In 2010,  The Foundation for Evangelism introduced new recognition programs, experienced successes in doctoral education programs,  and welcomed  a variety of professional  changes for members of the Foundation family. Through it all, we continue our vision to raise up generations of leaders.

Here are just a few highlights from 2010:

Excellence Recognition:

• The Harry Denman Youth Evangelism Award, implemented in 2010, recognizes a young person whose life and ministry exemplifies the teaching of Christ and the Great Commission,  presented by fifteen annual conferences
• Swartz Creek United Methodist Church in Swartz Creek, Michigan, was the first church to receive the annual Culture of the Call Award recognizing one local United Methodist congregation with a history of having young people 35 or under experience God’s call to full time Christian service as a result of affiliation with that church.
• Rev. Shane Bishop, the senior pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois, was named the 2010 Distinguished Evangelist of The United Methodist Church. Rev. Bishop was also a recipient of the Harry Denman Evangelism Award in 1996.

E. Stanley Jones Professors of Evangelism

• Dr. Robert Tuttle, Jr. retired after 25 years as E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Asbury Theological Seminary, Orlando Campus.
• Drew Dyson assumed the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism Chair at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC  in August.

Doctoral Education

• Jack Jackson, Foundation for Evangelism Denman Fellow, named as evangelism professor at Claremont School of Theology.
• Timothy Scholar Andrew Zirschky has been named Academic Director for the Center for Youth Ministry Training at Brentwood UMC (Nashville, TN), and he will teach Youth Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary.
• Timothy Scholar Jason Santos will begin serving as Minister to Youth and Families in Seattle, Washington.  He may also consider an adjunct teaching position at a nearby institution.

A Season of Change for Staff and Trustees

• We celebrated the retirement of Lynda Leonard, executive assistant for 15 years, and honored Kenneth Lambert, director of church relations who will move to volunteer status in 2011.
• Jack Ewing has accepted the executive director position for Lake Junaluska Assembly. Jane Wood has been named interim executive director as a search committee reviews applications for the position.
• Maggie Petreska, annual fund and communications director, relocated to the Washington DC area.
• John Marshall was named first emeritus trustee at the Foundation’s annual board meeting.
• New Trustees for 2011 have been named including:
  • Michael Hoon Yang of New Jersey
  • Cathy Farmer of Jackson, TN
  • James Holsinger of Lexington, KY

We celebrate the blessings received in 2010, especially the blessing of the many faithful supporters of the work of the Foundation.   In 2011, we continue our passion to help persons experience God’s transforming love through Jesus Christ.