Mark Harden and Sara Wilhelm present an award at the "Who's Who in Community Ministry Leadership" event.

Bethel Seminary hosted the first “Who’s Who in Community Ministry Leadership” Recognition Awards Dinner on Friday, May 8. The event recognized 36 people from Twin Cities area churches and nonprofits who have had significant involvement in community ministry that has sustained community empowerment and transformation.

“This is the least likely crowd to beat their drum to let people know the good work they’re doing,” explains Mark Harden, who heads up the M.A. in Community Ministry Leadership program at the seminary. “I’ve always known there are people out there doing work that is quite moving and inspiring, and I wanted to be able to promote their work and help others to be inspired by that.”

The Community Ministry Leadership Awards review panel evaluated nominees’ service based on their demonstrated commitment, collaboration and teamwork, leadership quality, and community leadership. Awardees were:

• Dawn Ascher-Johnson, Feed My Sheep
• Rev. Freddie Becker, Progressive Baptist Church
• Rev. Bruce Bjork, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches
• Eleanor Bjorkquist, Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church
• John Campbell, Life Church
• Lester Collins, Council on Black Minnesotans
• Michael Culbertson, Oxboro Evangelical Free Church
• Ginny Davis, Oxboro Evangelical Free Church
• Jennifer Dunbar, World Relief
• Ken Ehling, Salvation Army – Adult Rehabilitation Center
• Joani Essenburg, The Banyan Community
• Antwan Flowers, The Salvation Army
• JacQueline Frazier, Girls in Action
• Darrell Gillespie, Hope Academy
• Rebecca Hanson, Elim Church/Hope Avenue Ministry
• Scott Harris, Laotian Refugees
• Greg Hason, Volunteers of America/Bar-None
• Michelle Higgins, Cindy Paper, and Jean Robinson, Park Avenue Methodist – Cornerstone
• Shawna Horn, Central Baptist Church
• Eric Iverson, YouthWorks
• Sister Paulissa Jirik, St. Joseph’s Home for Children
• Lucy Johnson, Shiloh Temple
• Teresa Mardenborough, St. Peter Claver School
• Chris and Lisa McNair, Christ’s Children
• Juliet Mitchell, Camphor Foundation
• Shawn Moore, St. Paul Mosaic Church
• Deacon Margaret Moore, Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
• Don Patterson, St. Philip’s Catholic Church
• Pastor Linton Scott, Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church
• Rob Scott, World Relief
• Pastor Paul Turner Slack, Adullam Ministries
• Charles Sorlie, Central Baptist Church
• Sister Catherine Steffens, The College of St. Catherine
• Catherine Witzel, NE Community Lutheran Church

“The world is in desperate need of people who live out their faith, people who are the hands and feet of Christ,” Bethel University President Jay Barnes wrote in a letter to the awardees. “You have been recommended for this recognition because someone else has noticed that you’re not just talking about changing the world—you’re actually doing it.”

When asked about the future of the event, Harden said, “I hope to continue to recognize emerging community leaders who have quite a story to tell that may not be otherwise heard, and hopefully create a sense of community across all of the different churches and ministry leaders in the community.”

Bethel Seminary’s M.A. in Community Ministry Leadership seeks to prepare lay church leaders, mission agency and Christian foundation professionals, and experienced church or agency volunteers to help empower the urban community through high-quality, effective community leadership and development.