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Note: To view the latest breaking news, please click the button at the top of the menu to the left. If the button is not present, it is because there has been no breaking news published yet this week. Rev. DeFore receives award
Rev. DeFore is among 39 pastors from the ninestate Southeastern Jurisdiction who have received the award in the last five years for inspiring ministries of men in evangelism, missions, and spiritual growth. He is the fifth pastor in the South Georgia Conference to receive the award. United Methodist Men of Swainsboro FUMC nominated Rev. DeFore. A selection committee appointed by Price made the final choice of the pastor to be honored from nominations submitted. John Dowell, president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction United Methodist Men, says the purpose of the awards program is to identify clergy with the imagination and interest to create effective expressions of ministry for men. "We believe that the best way to strengthen local fellowships of men is to honor pastors who actively participated with the men of his/her church," said Dowell. In addition to recognition by the conference, the Rev. DeFore will be invited to participate in a Clergy Think-Tank with five other pastors from conferences of the southeast to create fresh new ministries for men in January 2008. "One of the first things Brother DeFore did when he was appointed to Swainsboro as our pastor in 2003 was to activate the United Methodist Men," Sidney Lanier wrote in making the nomination. Lanier was elected president of the local fellowship and is still in that position. "As pastor, he has attended and participated in every UMM meeting and event we have had and willingly served as our spiritual advisor, encourager, motivator, assistant cook, and our hardest worker," Mr. Lanier continued. The UMM of First United Methodist Church in Swainsboro was re-chartered in 2003. It is renewed annually. There are now 20 men who are active. In the beginning, primarily at the instigation of the pastor, the men voted to set aside 10% or more of their fundraising projects for missions. Most of the rest of the money is used to help the needy in Swainsboro. The men have an annual yard sale, cake sale, Boston butt sale, and valentine dinner; schedule frequent work days at the church; and make about 30 fruit baskets with fancy paper and ribbons to deliver to shutins and people in nursing homes every December. The Rev. DeFore and his wife, Sandra, have served a total of 20 years in four South Georgia appointments. In addition, two of their sons have gone into the ministry: The Rev. Benjamin DeFore, now serving at Asbury at Baxley in the Statesboro District and the Rev. Michael DeFore at Edison in the Thomasville District. "We thank God for a pastor who opened our eyes to the possibilities of mobilizing men to a ministry of our own as he guided us to a deeper spirituality," Lanier added.
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