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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    events

    Denman Awards

    The Harry Denman Evangelism Award honors United Methodists who bring people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Each year, United Methodists of Upper New York works with the Foundation for Evangelism to recognize and honor one lay, one clergy member, and one youth for their commitment to consistently introducing others to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The late Harry Denman, for whom the award is named, had a decades-long, life-transforming personal ministry of evangelism as a lay person.

    2023 Laity Recipient
    Betsy O'Flynn
    Honeoye Falls UMC, Genesee Valley District

    Betsy is the Administrative Assistant in the Genesee Valley District Office. Administrative Assistant really does not describe Betsy. She is a friend to everyone who calls, or comes into the office. She is administratively superb and cares superbly for each person and each church. She is more than an assistant. She is a partner, a colleague, she is a disciple of Jesus Christ.

    Betsy leads by example. She has a strong faith, is proud of that faith, and is willing to share that faith openly with everyone she encounters. She puts in long hours, she is compassionate, caring and lends a listening ear. When the District Office was at Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, many students found refuge, and coffee in the office. They found a welcome, an inclusion, a smile on Betsy’s face and a listening ear when they came in, which brought them back again and again. 

    Betsy is passionate in her work and is willing to go above and beyond to help others and is a true team player. Betsy takes her role very seriously. She helps the clergy and laity alike by answering questions, providing resources, scheduling events, and lending a listening ear.  She serves on the Upper New York Board of Ordained Ministry supporting the work they do for our clergy candidates and course of study information.

    Betsy is a servant leader. In the Church, in her family, with her friends, she is always working behind the scenes to make every moment a moment which shares the love of God in Jesus Christ. With her friends and with people she doesn’t even know, she is always ready to lend a helping hand, going in person, speaking on the phone, doing whatever is necessary to assist someone in need. 

    Betsy loves to spend time with her family and to quilt in her spare time. She is married to Oscar and they have two children, Riley and JR, one daughter-in-law, Catie, and a new grandson named Maverick. 


    2022 Laity Recipient
    Adrienne Demmin
    Pendleton Center UMC, Niagara Frontier District

    Adrienne started her job at Pendleton Center UMC in 2011. People describe her as the type of person you always look up to in terms of her faith and as a person. She is always there to help others grow in their faith and grow their personal relationship with Jesus.

    Since Adrienne’s first introduction as a youth leader, it was apparent that she had a very special talent to connect with the youth of the church. Adrienne has the ability to impart the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ, through her word, sign, and deeds.

    She started working as a Sunday School teacher where she found fun stories, games, and crafts to help the children better understand the stories in the Bible. Adrienne then started a Friday night small group called, Hot Chocolate With God, where girls read devotions together. This small group helped young ladies grow in their relationship and understanding of God. This program was so successful and popular that it has now grown into a program that has 70-100 kids and 20-30 leaders. Given the size of the program, Adrienne continues to find creative ways to help everyone grow in their relationship with God and in our understanding of faith.

    As the Director of Children and Youth ministries at Pendleton Center UMC, Adrienne is responsible for all the programs for the children and youth at the church. Given the responsibility and time requirements of the Friday night group and VBS, Adrienne is always available to answer any questions the children and youth may have about Jesus and the Bible. Her leadership has provided an environment for the youth enrich their faith growing closer to God.

    Adrienne leads by example; she has a strong faith, is proud of that faith, and is willing to share that faith openly with everyone she encounters.  Adrienne’s teachings are genuine, and heart-felt. You feel that she is departing wisdom about her relationship with Jesus, rather than lecturing you on “the proper way to have a relationship with Jesus.” Adrienne works hard to be successful.  She puts in long hours to come up with new and innovative ways to share Jesus with the youth, painting Jesus in the proper light, and helping them to understand what it means to have their own relationship with Jesus.

    As the youth of our church transform into young adults, they stay involved with Adrienne’s programs as volunteers and credit her as the individual who was critical to starting their life-changing faith journey.

    As a testimony to the love of Jesus and people Adrienne has, one of the Friday night Hot Chocolate girls stated that she has grown up with Adrienne being one of her role models. She feels that she would not be the person she is today or be as close to God or have the relationship I have with God without Adrienne’s influence in her life.


    Past Recipients

    The Upper New York Conference is honored to recognize the following individuals.

    2021 Clergy Recipient
    Pastor Della Ludwig
    Newark Emmanuel UMC, Finger Lakes District

    Della Ludwig is the pastor at a small local church, Newark Emmanuel UMC. Pastor Ludwig’s primary effort during the COVID pandemic has been a food ministry that has offered over 25,000 meals to members of the community, out of the kitchen at Newark Emmanuel UMC. The congregation’s identity in Christ continues to be life-changing and purposeful when they imagined there was little hope of the church surviving the downtrodden times of past years.

