The Hannah Award
for Ministerial Recruitment and Nurture
The Hannah Award is named for Hannah, the mother of the Prophet Samuel, who handed her child into the ministry. We come form local churches who can hand our youth into the wider ministry of the church.
Her story is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 " How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? An how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? An how are they to hear without someone to proclaim God. And how are they to proclaim God unless they are sent?" Romans 10:14-15
The continuing need for ordained elders and deacons to lead the churches calls for each local church to be responsible for helping young people to hear the invitation to become ministers of the Christian faith. Each congregation is challenged to participate in the program of ministerial recruitment and nurture.
Churches that meet the minimum of the five standards for recruitment and support will be recognized at Annual Conference.
Requirements for Church Recognition
- Celebrate Call to Ministry Sunday
Build a worship service around the call to the ordained ministry of deacons and elders. Invite youth and other members to respond to the invitation to consider the ordained ministry as a career. - Adopt a seminary student
Adopt a Seminary student is an effort to support our seminary students financially, through scholarship aid, and emotionally, through relationships with people and local congregations. - Conference Scholarship Endowment
Receive an offering for the Conference Scholarship Endowment and submit to the Conference office. The amount is to equal the reported average worship attendance. - Exploration of Ministry event
Send or sponsor a student to the Oklahoma Exploration of Ministry event or to the National Exploration of Ministry event. The cost of sponsorship includes the registration fee and transportation cost through the conference. - Ministerial Recruiter
Elect or Designate a Ministerial Recruiter who shares information on opportunities in Christian ministry with students. Materials are available through the Conference office. The Chairperson of Vocational Recruitment should make resources available to youth in Confirmation class and others considering the call to ministry.
