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Floyd “Duff” Powell and the Rev. William Mudge received the 2009 Denman Awards for Evangelism.
“It is not so much that Duff does evangelism as it is that Duff is evangelism,” a nomination letter noted about Mr. Powell.

“’Duff’ is a mature Christian who lives faith in God daily in every aspect of his life, looking for the goodness in people and in life, and in the process leads others to find goodness for themselves.

Duff was described as a rock, the kind of rock that Jesus saw in Simon Peter, a firm foundation that supported what others were trying to build. Over the decades several District Superintendents have asked Duff to provide leadership in churches that were between appointments; churches that were vulnerable and needed to heal in order to be ready to respond faithfully to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Duff led churches through those challenging times, and then when the time was right he stepped aside.
“This brings to mind the lines in “A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan tradition,” “Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,” It is unlikely that Duff has ever used the words, “MY ministry,” words that for some of us, both lay and clergy, express an underlying sense of self-importance that is contrary to the witness of Jesus Christ,” one letter states.

“He has been responsible for helping to keep many small churches open. He has done this by filling in as lay pastor until they get their churches stabilized with full time pastors to continue the services,” another notes. “He works with a group of lay speakers and leads services where there is a need. He not only does the services, he is involved with mission, home visits to shut-ins and the sick. He is frequently requested to do funeral missions, home visits to shut-ins and the sick. He is frequently requested to do funeral services for many. His services leave a lasting impression on all who attend.” “Floyd is a living example of a disciple of Christ and encourages many to follow his example, by living a Christian life.

Another nomination letter notes, “In addition to being a teacher yourself, you made sure that resources were available to everyone. I remember the tough schedule of many nights and Saturdays you devoted your time and resources to taking Cokesbury book displays to wherever courses were being taught. Your witness and the witness of so many that you nurtured have gone, and continue to go, far and wide spreading the word of God.” Rev. William Mudge of Boonville, has been at Boonville for 18 years, along the way adding the New Creation Parish and Center Point churches.

“There is not a boundary which would keep Bill from proclaiming the name of Christ; Whether it is in the streets of New York City, the hallows of Appalachia, the bush country of Uganda, or with his next door neighbor, Bill has been proclaiming the transforming love of Jesus Christ, and people have been responding,” a nomination letter notes.

“Bill’s evangelistic passion with the gifts of a loving and caring spirit has been very effective in his ministry, including preaching, pastoral care, mission and outreach. With his passion for God, he goes everywhere he is called to share the gospel to transform the world, whether it is Boonville and its vicinity, Henderson Settlement of the Red Bird Missionary Conference or Africa,” another writes.

“Bill has led lay people in New Creations Ministry to start a church, Center Point in Barneveld. I don’t know how he does that, but he preaches several times on Sunday morning at Boonville and then leads and preaches again at Center Point church. With Bill’s leadership and vision, Center Point Church is growing to reach out to people who don’t know Christ and may not be attracted to most of the churches in the area,” yet another writes.”