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 Recognition_InlineNational Representative John Greening and his wife, Daria, were honored on Wednesday, June 30, after the evening session of the GARBC Conference. With a surprise ceremony celebrating the Greenings’ two decades of leadership ministry to the association, Council of Eighteen chairman Ken Floyd delivered a touching tribute. Its text is transcribed in full below.

For two decades John Greening has been God’s faithful servant, the GARBC’s national representative, and the partner and friend to all of us who serve as a part of this network of churches and ministries.

Twenty years of service as national representative is unprecedented. A national representative must balance the vision, perspectives, and concerns of a vast constituency who embrace the same doctrinal commitment and gospel passion but must apply it to the specific context of their culture and location.

The impact of John’s longevity is obvious by the way in which the ministries of the GARBC have been enhanced and expanded. We give thanks to God for the Regular Baptist ministries, many of which have been developed or significantly enhanced under John’s direction.

Tonight, we pause to give thanks to God for the ministry of His special servants, John and Daria Greening. John and his beautiful Bucyrus Buckeye Booster bride are truly the GARBC’s dynamic duo. They bring an amazing combination of gifts and abilities to the GARBC’s ministry.

One especially cherished personal memory was the day that I received John’s phone call while serving as a pastor in Grand Rapids. His call was to solicit my prayer support as he considered the invitation to become the next national representative for the GARBC. John, I was so proud of you and excited about how God could use you. I was honored that you valued my counsel. I cried with joy when I read the GARBC ministry objectives that you had prepared for the Council of Eighteen and asked me to review. I was excited about the great potential that you shared for our fellowship and believed with you that “together we can accomplish more.”

John’s signature statement, “Together we can accomplish more,” continues to define John’s lifestyle and ministry modus operandi. It describes his burden for a mutually shared vision for partnership in our fellowshipping churches and its associated ministries. He has led us into several new realms of opportunity in this rapidly expanding global ministry.

John, your example has been a model to me. Your steady attitude and temperament, your diligence and consistency in ministry through all kinds of conditions, and your strong faith have challenged me. I am blessed to have you as a faithful friend, a dear brother in Christ, a co-laborer in ministry, and strong role model.

John and Daria, we express our sincere thanks to you for 20 years of faithful service unto your Lord and the GARBC family. The Council of Eighteen has chosen to honor the Greenings upon their 20th anniversary with a love gift. We join all others here this evening in giving thanks to God for their ministry. Please join me in thanking them for their faithful, longstanding ministry.