    Every Tuesday through Friday since COVID began, Pastor Della has led her team of fewer than one dozen volunteers to plan, shop, procure, create, cook, and serve lunches to people who line up at the door in all kinds of weather and to hand out free hot meals to the hungry, and still abide by COVID protocols. During the holidays, over 150 Easter baskets, with ham, potatoes, vegetables, and candy, were shared. This is an extensive operation devoted to feeding the hungry.

    People who were dispirited at Newark Emmanuel have found new life in the revived food ministry.

    2021 Clergy Recipient
    Pastor Sean Chanthasone
    Endwell UMC, Binghamton District

    Sean escaped the country of Laos which was a democratic country at that time (mid-70s) but was taken over by Communist rule. Sean’s faith journey to know Jesus was influenced by evangelists, so he knows firsthand how important evangelism is.

    Sean and many members of his family joined thousands to flee for their lives and landed in a refugee camp in Thailand. It was there that he met a Christian worker who began to introduce him and his family to Christ. This Christian man was an evangelist, but even more importantly he was kind, and loved them into the kingdom. He led simple worship services and Bible Studies there, and Sean and many in his family quickly chose to follow Christ. By the time his visa to come to America was cleared (a couple of years later), Sean was well established in his faith, and biblical knowledge. In addition, while there, he learned just enough of the Thai language that he has been able to communicate with not only Lao people here in the states, but also people who speak Thai.

    Sean is a pastor at Endwell UMC and was also instrumental in creating the Karenni Good News (serving the Karenni population and New Hope UMC (serving the Nepalese population).

    Pastor Sean has gone door-to-door in neighborhoods to establish relationships with immigrants of Asian, African, or Hispanic descent, both in the Syracuse and Binghamton areas of New York State. He not only establishes relationships but nurtures them as well. He cares for the whole person by helping those he comes in contact in whatever way he can and empowers others to do the same. He helps immigrants who don’t speak English to navigate needed services, for example getting driver’s licenses, getting to medical and other appointments, locating housing, and helping to furnish their new home. During the COVID pandemic, Sean provided transportation and assistance for dozens of people to receive their vaccinations.

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    2020 Youth Recipient
    Nolan Carner
    Butler UMC, Finger Lakes District

    Nolan is a member of the Butler United Methodist Church. Nolan is a young teen and has been active in the church since the age of 4. From music ministry and mission projects to explaining to the congregation how the church apportionments support the Camp & Retreat ministry that has helped grow his faith, Nolan is an evangelist!

    As the sixth generation to attend Butler, he has been taught how to respectively fill and dispose of the Communion Elements when the Eucharist is celebrated. He also helps to serve Communion. He acts as an usher when the offering is taken. He has taken on the role of mentor to a younger boy and is doing a fantastic job teaching him how to bring glory to God through service.

    The age of the congregants at the parish are mainly over the age of 60. Nolan speaks to each in a caring way going out of his own comfort zone to help someone with doors, getting to their seats, and making sure everyone has a bulletin.

    Nolan’s enthusiasm to help and to spread the love of Christ is contagious!

    2020 Laity Recipient
    Rick Fisher, Jr.
    Unadilla UMC, Oneonta District

    Rick is the engine behind the outreach and evangelism ministry at Unadilla United Methodist Church. He realizes the importance of relationship-building and dedicates himself to walking alongside others on their journeys, whether near or far from Christ. He is a tireless and selfless servant always pointing others to the Lord yet giving all the glory to God.

    Using bilingual evangelism with his small Spanish-speaking community, he hears their concerns about deportation, finances, and housing and can guide people to appropriate resources providing a sense of comfort and peace.

    Given the transportation issues of small towns and a rural community, Rick wrote a grant which provides funding for a transportation ministry enabling families to visit loved ones who are hospitalized or incarcerated. The ministry also delivers meals or groceries to those who are homebound.

    Rick is also instrumental in several other ministries including Breakfast in the Basement, Music Ministry, Missions, and worship planning and leadership. In all his work, people are transformed by God's grace through shared meals and shared service, prayer, and agape love.

    2020 Clergy Recipient
    Pastor Jose Rodriguez
    Casa de Dios, Crossroads District

    Pastor Jose is a church planter from Cuba where his churches grew both numerically and spiritually. Locally, he planted Casa de Dios, a Hispanic United Methodist Church in Syracuse. He also supervises church plants in Utica, Amsterdam, and elsewhere within the Conference. During a period when there was no church planter appointed to Amsterdam, Pastor Jose made contacts in the community and brought together the people who became the foundation for Restoration Ministry.

