While enrolled in seminary, I became a youth minister. It was there that I began to develop the tools to enhance what it means to be a servant-leader. I decided that all of our activities for the youth would focus bridging “right actions” with “right beliefs.”

This was my way of teaching the teenagers the importance of thinking for themselves and serving others-my remedy for the natural self-centeredness of adolescence that many of my teenagers were experiencing.

After seminary, my first appointment as a United Methodist minister was as an associate minister at the Gainesville First United Methodist Church in Gainesville, Ga. As the minister responsible for community outreach and missions, my appointment gave me daily opportunities to serve others while putting into practice what my parents taught me: treat people with the care that you would want others to treat you. I also learned that people didn’t need to be “fixed” as much as they needed to be cared for and shown how to deal with the rich mixture of life’s ups and downs.

Like many before me, my story underscores the importance of role models who shape our lives. My formative experiences and the practice of ministry helped me to see ministry and leadership as what former Emory President and US ambassador to Korea, Dr. James T. Laney calls “the structural expression of love.”

During its annual observance of Celebrate the Servant Week, November 30 -December 4, LaGrange College will highlight persons who demonstrate “structural expressions of love.” To honor those in our community who have a lifestyle of servant leadership, we will present the Servant-Leader Awards. The College defines Servant-Leadership as leading by serving others. Through volunteering, encouraging, and giving of their time and resources, a Servant- Leader challenges us to live life courageously, to walk in faith, service and involvement to make a difference in the world.

Four awards will be presented: An adult, a young adult (under 18) in the Troup County area, a LaGrange College faculty or staff person, and a current LaGrange College student. Previous recipients are Meredith Tarter ‘09, Nicole Henderson ‘09, Wanda Lowe, Lisa Morgan, Claire Acree, Elizabeth Adams, Lee Ann Brooks ‘08, LaGrange Police Chief Lou Dekmer, David McMillian ‘07, Oliver Greene, Bill Parsons ‘67, Madeline Sauter and Ruth Ellen Trotter. I invite you to suggest names of individuals in our community whom you believe to be servant-leaders.

To make your nomination, visit the LaGrange College website at www.lagrange.edu/servantleadership. If you would prefer to submit a paper form, please contact Laura Falkner at 706-880-8340. You may submit multiple nominations. The deadline for submission is Monday, October 19. These awards will be presented at a 7:00 p.m. ceremony on Monday, November 30 in the College Chapel.