Covenant News

T.W. Anderson Award Presented to Roen Family

KEYSTONE, CO (June 23, 2005) - Orville and Virginia "Ginny" Roen, and their son, David, of Broadway Covenant Church, in Rockford, Illinois, are this year's recipients of the T.W. Anderson Award.

The award is named in honor of the only lay president of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). It is presented during each year's Annual Meeting and honors laypersons who evidence lives of commitment and dedication to Christ and the church, who have been members of the denomination for at least 25 years, have not served on a conference or national board, have provided outstanding service to the local church and community, and have been recognized vocationally.

"This is a privilege to honor such lovely people," said President Glenn Palmberg in presenting the award during Thursday morning's business session of the 120th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church. "These are creative, conscientious and caring servants of Jesus Christ – and a terrific mother-father-son trio. Their lives shape Christ's mission into action.

"Pastors know how important it is to have people in the church who come alongside in ministry and are supportive," Palmberg continued. "The many pastors who know this family have talked with tears in their eyes about what a wonderful and gracious family this is."

Orville and Ginny have attended Broadway Covenant since 1952, when the church was formed. David has been a lifelong member. The trio has served in many capacities at Broadway, but the most important has been as a living witness through difficult times. Orville, a retired tool and die maker foreman, was diagnosed with cancer when he was 14 years old. Following intense radiation treatment, his father was told Orville had only five or six years to live. Since then he has undergone numerous surgeries, including amputation of his right arm and shoulder in 1994. Still he makes small wood projects that he sells and gives away.

In a light-hearted moment, Palmberg held up one of Orville's wood carvings – an unusual two-headed hammer – that was given to retired Covenant pastor LeRoy L. Carlson, who served as interim pastor at Broadway from 2003-2004 and nominated the family for the award. To the delight of the audience, Palmberg mused as to the meaning of a two-headed hammer, suggesting it may have more to do with Carlson than a reflection of Orville's skills. He suggested that Orville might explain the hammer in his acceptance remarks – which he did, noting that a two-headed hammer is for busy people – "you can drive twice as many nails on a day," Orville later quipped.

Orville says he is often asked to show his wood carvings at local clubs and groups, but says he always first shares how the Lord has brought him through the surgeries and trials. Congregation members repeatedly remark how he always has a strong attitude of faith.

David was born with cerebral palsy, and the family was told that he was incapable of learning and would be best served in a home for the disabled. Ginny taught him to walk and home-schooled him when no school would admit him. In a May 2003 Covenant Companion story, Ginny stated that David, then 53, surprised his three siblings by reading the Christmas Story. "I worked with him for a long time," she recalls. "That night I sat next to him, but he read it."

David's late former pastor Bob Hjelm would tell of how David's unconditional love and affirmation encouraged him during tough times. David is the church's head usher and schedules those who will help with the offering. On Tuesdays, he straightens the sanctuary to prepare it for the next week. He arrives early on Sundays to make sure the church is warm or cool enough for worshipers to be comfortable. One letter of support for the nomination read, "To me, he is like a holy priest who tenderly watches over the sanctuary and cares for it." David also serves on the missions committee, faithfully attending all the meetings and writing to missionaries.

Orville has served as the church's chairperson several times, served on the deacon board, including as chair, organized several efforts to help projects overseas, especially the Congo. He also has been a Bible teacher, served on search committees, and sang in the choir. Orville also has been deeply involved in helping with projects around the church.

In addition to caring for David, Ginny has been a frequent caretaker for Orville. She also has taught Sunday school and Bible school, is the director of the library and helped with numerous missionary and local projects.

The couple has hosted numerous missionaries in their home. For the past 20 years the family also has befriended a Chinese family, who they have helped in many ways, including driving them weekly to the grocery store as well as other errands.

"As I stand here with tears, I would like to acknowledge this award you have bestowed," Orville said in accepting the honor. "I was originally led to say 'undeserved – someone made a mistake,'" he continued. "But, I am here to say that the jury system is still the rule of the nation!"

Commenting on the cancer that struck at such a young age, Orville recalled how the doctors told his father he would never live past age 20. "I'm outliving all of my doctors," he said, reflecting the humor that has sustained him over the years. Moving quickly to a more serious note, he challenged his listeners to learn from his family's example. "We've done nothing spectacular," he humbly observed. "We just find what we can do – and we do it."

He recalled his youthful shyness, yet, he felt compelled to greet each newcomer to his church and extend them a warm welcome. He taught Sunday school – and felt ill every Sunday just before class because of the anxiety it created.

"God doesn't ask us to do what we cannot do," Orville observed. "If we only have two dollars, he doesn't ask us to give five. It is important to just do what you can do.

"So, how do we serve God?" he asked. "That's the challenge I leave to each one of you. You will find it is nothing out of the ordinary. Just do what God asks you to do." And, almost as an afterthought, he added, much to the delight of the crowd, "There are fun times, too – like telling your pastor when he's wrong!"

In her acceptance remarks, Ginny picked up on a familiar theme that appears to define the family and its collective commitment to faithful service. Recalling her childhood and especially her Sunday school class, she recalled dropping pennies into the little basket during offering time. "How do we begin giving to God? It can begin with pennies."

She moved to a current project her church is sponsoring, requiring $5,000 to be raised to support a solar energy project in a mission work. "I said, let's start by collecting our pennies," she noted. Save that change from your pockets. It is amazing how the dollars have come in – we are nearing the $4,000 mark right now." She then announced that the Paul Carlson Partnership has agreed to match the church's $5,000 – "we're on the home stretch," she declared.

"When we work, we work; but, when we pray, God works," Ginny shared. "And he has certainly been at work in our lives. We've got a big job ahead – let's start with small things."

Son, David, also thanked everyone for the recognition, noting that he uses his Covenant World Mission prayer calendar to pray for Covenant missionaries each day.

(Editor's note: to read an article about this family written by Amy Adair and published in the May 2003 issue of The Covenant Companion, please see God's Faithfulness.

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