    In his ministry in Amsterdam, Pastor Jose has provided food and warm winter clothing for immigrant farm workers and their families. He has given clothing and diapers to families with babies. Few Hispanic people in our area have cars or licenses, so he makes weekly trips from Syracuse to pick up and take them to stores in Amsterdam.  His transportation includes medical appointments, hospital emergencies, and even to New Jersey for cancer treatments.

    Pastor Jose knows that it is essential to actively show Christ's love if one expects a person to believe that Jesus loves them. He creates loving Christian communities where believers can support one another.

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    2019 Laity Recipient

    Mike Block
    Director of Missional Engagement for UNY Mission Central HUB
    Immanuel UMC, Crossroads District

    The name Mike Block is synonymous with mission work. Since his first day with the Upper New York (UNY) Conference, he’s worked to build the UNY Conference block by block and fill bucket after bucket. Mike’s biggest challenge is to juggle the many “blocks” he has in the air as he can’t say no to any when it comes to helping others.

    Mike’s passion for mission work is infectious. He has said, “I don’t know it all, but I know enough to ask and accomplish any task given to me.” Mike gets it done! Mike has been the Director of Missional Engagement for the UNY Conference for less than two years. In that short span, he’s transformed the UNY Mission Central HUB into an inviting space where people, United Methodist or not, feel welcomed to come and help others. Whether it be filling or verifying an UMCOR flood bucket, hygiene, or school kit, Mike always has a way for you to feel like you are acting as the hands of Jesus. He has the power and ability to make you feel like what you’re doing really matters. He’s created an inviting space for first-time and reoccurring volunteers to come and donate their time. Mike’s love for mission work is clearly visible. He takes his role seriously and continues to advocate for more help. If you say you want to help, Mike doesn’t give you a schedule of his availability. Instead he asks, “when and where?” Often, that’s during his personal time which includes nights and weekends. It’s a big undertaking, but Mike has accepted the challenge with grace and ease. It’s truly been a pleasure working with Mike. He’s the biggest cheerleader we know for The United Methodist Church and UMCOR.

    Mike is a Central New York native residing for many years in the west side area of Syracuse. Mike married his high school sweetheart, Betty Jane Darrow, and together, they have two daughters and several grandchildren. Mike and Betty never miss an event in which their grandchildren are involved. Mike grew up in a family that was very engaged in mission work and helping communities in need, and he has carried this passion throughout his life. A retired military reservist, Mike speaks of the many times he was able to help countries in need. Much like first responders in disaster, Mike explained, “When countries sought the U.S.’s support during times of war, within 24 hours, we’d be on a plane and on the ground of the country in need, interfacing with civilians, helping them to understand that we were there not to judge them, but to help them.”

    Ten years ago, Mike was part of the start-up team for Immanuel United Methodist Church, also known as Church of the Bells’ mission trip planning to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Mike has helped lead 120 people on 36 similar mission trips, and the team has completed 18,000 hours of labor. If that wasn’t enough, Mike also serves as a fireman with the Solvay Fire Department as well an EMT. Thank you, Mike for your service to our country and our neighbors near and far.

    2019 Clergy Recipient

    Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady II
    Asbury First UMC, Genesee Valley District

    Stephen Cady arrived at Asbury First United Methodist Church (AFUMC) in 2012 where he has been extremely open and honest about who he is. The authenticity he exudes captures people, and they respond to his willingness to share about himself. Those attending his church are continually inspired by Reverend Dr. Stephen Cady’s message of hope, faith, and unconditional love each week. He can bring the Word of God to life and enliven the congregation to implement God’s message in their daily lives.

    Asbury First has an often-academic gravitas with which the various senior ministers were able to address Biblical passages and explain their significance to the parishioners. Stephen does not lack for academic grounding for his Christology and is able to communicate it with more relatable passion because of his authenticity. While AFUMC had been moving in the direction of becoming a Reconciling Congregation for a couple of years before, it was in 2015 that at its annual church conference it approved its Reconciling Statement that specifically stated the church’s desire to be more open and accepting to all of God’s children. Part of the impetus for this being brought before the congregation is due to Stephen’s influence with the pastoral staff.

    Stephen has been forthright to everyone in the church about his vision for the church. His words have been impactful on the youth. They have been so moved by Stephen and his message that during May of 2018, each of the youths who preached a senior sermon mentioned Stephen’s impact on their faith journeys.

