In our desire to increase the recognition of our local church pastors we are requesting nominations for two annual awards: The David L. Taylor Pastor’s Heart Award and The Excellence in Preaching Award.
The David L. Taylor Pastor’s Heart Award is an annual recognition award established in honor and memory of Pastor Dave Taylor, who was a beloved pastor to many SDBs. This award honors Pastor Dave’s legacy by recognizing a pastor who consistently exhibits a pastor’s heart and is a blessing to others.
Whenever we speak of the pastor’s heart, we normally think of a pastor who has a genuine calling on their life to shepherd God’s people. We would normally think of them as having a gentle spirit and as one who has the supernatural ability to be able to sit with a person and listen to them unfold their lives. They would be a person who could be trusted with confidential information yet helpful in counseling others biblically. They would celebrate wildly with those who saw God’s blessings and favor and commiserate with those who experience suffering and loss.
The recipient of the David L. Taylor Pastor’s Heart Award must be a called pastor of a member church or a retired pastor in a member church in the SDB General Conference USA & Canada and over the age of 18.
Anyone can nominate a candidate for the David L. Taylor Pastor’s Heart Award. The submission should include a brief biography of the candidate (including but not limited to contact information, SDB church service, and family information) as well as a summary of how they exhibit a pastor’s heart. Submissions may be sent to the Director of Pastoral Services anytime but the deadline for this year’s award is July 1, 2021. Please consider nominating your pastor or another pastor who you know that exhibits these characteristics.
The Excellence in Preaching Award is an annual preaching award established to honor a commitment to excellence in the preparation and delivery of sermons to a congregation, as well as a commitment to instilling the desire for excellence in preaching in a generation of other preachers, evangelists, and pastors.
The recipient of the Excellence in Preaching Award must be a member of a member church in the SDB General Conference USA & Canada and over the age of 18. The sermon used for entry in the competition must have been preached in the 12 months previous to when the award will be given (i.e. July 2020 for the July 2021 award).
Anyone can nominate a candidate for the Excellence in Preaching Award, including the candidate. The submission will include a brief biography of the candidate (including but not limited to contact information, SDB church service, and family information) as well as a sermon submission (preferably video). Submissions may be sent to the Director of Pastoral Services anytime but the deadline for this year’s award is July 1, 2021. Submissions will be judged on faithfulness to the biblical text/context, gospel connection, clarity/understanding, application to today’s audience, and delivery. Please consider nominating your pastor or your favorite preacher or favorite sermon.
If you have any questions about these awards or need to know more about the nomination process for these awards, please contact the Director of Pastoral Services. The deadline for submissions is July 1, 2021.
