Three men have been honored for their excellence and longevity in ministry by the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers.
Donald Shoemaker, longtime pastor of the Grace Brethren church in Seal Beach, Calif., was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, Shoemaker has chaired the Social Concerns Committee of the FGBC since 1985 and also has been quite active in his community in police chaplaincy work.
The Pastor of the Year was given to Keith Shearer of the New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church in Myerstown, Pa. In addition to his pastoral work, Shearer has significant service with the Grace Brethren International Mission board (chair), as an adjunct professor at Grace Theological Seminary, and other ministry opportunities.
David Guiles, executive director of Grace Brethren International Missions, was recognized with the Excellence in Ministry. The son of a Grace Brethren pastor, Guiles has been leading GBIM for the past decade. He is currently guiding the mission agency in a number of innovative and adaptive steps to enhance its ministry and impact into the future.