while you have to say, ‘I need a little more,’ and God will give it.”
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.”
Dyke was singled out for his service to three San Angelo congregations, the San Angelo District and the community.
The Day Memorial member is business manager of First UMC. He works with pastors, staff members and volunteers “to make sure the day-to-day needs of the church work like a well-oiled machine,” the award nomination said.
At Day Memorial, where his wife, Barbara, is pastor, Dyke, a certified lay speaker, “is always willing to help anyone who needs help,” the nomination said. He chairs the board of trustees and stewardship work area, teaches Sunday school, and cooks breakfast the first Sunday of each month for United Methodist Men.
At Grape Creek UMC, where his wife also serves, Dyke sometimes mows the baseball field and lawn around the church. He has taught an eight-week New Testament Disciple Bible Study class at Grape Creek and worked with young people in the congregation.
Dyke is a member of the district Finance Committee and Grant Writing Task Force. He has been district statistician for the last two years and helped congregations complete their year-end membership and finance reports.
In the community Dyke has served on the Samaritan Counseling Center board of directors for three years.
The district Board of Laity selected Dyke for the Exemplar Award from four nominees. All four received Superstar Awards. Other nominees were:
> Barbara Byrd Burrage, Trinity UMC, San Angelo.
> Sarah Holbert, Wesley UMC.
> Jerre Holley, First UMC, El-dorado.
The district Board of Laity presented awards for creative contributions to Christian education, music ministry, outreach ministry and youth ministry:
> Christian educator—Julie Griffin, First UMC, Eldorado.
> Music director—Linda Baum-heckel, First UMC, San Angelo; Jim Martin, First UMC, Eldorado; Taylor Stephenson, First UMC, Brackettville; Charlotte Wilson, First UMC, Sonora.
> Outreach ministries— Jimmy Don Davidson, First UMC, Sterling City; David Drake, First UMC, Sterling City; Maureen Hodges, First UMC, Eldorado; Bill Hodges, First UMC, Eldorado; Flo Stafford, First UMC, Brackettville.
> Youth leadership— Zack Allen, Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo; Kaleb Jackson, Grape Creek UMC, San Angelo; Allison Reynolds, First UMC, Eldorado.
> Youth mentor— Tina Glass, Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo; Tiffany Lange, First UMC, Bronte; Mike West, Miles UMC; Mary Redwine, First UMC, Eldorado; Larry Sofaly, First UMC, Brackettville.
Sixty-seven individuals and two groups, representing 21 congregations, received Discipleship Awards “for commitment to Jesus Christ through Christian service and witness in community and church:”
> Barksdale UMC—Elaine Hib-bitts, Scott Williams, Laurie Williams.
> First UMC, Brackettville—Cash Letsinger.
> Christoval UMC— Sandy Caves, Diane Cochran, Cary Wike.
> First UMC, Eldorado—Shirley Joiner, Katy Meador, Jackie Napier.
> First UMC, Junction—United Methodist Youth Fellowship parents.
> Miles UMC—Janice Alexander, Joyce Ray.
> Ozona UMC—John Hignight, Janet Pullam, John “Sandy” Stokes.
> Robert Lee UMC— Beverly Bell, Nina Brewer, Trish Rowe.
> First UMC, Rocksprings—Lorine Brown, Hillary Shanklin, Mildred Williams.
> Day Memorial UMC, San Angelo—Dyke, Ronnie Rowe, Joanne Shield.
> First UMC, San Angelo—Lori Francks, B. J. Mayer, The “Do-Dads.”
> Grape Creek UMC, San Angelo— Robie Long, Kalton May, Ginger Mory, John Somerville.
> Lakeview UMC, San Angelo—Ernest Ethington, Betty Kelly, Pat Wagner.
> Sierra Vista UMC, San Angelo—Linda Sylva.
> St. Luke UMC, San Angelo— Shirley Arnn, Bill Feathers, Cerice Spivey.
> Trinity UMC, San Angelo—Elaine Baxter, Randy Russell, Nancy Smith.
> Wesley UMC, San Angelo— Brenda Bundage, Ola McCorkle.
> Veribest UMC—Elizabeth Bailey, Paul Dunagan, Janet Phinney.
> Water Valley UMC—Don Dunavant, Lora Mae Rawlings, Barbara Wascom.