The Recognition Committee is the newly named committee choosing the Robe of Achievement and Women In Ministry Everywhere recipients. Last year was the first year for the Women In Ministry Everywhere (or WISE) to be awarded. I’ll start with the Robe of Achievement award. This year your committee (Janet Butler, Marcy Kersten and I) chose a woman who has served our denomination and her church for many years. She is a deaconess and Sabbath School teacher for her local church and served on the Board of Christian Education and General Council for the denomination. Unfortunately her health did not allow her to attend conference this year. Mayola Williams Warner from the Verona Seventh Day Baptist Church is our Robe of Achievement recipient this year.
Mayola and her husband Garth celebrated 71 years of marriage on July 25. She and Garth are the parents of Mark, Kevin, Wendy and Jim. Wendy’s son, Jonas, named his daughter Mae after his grandma because she is loving, fun and has been a good role model and prayer warrior for him.
Church committees Mayola has been active in either as chairman or committee member are Library, Missionary/Evangelism, and Music. She was VBS director or teacher for many years, pianist or organist for 60 years and hosted a weekly prayer meeting when her health allowed.
Who was at pre-con the year we did the cantata Tell it Like It Is!? After hearing that presentation Mayola went home and founded a singing group for youth in the Verona area called The Power Company. Every year they prepared and performed a new cantata for many churches. The Power Company went strong for 25 years! She also organized a men’s musical group, New Creations. Mayola led community Bible studies, was active in the Prison Ministry for 15 years which was started by Pastor Helen Green, visited at nursing homes and is part of the Gideon’s Auxiliary. She also has served as organist at many community churches and taught piano lessons.
Mayola and Garth directed Youth Pre-Con and were the cooks at Young Adult Pre-Con. They also directed Camp Harmony for Central New York Association. Mayola directed Jr. High conference, led Bible seminars, accompanied various special music selections and has written numerous articles for the Sabbath Recorder. She has also written three books that she hands out to people she meets as a witnessing tool.
One of our reasons for choosing Mayola was her family history in the Seventh Day Baptist denomination which dates back to Roger Williams in 1671. Mayola continues to share her passion for Christ and the Sabbath with love, wisdom, integrity and service. Her life and ministry has touched many in her church, community and world. Her relationship with her Savior is deep and strong and shines for all to see. She has been a cherished friend and mentor for many. People in the community describe Mayola and her husband, Garth, as examples of what it means to be a “real” Christian. They are spiritual parents of many people.
It is with great pleasure that we award the Robe of Achievement for 2019 to Mayola Warner. Her son Kevin is here to represent her.
Mayola was presented the robe and her vase at her home church, The Verona SDB Church on August 10.