The 2007 Barnabas Award

Presented to: Amy Elliot

and

Rev. Ben Keckler

Barnabas in Hebrew means "The son of encouragement." Barnabas was an apostle in the early church (Acts 4:36-37). His first act after becoming a Christian was to sell a piece of land and he gave the money to the Jerusalem Apostles (Acts 4:36-37). Later, he journeyed to Tarsus and brought Saul back to minister with him in Antioch (Acts 11:2 5). It was Barnabas that calmed the fears of the early apostles in Jerusalem concerning Paul's past persecutions (Acts 9:27). He and Saul raised and brought money to Jerusalem to feed the starving Christians in Jerusalem during a great drought (Acts 11:27-30).

Paul, John Mark, and Barnabas went on the First Missionary Journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor. Later on, Barnabas would part from Paul and take John Mark with him on the Second Missionary Journey to Cyprus. Because of his efforts to take John Mark with him on the journey, the gospel of Mark was salvaged for Christians of all time (Acts 13:13).

The Barnabas Award is a yearly presentation at the Associated Churches Annual Meeting. The nomination each year would come from the Executive Committee and will be affirmed by the Board of Directors. The award will go to that person or persons that have made a difference in the life of the Associated Churches family in a quiet, unassuming way. This could take the form of volunteer help or financial support, etc.

Past Barnabas Award Recipients:

1999 - Michael and Jane Lamont
2000 - Mike Shatto (City Wide Trucking)
2001 - Jane Campbell and Ralph Kurtz
2002 - Dick Jones and Don Wolf
2003 - Phil DiVovo and W. Paul Wolf
2004 - WLDE101.7 fm. Radio Station (Stuff-A-Bus and Anita Bates, Canterbury School)
2005 - The Lutheran Foundation and Associated Churches Food Bank Volunteers
2006 - Nat'l Assoc. of Letter Carriers #116 and Wayne Township Trustee Office
2007 - Amy Elliot and Rev. Ben Keckler