First Christian Church in Dexter recently received a prestigious award in recognition of their support and efforts during the recent deployment of their pastor, Pastor Major Mike Williams, who serves as a chaplain in the Air Force Reserve. Having recently returned from seven months of active duty overseas, Mike nominated the church for the Seven Seals Award in recognition of “all the efforts that they undertook, not just in terms of the care packages, prayers and letters I received, but more importantly in the fact that the elders all took turns preaching, providing pastoral care, and officiating at the table while I was gone. The ministry of the church did not even miss a beat.”

This is the “broadest and most inclusive award” given by the Missouri Employer Support of the Guard and reserve (ESGR), which is a Department of Defense program. A local representative presented the award during worship on March 3. Read their full press release. A short video of the presentation is available on the church’s Facebook page.