Citation for Faithful Service
2006 Honorees Biographical Sketches Presented
October 28, 2006, at Full Gospel New York Church Flushing
Ezekiel Davis |
First United Methodist Church of Jamaica Rev. Dr. Kyong Nak Kim, Pastor |
Ezekiel Davis is truly a servant of the Lord in
his service to the First United Methodist Church of Jamaica and the community
of Jamaica, Queens. Since his retirement six years ago, Ezekiel has devoted his
life to serve the church in many roles. He is a member of the Committee on Staff
& Parish Relations, an Usher, a member of the United Methodist Men and currently
the President of the Board of Trustees. He comes to church early in the morning
to supervise the Custodian and Parking Lot Superintendent while working hard for
maintaining church facilities. Ezekiel is incomparable.
He is gifted with a calm disposition and a positive attitude and therefore accomplishes
the great task of maintaining a beautiful church and church property. Because
of his love and care for his church and people, he plants and transplants beautiful
flowers and waters the flowers. He even provides a shade after transplantation. He
is a volunteer to the Food Pantry which serves over 700 families monthly, present
at the church to receive the food which is delivered early in the morning and
is involved in each process of the Food Pantry service. His famous words are,
"God gives me the strength, and so I will have to use it." Ezekiel
Davis is married to a beautiful, faithful, supportive wife, Florence and has four
children and eight grandchildren. His grandchildren are the joy of his life. He
is a beautiful man of God with a beautiful heart. | |
Barbara Fairfax |
Community Baptist Church, Bayside Rev. Dr. Phillip Charles Joubert Sr.,
Pastor | Barbara Fairfax is the
President of the Kitchen Committee of the Community Baptist Church of Bayside.
She is always on call and never fails to keep her Commitment. She has regular
employment, but is willing to answer the call here at the Church at any time.
There are times that she is here at 5:00 a.m. or 6:00 a.m. and she stays until
everything is taken care of. The church and its pastor really depend on her. |
| Marianne
Fazio | Christ for the World Chapel,
John F Kennedy Airport The Rev. Patricia A. Evans, Chaplain |
Marianne Fazio was a toddler when her family moved
from Hilversum (near Amsterdam, Holland) to Glendale, Queens. As members of the
Glendale Reformed Church, Marianne's parents instilled the roots of her faith
early and she chose to be baptized at the age of 12. The whole family was active
and the church became a large part of her life. Marianne met Anthony Fazio in
1971 and they were married October 21, 1973. They have three wonderful children,
Anthony, 30, Nicole, 27, and Lea, 25 – and are blessed with a great son-in-law
Al and a beautiful granddaughter, Kayla, 3. In 1997, Marianne
started working at the JFK Airport Chapel. She is truly a gift from God to serve
at the Christ for the World Chapel. Along with her administrative abilities she
is available to pray for those in need. She is dependable and frequently has things
done before you ask. Marianne is not only a valued employee but also a diligent
volunteer every Sunday at the 1:30 p.m. Worship Service. She sets things in order,
designs the bulletins, places the hymnals, dresses the altar – and she has preached
and sung solos, one of her favorite songs being "Jesus Loves Me." She has spoken
passionately at our JFK Bible Club. She is a faithful contributor of her finances
and annually donates Bibles to the Gospel Brunch Puppet Show. Last
year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and with the help of her family and
prayers of all that knew her, she is now cancer free! Marianne not only serves,
she truly believes the Gospel and received healing from cancer standing on the
Word – no complaints, just praise and thanksgiving to God. She is truly an inspiration
to others, a friend and an encouragement to me, very pleasant to those who call
and a delight to meet. Marianne is most certainly a blessing to the Chapel and
we thank God for her. There is nothing more important
to Marianne than her family and her work for God at the Chapel. And she knows
that her father would be very proud of what God has let her accomplish in her
life thus far. | | Cathy
Kelley | Freewheel Baptist Church,
Jamaica The Rev. Ronald Simpkins, Pastor | Sister
Cathy Kelley resides in Rockville Centre. She is the daughter of Bobbie Curry
– and the wonderful mother of four and grandmother of three. She is currently
employed with the Department of Traffic located in New York City. Cathy
Kelley has been an active member of Freewheel Baptist Church for over twenty-three
years. She has served in the following auxiliaries of
the church: Gospel Chorus for over twenty-three years (its president for three
years); Choir Director for the Unity Fellowship Choir, Co-Director for the Mass
Choir of Freewheel Baptist Church, a member of the Anointed Voices of Praise Worship
Team; church soloist who can always be counted on to sing at weddings or funerals;
and is currently serving as Choir Director of the Gospel Chorus. "At
Freewheel Baptist Church... We Live By The Word and We Are Truly Blessed By God
At all Times!" | |
Mihaela Stan | Ss.
Peter & Paul Romanian Orthodox Church, College Point Rev. Dr. Theodor Damian,
Pastor | Mihaela Stan has been
a member of our church since its inception in 1993. She and her family were always
close to the Church and involved in its diverse and multiple activities. However,
since she was elected a member in the church's governing committee in 2005 she
has been contributing financially and in many other ways to the development of
our liturgical, spiritual, pastoral, administrative and cultural work. She put
a lot of time in trying to find a place of worship for our parish. Her dedication
to the cause of our church is exemplary. She is in our community a model of faithfulness,
dedication and responsibility. We are happy and blessed to have her in our congregation. |
| Ronda R.
Strong | Deliverance Temple Church
of Jesus Christ, South Ozone Park Rev. Dr. Rita L. Speller, Pastor |
Minister Ronda R. Strong became a part of the Deliverance
Temple Family on January 19, 1991, and has become a pillar in our house. She began
her service to the Lord as a missionary, visiting the sick and elderly, and as
a Sunday School Teacher, teaching and caring for the children. Ronda has also
been a faithful worship leader, as well as a member and director of the church
choir. She uses her talents to do ministry in everything from creatively constructing
banners for the special events to translating our services into Spanish and Sign
Language. Ronda is dedicated to doing God's will and loyal to serving our community.
The pastor and members of Deliverance Temple count it a privilege that Ronda R.
Strong receive the 2006 Citation for Faithful Service. | |
Lillie Harding Wilson |
New Hope Lutheran Church, Jamaica The Rev. Brenda K. Smith, Pastor |
New Hope Lutheran Church experienced a devastating
loss on August 29, 2006 – the death of our beloved Lillie Harding Wilson. Lillie
had a very positive approach to life and her spirit was always upbeat. Even when
we knew she was in severe pain, if you asked Lillie how she was doing her response
was always: "I'm good!" And Lillie was good. Good at being a faithful servant
of the Lord. She was a member of our Social Ministry Committee, the Worship and
Music Committee, the Altar Guild, the Evangelism Committee, the New Hope Lutheran
Church chapter of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a member
of the Young at Heart and she was a member of one of our ushering teams. Lillie
enjoyed quilting and crafts and was a member of both of these ministries at our
church. As can be seen, Lillie was an extremely dedicated
servant of God at New Hope Lutheran Church, but the one thing that we will all
remember her for is her focus on hospitality. She always reinforced to us the
importance of treating our visitors with kindness and with lots and lots of food.
She never wanted New Hope to host a "poor party." Our times of fellowship had
to be times of an abundance of food, folks, fun and faith. About a month prior
to her death Lillie was told she was being nominated for this award and her response
was: "Oh, that's so nice." It is so nice because Lillie is truly deserving of
this honor. As her husband, Marion, accepts her award posthumously, New Hope is
thankful for her life and for her legacy of service that is a model for us all. |
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