Twelve Churches Worthy of Honor (That You Probably Don’t Know)

The apostle Paul was not shy about honoring people. When Epaphroditus nearly died while serving Paul in prison, Paul sent him home to Philippi with clear instructions for the church.

“Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.” – Philippians 2:29 (NLT) 

Some people deserve honor. Paul didn’t dismiss it as flattery or a distraction from the mission. He saw it as a fitting response to faithful service. 

This month, Church Answers hosted our first annual awards banquet in Franklin, Tennessee. We recognized twelve churches and pastors, and each award was sponsored by a ministry partner. For a few hours, the people who usually serve others were served. We wanted these leaders to hear what many of their members already know: their work is important to God’s kingdom and worthy of honor. 

What Makes a Church Worthy of Honor? 

We did not choose these churches for their size or prominence. We chose them for their faithfulness. Each saw a need, took a step of faith, and stayed with it. Here is a glimpse of why we honored each one.

Facility Stewardship Award: Amelia Plantation Chapel, Amelia Island, Florida (Brown Church Development Group). The church began in 1974, but they did not have a permanent home. So the congregants carried supplies in a wooden chest called “The Ark” from venue to venue. When the church finally built a permanent home, it chose a site the whole community could use. The people still regard the buildings as a resource God entrusted to the church for everyone to enjoy. 

Community Impact Award: First Baptist Church, Kissimmee, Florida (Upward Sports). Pastor Tim Wilder prayed for years for the field next to the church, and a member donated it. This summer, hundreds of children attended a free sports camp there, received 1,200 meals, and heard the gospel. 

Discipleship Pathway Award: Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Houston, Texas (Rooted Network). Founded in a brush arbor in 1872, Good Hope has seen nearly 1,800 people participate in 280 L.Y.F.E. Groups since 2022. More than 40 percent were from outside the membership. 

Church Innovation Award: Townsend Church, Townsend, Delaware (Tithely). Townsend doesn’t have a gym, so it partners with six to eight local schools for sports ministry. Those schools now contact the church when they need help.

Multiplying Church Award: New Life Christian Church, Chantilly, Virginia (Multipliers). Pastor Brett Andrews began with a handful of people in 1993. New Life’s spiritual lineage now includes more than 300 church plants, some of which are third-generation. 

Volunteer Equipping Award: Robertson Creek Church, Bostic, North Carolina (Christian Money Solutions). Robertson Creek doesn’t recruit volunteers merely to fill slots. It develops leaders from within who, in turn, invest in others. 

Church of Prayer Award: Sunset Forest Baptist Church, Gastonia, North Carolina (Craft Book Publishing). For nearly a decade, members have hosted Drive-Thru Prayer on the second Tuesday of each month, inviting passing motorists to pull in and share their burdens. 

Evangelism Impact Award: Collin Creek Church, Plano, Texas (Church Growth Services). A Know Your Community report found that many neighbors were recent immigrants who did not speak English. The church responded by providing bilingual materials and AI-powered real-time translation, and attendance among non-English speakers continues to grow. 

Emerging Church Leader Award: Brian Bird, Marion First Free Will Baptist Church, Marion, North Carolina (Now Go Network). Rather than build ministry around himself, Pastor Brian invests in leaders, equips volunteers, and challenges members to disciple others. 

Co-Vocational Church of the Year: Table Church, Federal Way, Washington (Church Answers University). Planted inside a shopping mall in 2022, Table Church has six pastors. Five are bivocational, and the sixth is a full-time volunteer. Together, they serve thousands of underserved families. 

Rural Church of the Year: Calvary Chapel, Buffalo, Missouri (Who Moved My Pulpit?). In a town of just over 3,000, Calvary Chapel has baptized about 400 people. More than 50 volunteers feed 250 to 300 families every month. 

Courageous Pastor Award: Grant Hasty, Crossroads Community Baptist Church, Stearns, Kentucky (Church Equip). In one of the nation’s most economically challenged counties, Pastor Grant led his church in transforming an abandoned restaurant into The Lord’s Cafe. The ministry now includes a tiny home community for the homeless and a Thanksgiving meal that serves up to 1,700 people. 

Honor Is Worth Giving 

These churches share a few marks of faithfulness. They used what God had already placed within reach: a field, a parking lot, a shopping mall, an empty restaurant. And they kept going, year after year, long before anyone handed them an award. 

Every church has people who have served faithfully for years: the Sunday school teacher, the nursery volunteer, the deacon who checks on widows. When was the last time your church honored them publicly? 

To the twelve churches we recognized last week, thank you. You are worthy of honor. If you want to connect with pastors and church leaders who’ve been where you are, join our community here at Church Answers.

The post Twelve Churches Worthy of Honor (That You Probably Don’t Know) appeared first on Church Answers.