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Two Kentucky Disaster Relief Volunteers Honored
05/17/2011
LYNCHBURG, VA—Two longtime Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers from Kentucky were honored during the annual Disaster Relief Roundtable’s awards dinner held in Lynchburg, Va., April 26.
The family of the late Bernard Randall accepts the Joel W. Phillips Outstanding Achievement Award at the recent 2011 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Roundtable in Lynchburg, Va. Randall’s widow, Rona (second from right), receives the award from Mickey Caison (far right) of the North American Mission Board and Coy Webb (third from right) of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
The Joel W. Phillips Outstanding Achievement Award in disaster relief was presented to the late Bernard Randall. The award was accepted on Randall’s behalf by members of his family: his wife, Rona, and his children—Misty, Robbie, Clifford and Leslie.
Coy Web, associate men’s ministry director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, and Mickey Caison, disaster relief coordinator with the North American Mission Board, presented the award.
Randall, a 15-year veteran in Kentucky disaster relief, was honored with the award—a “Most Valuable Player”-type of honor—for his “above and beyond the call of duty” service over many years in disaster relief. Randall was selected because he demonstrated “Christ in the Crisis” and provided outstanding leadership in Southern Baptist disaster relief.
According to Webb, “Bernard was a long-term leader on our Kentucky Baptist disaster relief state leadership team. He has often been the first to respond and the last to leave. Bernard had a servant heart that exuded the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
“This past year, even as difficult as it was for him with his health (battling colon and liver cancer), Bernard continued to serve faithfully,” Webb said. Randall succumbed to the cancer on Jan. 8, 2011 at the age of 69. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Monticello.
The award given to Randall is named for Joel W. Phillips, who was an important leader in Georgia Baptist disaster relief for many years. He played a key role in the development and growth of disaster relief both in Georgia and at the North American Mission Board. Phillips served until his death in 2004.
Kentucky Baptist disaster relief veteran Howard Smith (left), a “blue hat” from Shepherdsville, receives a Distinguished Service Award from Ty Berry of the Iowa Baptist Convention. (Photos by Ishmael LaBiosa)
“Blue Hat” Harold Smith, of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, is a 10-year veteran of disaster relief who was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award during the banquet. The award was presented by Ty Berry, state disaster relief director for the Iowa Baptist Convention.
Smith was nominated by Webb, who wrote in his nomination letter: “Harold has been a faithful volunteer with Kentucky Baptist disaster relief in local, state and national responses. He is the leader of our state chainsaw leadership team.
“Harold is a quiet but effective leader who leads by example, and motivates others to follow through. … He demonstrates a Christ-like but strong leadership style,” Webb wrote.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Western Recorder issue date: May 10, 2011
