Every year, the Michigan District recognizes outstanding servants of the church with specific awards presented during the All Pastors’ Conference in October.
The 2017 Philip Award was presented to Rev. Brad Garrison for his “efforts to bring HOPE to the people of Detroit, Michigan, through acts of service and community transformation in the name of Jesus.” The Luke Project 52 Clinic, spearheaded by Garrison, now serves 200 clients who come to the clinic every month for free prenatal care and well-baby appointments.
The Paul Award was given to Rev. Stephen Schilke “for your tireless work in the expansion of the Kingdom, bringing HOPE to many people in a wide geographical area.” Schilke serves as an Intentional Interim Minister to several congregations, all spread out over lower Michigan. He has traveled many, many miles for the Lord.
The Barnabas Award was given to Trinity, Utica “for encouraging your congregation’s sons and daughters to be PEOPLE OF HOPE and go into full-time church work.” Trinity is the church home to a large number of church work students enrolled at Concordia University Ann Arbor.
New to the District in 2017, the School Shepherd Award has been established by the LCMS National School Ministry Office and National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) to honor a faithful pastor who has provided outstanding encouragement, support, and service to his school. It allows NLSA to recognize an outstanding school pastor and identify the practices and tangible means of support that have positively impacted the school he serves. The Michigan District Accreditation Commission chose Rev. Greg Griffith as our District Nominee for 2017. Griffith serves as senior pastor at Immanuel, Macomb. He is a shepherd not only of the members of his congregation, but to every family that is a part of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and School community.
Congratulations to all award recipients, and thank you for all you do!
On the photo, from L to R: Rev. Justin Krupsky, Rev. Scott Sommerfeld, and Rev. Chris Troxel from Trinity, Utica; Rev. Greg Griffith from Immanuel, Macomb and Mr. Travis Grulke, Michigan District Superintendent of Schools; Rev. Brad Garrison; Rev. Stephen Schilke; Rev. Dr. David P. E. Maier.
Photo by Seth Hinz/Michigan District, LCMS
