NW Leaders Receive NAD Awards

Northwest church leaders received special awards during this year’s North American Division Ministries Convention, held Jan. 13–16, 2019, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Minner Labrador Jr., Upper Columbia Conference president, received the a Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant work in men’s ministries, not only within the United States but also as founder and creator of the globally televised series, Old Man New Man.

Labrador has worked with men’s ministries in his role as vice president for ministries and ministerial director in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. While pastoring in North Carolina and Florida, he also directed men’s ministries for those regions.

Labrador has pioneered the work of men’s ministries across North America for over 20 years.

Greg Hamilton, Northwest Religious Liberty Association (NRLA) president, was honored with an Excellence in Ministry Award for his longtime emphasis on behalf of public affairs and religious liberty. He has served the North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) in this role since 1998.

Throughout two decades of service with NRLA, Hamilton has developed a network of legislative contacts that have help forward the cause of religious liberty in the Northwest and beyond. The NRLA’s work in support of the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act, approved in 2010, was a watershed accomplishment on behalf of religious groups throughout the state.

Two other Northwest leaders also received Excellence in Ministry awards: Collette Newer, Washington Conference outreach ministries director on behalf of her work in personal ministries, and Kevin Wilfley, Kirkland (Wash.) Church senior pastor and NPUC prayer ministries director, for his dedication to prayer ministries.