By Scott A. Heintzelman

  Recently I attended the Messiah College Honors & Awards Convocation where the college presented various athletic and academic awards.  One of the key awards presented is the Barnabas Servant Leadership Award, which is named for Barnabas. He was a servant leader who sold land in Cyprus to buy food for the post-Pentecost crowned in Jerusalem, recruited Paul for ministry, worked with Paul as a missionary, mentored John Mark, and led a multicultural pastoral team in Antioch. The name Barnabas means “son of encouragement.” The award takes his name as it serves as an effective instrument to the entire educational community by promoting the ideals of service that substantially benefits others.

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The award is given to both a student and a faculty.  This year the student award went to an amazing young lady – Jessanna Hall.  Jessie has become a close friend to our family and has spent a good bit of time babysitting our kids.  Jessie worked as a prison ministry coordinator, started a homeless ministry and is completing her degree in Social Work.  She is an amazing young woman and truly a servant leader at a very young age.

The faculty award went to Jim Krimmel – professor of accounting.  He is also a great person and someone who was teaching when I was in college.  He is a great friend and mentor to me as well as many other former students.  He spent much of his summer performing fraud training and assisting with internal controls for HOPE International in the Ukraine and the Philippines. HOPE is focused on alleviating physical and spiritual poverty through microenterprise development (microfinance).  Professor Krimmel is a great man and a great servant leader.