An evangelist has the gift of reaching out to others and introducing or helping bring them into a life-giving relationship with Christ. Evangelism is not a one-size-fits-all strategy, but an opportunity to share our faith and communicate about how Jesus has impacted us through our words and actions.
Evangelism is primarily a one-to-one or small group experience, grounded in building relationships with others and inviting them to make a decision for Christ. Gifted evangelists do not force their faith on others, but offer relationship with God as a gift, and are ready to tell the story of God and Christ in their own lives.
UMC.org
Have you seen your pastor reaching out into the community to form deeper connections with your neighbors? Is there a youth in your church who invites and welcomes new people into youth group? Do you have a lay person who leads small groups, which leads to participants’ deeper connection with Christ?
The North Carolina Conference is seeking nominations for the Harry Denman Evangelism award, with categories for youth, clergy, and laity. The deadline is March 30.
Past Recipients
The North Carolina Conference is pleased to lift up the work of youth, clergy, and laity engaged in evangelism in many contexts throughout our Conference.
Since 1990, the NCCUMC has honored over 50 youth, clergy, and laity for their work in evangelism:
Year | Category | Name | Location |
2022 | clergy | Stephen Robert Dunn | Farmville, NC |
2022 | laity | D. Gayle Tabor | Carolina Beach, NC |
2022 | youth | Jacey Rylan Hilburn | Clinton, NC |
2020 | clergy | Marty Cauley | Rocky Mount, NC |
2019 | laity | Bill Eure | Roanoke Rapids, NC |
2019 | clergy | Douglas Johnson | Fremont, NC |
2019 | youth | Jadon Charles Olsen | Laurinburg, NC |
2018 | clergy | David Blackman | Fayetteville, NC |
2018 | laity | Randy Evans | Wilmington, NC |
2018 | laity | Windy Hassell Rose | Columbia, NC |
2018 | youth | Hanna Berg | Wilmington, NC |
2017 | youth | Sarah Catherine Jeffries | Laurinburg, NC |
2017 | clergy | Cory B. Oliver | Roanoke Rapids, NC |
2017 | laity | Albert Q. Smith | Wilmington, NC |
2016 | laity | Laura Avery Manning | Roanoke Rapids, NC |
2016 | clergy | Karl Neuschaefer | Rocksboro, NC |
2016 | youth | Anna Van Deventer | Hillsborough, NC |
2015 | clergy | John A. Farmer | Arapahoe, NC |
2015 | laity | Joey Gore | Wilmington, NC |
2015 | youth | Matthew Marks | Kipling, NC |
2015 | youth | Abby Martin | Clayton, NC |
2014 | laity | Garry Ward | Rocky Mount, NC |
2014 | laity | Virginia Ward | Rocky Mount, NC |
2014 | clergy | Lisa Naa-Shormey Yebuah | Raleigh, NC |
2013 | clergy | Jerry E. Mitchell | Goldsboro, NC |
2013 | laity | Todd Rentz | Red Springs, NC |
2013 | youth | Jennifer White | Fayetteville, NC |
2012 | clergy | Neal Salter, Jr. | Burlington, NC |
2012 | youth | Josh Leslie | Clayton, NC |
2011 | clergy | Johnny Branch | Greenville, NC |
2011 | laity | Robert Gallagher | Wake Forest, NC |
2011 | youth | Cassie Hall | Fuquay-Varina, NC |
2010 | laity | Eston Brinkley | Wilmington, NC |
2010 | clergy | Jerry Jackson | Burlington, NC |
2010 | youth | Stephanie Patterson | Burlington, NC |
2009 | clergy | Eddie Hill | Supply, NC |
2009 | laity | Helen Little | Clayton, NC |
2008 | laity | Don Johnson | Jackson, NC |
2008 | laity | Isadora “Dodo” Johnson | Jackson, NC |
2008 | clergy | Bob Mangum | Cilo, SC |
2007 | clergy | Camille Yorkey Compton | Raleigh, NC |
2007 | laity | Dotsy Reynolds | Rockingham, NC |
2006 | laity | Gary Wayne Locklear | Pembroke, NC |
2006 | clergy | Robert Fairley | Maxton, NC |
2005 | clergy | Danny Allen | New Bern, NC |
2005 | laity | Sadot Mendez | Hertford, NC |
2004 | clergy | Matthew Evans | Henderson, NC |
2004 | laity | Dennis Tawney | Parkton, NC |
2003 | clergy | Tim Reaves | White Oak, NC |
1997 | laity | Gregory Bronson | |
1997 | clergy | Jeffrey Lee Severt | New Bern, NC |
1996 | clergy | Sam Dixon, Jr. | Roanoke Rapids, NC |
1996 | laity | Thomas Walden | Youngsville, NC |
1992 | laity | Barbara Carey | Stonewall, NC |
1992 | clergy | Jerry Lowry | Sunset Beach, NC |
1991 | laity | Linda Harris | Raleigh, NC |
1991 | clergy | Ecwood Lancaster | Wilmington, NC |
1990 | clergy | M. Eugene Tyson | New Bern, NC |