Faithful Michigan United Methodists committed to Christian ministry and mission were honored with special awards during the 2025 Michigan Annual Conference.
Francis Asbury Award — Rev. Curt and Anne Jensen
The Michigan Conference Division of Higher Education and Campus Ministry is pleased to honor Rev. Curt and Anne Jensen with the Francis Asbury Award for their longtime commitment, support, and service to campus ministries. As alumni of campus ministries (Curt at MSU and Anne at CMU), Curt and Anne know the importance of providing a place of welcome, care, and spiritual formation for college students and staff. They were blessed by campus ministries and want to be a blessing to others.
Whether bringing a community meal to students at CMU, generously supporting multiple campus ministries with financial resources, making a point to connect with students when they visit campus, serving in leadership positions on the CMU board to maintain its financial health, stopping by the snack table at Annual Conference with a word of encouragement, welcoming a new director, and helping them to develop roots in the community, or witnessing to the impact of campus ministry in their lives, Anne and Curt help to sustain intentional and vital ministry with young adults. In the words of Campus Minister Audra Hudson Stone, CMU Wesley Foundation Director, “Their lives and faiths have been shaped by United Methodist young adult programs, and it’s clear to me that they hope to sustain these opportunities for generations to come.”
John Buxton Award — Rev. Brad Bartelmay
The John Buxton Award honors creative problem-solving within our annual conference. Years ago, many annual conferences faced significant unfunded liabilities for clergy pensions. Recognizing this challenge, John Buxton developed an innovative strategy to resolve these shortfalls, making our conference the first in The United Methodist Church to fully fund its liabilities. Each year, we celebrate his legacy by recognizing an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership in overcoming difficult challenges within our annual conference.
This year, we are proud to present the John Buxton Award to Rev. Brad Bartelmay. As past president of the Michigan Conference Council on Finance and Administration, Brad provided steady leadership through major staff transitions and the formation of a new annual conference. His commitment to financial transparency and sustainability has been instrumental in streamlining conference finances and ensuring a strong future alongside the conference’s chief financial officer.
In his most recent role as special assistant to the bishop, Brad offered compassionate guidance to church leaders navigating the disaffiliation process. Now, as the Senior Director of Mentored Learning with the United Methodist Foundation of Michigan, he continues to support pastors and local church leaders in their ministry, vision, and leadership.
We are grateful for Brad’s dedication, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to the church. Congratulations, Brad, on this well-deserved honor!
Harry Denman Award for Evangelism — Rev. Andy Lee
The Harry Denman Evangelism Award honors United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism — expressed through Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) — leads others into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
What sets a Denman Award recipient apart is their unwavering commitment to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in every ministry setting. Their impact is evident in the number of new Christ-followers who credit encounters with them as pivotal in beginning or reigniting their faith journey. Since 1980, annual conferences and the Foundation for Evangelism have recognized youth, clergy, or laypersons for their outstanding evangelistic ministry.
This year, the Denman Award for clergy is presented to Rev. Andy Lee, pastor of Commerce UMC, whose innovative and heartfelt approach to evangelism has made a profound impact. One of Pastor Lee’s most remarkable ministries began with a simple Tuesday evening basketball game — an outreach to younger men struggling to connect with their church community. What started as a small effort quickly grew beyond expectations, attracting men from surrounding communities, some willing to drive 30-45 minutes just to be part of it.
As word spread, Pastor Lee and his congregation became more intentional in welcoming new participants, ensuring that the ministry extended beyond the game itself. “The opportunity for free basketball brought in an unexpected and diverse group of guys. We approach each person with respect, curiosity, and a heart of welcome,” Lee shared. Through this powerful ministry, lives are being touched, faith is being renewed, and new relationships with Christ are forming.
We celebrate and honor Rev. Andy Lee for his creative, inclusive, and transformative approach to evangelism — one that embodies the very spirit of the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism and reminds us all that ministry can happen anywhere, even on the basketball court!
One Matters Award — Auburn UMC and Pastor Carmen Cook
Every year, Discipleship Ministries partners with the Michigan Annual Conference to present the One Matters Award to a congregation that has made a remarkable impact in discipleship and faith formation. This prestigious award includes a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 check as a celebration of transformation and renewed commitment to ministry.
The Michigan Conference Board of Congregational Life selects the recipient of the One Matters Discipleship Award, lifting up the power of discipleship and demonstrating the significance of moving beyond “zeros” in professions of faith and baptisms. As Jeff Campbell, General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries, beautifully states, “Each ‘one’ in those categories represents a transformed life — a life that matters to God and should matter to us.”
In 2025, this distinguished honor is awarded to Auburn UMC, a congregation that has experienced an incredible revitalization under the leadership of Pastor Carmen Cook. Through her dedicated ministry, Auburn UMC has not only transformed spiritually but also demonstrated extraordinary generosity. Under Pastor Cook’s guidance, the church has gone from paying 0% in Ministry Shares to fully contributing 100% — a tremendous achievement in itself. But Auburn UMC didn’t stop there. In a powerful act of faith and stewardship, they are now paying the Ministry Shares for another church in need.
Congratulations to Auburn UMC and Pastor Carmen Cook for their extraordinary leadership, unwavering faith, and generous spirit — may their story continue to inspire discipleship and transformation across our connection!
Last Updated on June 17, 2025