    Not only has Stephen worked with the congregation to help it dream and define the direction of the church, he has also directly worked to be more inclusive of people who might not immediately assume that AFUMC has much to offer people like themselves. Asbury First is rooted deeply in its mission to serve the poor and disadvantaged in the Rochester community. Stephen has supported numerous outreach programs many of which have been created under his guidance as senior pastor. Using popular culture as a form of outreach toward people who might not otherwise see a clear connection between popular entertainment and Biblical teaching, Stephen strives to bridge that gap and encourage inclusion of all. He has taught two extended classes on Harry Potter and the Bible which were enthusiastically well attended by multiple generations of members and non-members. In addition, he taught a class on super heroes and the Bible that was similarly well attended. For the benefits of anyone interested, he has taught classes on the history of The United Methodist Church and of John Wesley.

    Stephen Cady is a man who loves God, loves his family, and loves his work of bringing people closer to God. In everything he does, he demonstrates his love and he works to include everyone in a way that allows them to experience God’s love. Stephen is an exemplary faith leader and a loving and caring minister, and he truly exemplifies John Wesley’s beliefs and teachings.

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    2018 Laity Recipient

    Kevin Dunn (posthumously)
    Former Assistant Director at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center
    Lansing UMC, Finger Lakes District

    Kevin Dunn devoted his life to ministry and mission. Kevin served on seasonal staff at Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center each summer from 1999 to 2010 when he accepted a full-time position as Casowasco’s Assistant Director, a role in which he served until his death in November of 2016. Kevin also served as the full-time Director of Youth and Children’s Ministries at Lansing UMC from 2006 to 2011. While this was Kevin’s formal ministry, his true evangelism was as much a part of his personal life as it was his professional. Kevin evangelized through humility, service, hospitality, and selflessness to everyone he met. Every conversation, interaction, letter, or moment was an opportunity for Kevin to reflect the love of Christ as he had come to understand it, and he relished each of those opportunities. In fact, the word to best represent Kevin’s evangelism and ministry would have to be “mirror.” Kevin strived to serve as a reflection of the love and grace of God, always deflecting attention from himself and pointing it to God. 

    Kevin’s personal belief and mission in his ministry was to help people see and truly believe that they were people of sacred worth, and had something unique and special to offer the world. He saw people as God saw them, or at least as best as he could, and wanted to help them realize their own God-given worth and potential. In many ways, Kevin Dunn was the closest representation of the love and ministry of Christ that I have ever encountered. This allowed him to embrace fully the mission of Camp & Retreat Ministries in providing radical Christian hospitality to all. While Kevin, in his unrelenting selflessness, would have denied these things, the word “Disciple” has never applied more accurately to anyone I have encountered, and through his very presence in both word and action, the thousands of lives he touched came to know the love of Christ through him.

    2018 Clergy Recipient

    Pastor Mike Kelly
    Reynoldsville UMC, Finger Lakes District


    Pastor Mike takes the reading from the Bible, translates it into today's life events so we can understand the message and reference back to the Bible for comfort, hope, and the promise of God's love.

    Pastor Mike's message is that we are a community-based church; supporting the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, feeding the hungry through our food pantry, helping the sick and needy. He ministers to Schuyler and Tompkins County jail inmates while also supporting Trumansburg Takes on Pediatric Cancer/St. Judes. Through Pastor Mike's guidance, we support missionary work in Honduras.

    Pastor Mike has a way of drawing us closer to our Lord, through baptism, visiting the sick, and those in the hospital, always furthering his religious education. He never turns down a challenge by example to show faith and love in Christ. Pastor Mike involves the children on their journey to Jesus, Bible readings during service, collecting loose change for our mission work, lighting the alter candles, passing the mic around for those sharing their joys and concerns, making our church truly feel like family. And that's why we are a church family because of Pastor Mike.

    He practices what he preaches. Lives have been touched by laying our hands and praying for those who are sick in body or mind. Through the grace of God and his love for Jesus, Pastor Mike delivers compassion, patience, and understanding to all those in need, a true shepherd of God doing what Jesus would do without judgement.

    Our little church in Reynoldsville has doubled in monetary gifts and attendance. He makes it work through his enthusiasm for God. He's truly walking that path that leads to the Father, and is also taking us with him, and what a joy-filled journey it is. Thank you, Pastor Mike.

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    2017 Laity Recipient: Mark Jones
    2017 Clergy Recipient: Pastor Sandi Perl


    2016 Laity Recipient: Sari Schuck
    2016 Clergy Recipient: Rev. Joseph Pascoe


    2015 Laity Recipient: Virgia Phoenix
    2015 Clergy Recipient: Rev. David Woodruff Martin


    2014 Laity Recipient: Mary Bradley


    2013 Laity Recipient: Cheryl Bird

    2013 Clergy Recipient: Rev. Brian Rotach

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    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."