Alfred and Georgia Anderson were born in the State of Louisiana and relocated to New York in 1952. In June they celebrated 58 years of marriage. They’ve been blessed to have three daughters, Cynthia, Samantha and Deborah. They are the joyful grandparents of six and the delighted great-grand parents of five. Deacons Alfred and Georgia have been members of the Amity Baptist Church, Jamaica, for many years – Alfred for 38 years and Georgia, 45 years. The Anderson’s have served faithfully in many ministries, a few of them are The Choir, Monday evening Shut-in visitations, Food and Clothing Ministry, service with the Homeless, and other needed services, the Van ministry, picking up members for prayer-service and Sunday morning Worship services. They both currently serve the Amity Baptist Church as ordained Deacons.

Sister Arrie Brandon joined the St. Paul United Methodist Church in June of 1976, and hit the ground running. A teacher by profession, and later an Assistant Principal within the New York City Board of Education. she immediately used her gift of teaching in the St. Paul Church School, the Vacation Bible School, and moving forward has continued using that gift in the Adult Sunday School. The children who attend the St. Paul after-school program have benefitted not just from her teaching of reading and writing, but also from her ability to teach music. She headed the Administrative Board with tact and Christian love for many years. As Deaconess, she has preached many sermons both at her home church, and at other churches within the Long Island West District of the New York Annual Conference. When called upon to serve in other capacities, barring any physical reason why she cannot, she almost always responds in a positive manner.

We give thanks for Vera Caines, a committed disciple, and member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Epiphany. Ms. Caines is a gifted servant who has demonstrated her love for God and for God’s people through her devoted work with children, in the congregation as well as the community. She has served as Sunday Superintendent for over 20 years, has coordinated Vacation Bible School for many years, even while being employed full time: giving of her time and her gifts to help youngsters learn of God’s love for them. She establishes a rapport with youngsters even though there is a gulf between them in terms of age and life experience. She understands them; they confide in her about their issues and concerns, which is important in these difficult times. Ms. Caines led the congregation through a difficult time; facilitating a smooth transition between pastors, providing leadership during a three-year pastoral vacancy. She certainly is a teller of truth, speaking up for what she believes is right, venturing where others fear to tread, even when her position is unpopular, but results beneficial to the good of the congregation. Ms. Caines is truly a faithful servant of God. She is as well committed to serving the people of God. It is my distinct honor and privilege to recommend her for the “faithful service” award of the Queens Federation of Churches.

Vinutha Daniel has been a very faithful communicant member of the Christhave Tamil Koil since 1982. A willing and able leader, she was one of the founding members of the church. Though she is a mother of two lovely daughters and is employed full-time, she always found time for serving God and God’s people. She is an excellent and creative organizer. During Christmas, she leads a group to visit homes to sing carols. Every summer, she devotes a week of her vacation for VBS. Her presence and participation in all activities of the church is a true blessing.

Since 1998, Felicia Georgescu has been an active member of our parish. She has dedicated distinguished and quality service to the Church community. She initiated, organized and managed the Church’s social programs through which people in need from the Romanian community in New York and from Romania received significant help. Every Sunday she helps to organize meals at the socialization time after the liturgy and festive dinners at the many cultural events and celebrations in our Church. She is a member of the Parish Council and the Ladies Committee. Her dedication and generosity, her effort and love for service are exemplary and acknowledged in the congregation.

Missionary Queenie Hicks has been a faithful member of the St. Mark missionary Baptist Church congregation for over twenty years. During her tenure she has served faithfully in the Missionary, Choir, Prison and Angel Tree ministries. In addition to her years of service in these ministries, she is a faithful member rarely missing a Sunday morning service, Pastor’s bible study or supporting the pastor on preaching engagements. There is no job in the ministry that is too small or too large for Missionary Hicks to accept and complete successfully. Her humble nature of always wanting to give God all the glory makes her a pleasure to serve with.

Erica James is the daughter of Melanee and Michael James. She has a younger sister, Sasha, who is eight years old. She is a 2008 graduate of The Mary Louis Academy with an advance regents diploma. Erica is a Junior at Hunter College, studying Early Childhood Education concentrating in Art Therapy. At New Hope Lutheran Church she is presently the Secretary of the Church Council, Choir member, Assistant Minister, Liturgical dance leader and a member of the Young Professionals Group. Erica worked with the Summer Day Camp at New Hope for four years and was a Sunday School teacher for two years. She is presently employed part-time at the Laurelton Academy Day Care in the mornings before attending college. Erica was the president of the Zinos, a female youth group of the Beta Omicron Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. She serves as a positive role model for her sister Sasha who she spends quality time with. Erica is a phenomenal young lady. She enjoys working with children to help them have a firm educational foundation. Her favorite quote is from Clay P. Bedford: “You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.”

Trustee Bettye Kaufman has been a faithful dedicated member of Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, UCC, for over 50 years. She is the Mother of a grown son, a grandmother and a nursing supervisor at one of our popular prisons – you know faith is needed to be there! She has chaired and served on many committees at LHCC and is presently serving as a watchful trustee, long time choir member (as an alto), and a diligent, creative Church clerk, especially for our church's special events and journals. Her opinions, ideas and suggestions are respected by the youth, adults and the pastor. Bettye is a great kitchen mechanic she is most effective during our church repast. She does not know the word “no,” when it come to helping out at church events. When the former pastor retired, Bettye was one of three persons who were chosen to help keep the Church running smoothly. Her faithful service and her tithes are always on time. Bettye's faithful service and watchful care have eased the duties of the new pastor. Her future plans are to retire and move to Alabama, we all hope not anytime soon. But she will be a faithful asset wherever she is, God is in her spirit, and we are very blessed to have Sister Bettye Kaufman, in the service of God and in our church.

