Sep 25, 2019
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 Service Everywhere (or WISE) to be awarded. This year your committee (Janet Butler, Marcy Kersten, and Karen Payne) 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.
After hearing the cantata “Tell it Like It Is!” presentation at Conference, 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 called “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 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 wrote numerous articles for the Sabbath Recorder. She has 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 have 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 was with great pleasure that we awarded the Robe of Achievement for 2019 to Mayola Warner. Her son Kevin was there to receive the award for her. Mayola was honored at her home church on Sabbath, August 10, as was the WISE recipient Diane Falkenmeyer.
This year we honored Diane Warner Falkenmeyer as a woman who is working hard to reach others, serve others, and do it with humility.
Diane is a member of the Verona Seventh Day Baptist Church where she has been an active member since joining in 1965. Some of the areas where Diane has served in her church are as moderator, deaconess, trustee, in the Christian Education Department, and Ladies Aid.
The most amazing thing about Diane is that she doesn’t need to have a formal position in the church to serve. She can often be found stopping by the church to check on things or work on a project. Diane is quick to step in and help anyone who has a need, whatever it might be, but she never looks for recognition. She is a great listener with a compassionate heart whose desire is to be more like Jesus day by day.
Thank you, Diane, for your loving service to your Savior, your church and your community. Diane Falkenmeyer is our 2019 WISE recipient.
