News at a Glance

LAKELAND — Joining the ranks of Billy Graham, Harry Denman, Jack Hayford and Mother Teresa, the Rev. Barbara Brokhoff, retired general evangelist of the Florida Conference, was awarded the 1999 Philip Award by the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists (NAUME). Brokhoff is the first United Methodist clergywoman to receive the award.

“I’d be less than honest if I told you it didn’t feel good,” Brokhoff said. “It’s awfully good of God to let me have it. I love what I get to do, though I feel I don’t do it as well as many others. If I have any qualifications, they rest in the call and the passion I have for the Gospel.”

The Philip Award is presented annually by NAUME at its National Congress on Evangelism in January, according to NAUME’s Executive Evangelist, Dr. Charles Whittle. The award is named for Philip, the only person in the Bible called an evangelist (Acts 21:8), and serves to recognize “outstanding leadership in evangelism,” he said.

NAUME also presents an annual evangelism award to someone beyond the denomination. This year’s non-United Methodist recipient is Coach Bill McCartney, chief executive officer of Promise Keepers.

Whittle said Brokhoff was elected because of her deep convictions and commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “In addition to being an excellent preacher…she’s a great person and a solid evangelist,” he said. “She cares about people and brings out the best in everyone she meets.”

The Philip Award is not the only first for Brokhoff. In 1958, she became the first full-time ordained woman pastor in the Missouri East Conference. She was also the first clergywoman to preach in seven annual conferences and the first woman to present the Denman lectures and speak at the Conference on Evangelism.

“It’s been a good experience to be a woman in ministry,” Brokhoff said. “I’m very thankful. The United Methodist Church…has been very good to me and always given me a pulpit in which to preach.”

Cosby addresses Bethune-Cookman graduates

Comedian, actor and educator Dr. Bill Cosby was the featured speaker at Bethune-Cookman College’s (B-CC) commencement ceremony April 26 in the Daytona Beach Ocean Center.  The ceremony ended a week-long schedule of B-CC graduation events.

Foundation considers
incorporation amendment

The annual meeting of the Florida United Methodist Foundation Inc. will be held Wednesday, June 1, 1999 at 10:50 a.m. in the Lakeland Center. Lay and clergy members of the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church are members of this corporation. Consideration of an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation will be a part of this year’s meeting agenda.

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