Elder Denise Roman embodies the ideal volunteer who provides dedicated and distinguished service to a church community. Paul said, “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” Our Lord and Father gifts every church community with a core number of people who forget themselves long enough to lend a helping hand. It is that core of people who keep the wheels of a church ministry turning. Elder Roman is a member of that core group at First Presbyterian Church. Elder Roman no longer serves in our Session Board of Elders. Her name does not appear in any list of volunteers assigned to do this or that. Nevertheless, Elder Roman continues to serve our congregation in many ways such as visiting the sick and those no longer able to attend worship. She fills in for others whenever she is asked and when she is not asked, she steps forward anyway if she perceives that she is needed. She can be counted on whenever needed to make sure a program goes off as planned. For example, she serves during Blood Drives and during our Faith in Action Sunday, and during altar calls. For over ten years, she has served as the leader of one of our most successful Fellowship Caring Circles. When our Scholarship Ministry needed a boost of energy, she agreed to lead it. This year, that Ministry awarded eleven $1000 Scholarships, thanks in large part to her leadership. Elder Denise Roman is most worthy of this year’s Citation for Faithful Service.

Peter J. Sinacore has been a member of Hollis Woods Community Church for over ten years. He began his participation in an outreach program and, soon thereafter, joined the church and became active in many areas. Peter served as a Trustee and on Buildings and Grounds for many of those years, and was active in Stewardship and volunteer work for all of them. Peter either spearheads or is active in such programs as Toys for Tots, Food for the Hungry, Veterans’ care, Supplies for area Orphanages, and Special Olympics. He recently became a certified Chaplain and immediately embarked on a project which supplied thousands of Prayer Clothes to our soldiers and Veterans. We are thankful to God for members like Peter and for this opportunity to show our appreciation for all that he does.

Pastor Mahase Singh is the Evangelism Pastor and Secretary/Treasurer of Liberty Bible Fellowship Church, Inc., Ozone Park. Pastor Singh converted from Hinduism to become a Christian in 1970. Since then he has been active in the Ministry as a Pastor, Teacher and Missionary in the interior of Guyana. Since immigrating to New York in 1986, he continued to remain faithful in the Lord’s work – and presently he has been serving faithfully at Liberty Bible Fellowship as one of the leading pastors and Evangelism Director and Secretary/Treasurer. Pastor Singh has a compassionate heart for lost souls and as such he has been involved in every department of this church – conducting services, reaching out with the gospel in homes, hospitals, subways and other places. Over the years, Liberty Church has been associated with other local churches in Guyana, Caribbean, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Haiti. Pastor Singh, with his vision, passion and mission outreach heart, has been able to travel to carry the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and to preach overseas in these churches. As a pastor, he also helps to reach out to the community in Senior Citizen Homes to pray and bring comfort to the patients and their families. He is married to Dianna Mangar/Singh and he and his wife are active Christians serving the Lord.”

Frank Skala was an active member of All Saints throughout his childhood, and returned to the parish some fifteen years ago. In that time, Frank, who is well known for his community activism in Bayside has often been a link between the town and All Saints. In addition, and more importantly, Frank has served the parish faithfully particularly in the area of liturgy. Frank was a member of the church choir from 1997-2007, singing at some five hundred Sunday services. He is, as he has been since 1998, the assisting lay minister at the early service each Sunday, missing only about six Sundays over the past twelve years. Finally, Frank is the person the Rector turns to when he needs an assistant (usually at the last minute!) for funerals. His steadfastness in the faith and worship of the Church is well deserving of recognition.

Claudia Slaughter has been a faithful member and in good standard at Hollis Avenue Congregational Church UCC since 2000. Shortly after becoming a member of the church she joined the Parish Relations and the “Women for Christ” Ministry. She was an active member of these ministries for six years. In 2008 Sister Slaughter was elected to the Board of Trustees and is still serving actively. Claudia is also involved in our Food Pantry Program and the Senior Buddy System Program where she prepares and serves food to the worker, staff and seniors who participate in these programs. Whenever there is a special event or occasion where food will be served, Claudia is always willing and available to assist despite the time of day. Mrs. Slaughter has supported the ministry of this church not only with her time but with her devotion and commitment to God as well. She has served this community, her pastor, and this church with a special kind of love and we are so thankful for her membership.

Elder Gerald Wayne Smith has been a member of the Greater Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ Inc. since December 1993. Since his connection with the church, he has embraced the principles and teachings of the church and followed the precepts of Jesus in his daily walk. He is a great asset to the body of Christ, his friendly personality and down to earth approach helps people to recognize the need for God in their lives. Elder Smith is not afraid to give his personal testimony to anyone, of where God brought him from, and how God delivered him and how He can do the same for them. Elder Gerald Smith has served in numerous capacities in the church including Deacon, Associate Minister, Trustee Board President, Elder, Water Baptism committee Elder, and First Assistant to the Pastor. He also serves as a bible teacher, Sunday school assistant superintendent, church treasurer and national evangelist.

“Staying humble and serving God with all your heart and mind” has been Brother Bill Wong’s motto ever since he became a Christian. Bill has been the Treasurer of Bethany since 1988. As our church membership shrinks in recent years, he has been taking clear initiative to cover for everything he can help. His ministry, besides all the financial responsibilities, includes church-wide correspondence, purchasing supplies, preparing for Sunday services, and preaching once a month. For all that Bill has done, his dedication to the Lord and his love for fellow church members, he really deserves to be recognized.