2025 Volunteer APPRECIATION Banquet
On Tuesday, May 6th, we held our annual Appreciation Banquet, an event dedicated to honoring our incredible volunteers who make Good News Clubs® possible, and our community partners whose support is vital to the success of our ministry.
The evening began with lovely music performed by violinist Alyna Bloecher, while guests enjoyed a meal generously donated by Mike Spurlock of Brooksie’s Barn.
After the meal, our guests were blessed to hear from Lacey Wilkins, the new State Director of CEF of Tennessee. She shared her inspiring testimony about how God guided her transition from a career in nursing to nonprofit work. You can read more about Lacey and her remarkable journey in the blog post titled “Welcome New CEF State Director.”
Next, Craig Warner, the Board Chairman of CEF of Tennessee, shared his story about how the Lord led him from Australia to the United States. He left his vocation as an accountant to work with Gideons International in Australia, which guided him to a larger role, relocating him to Nashville. There, he met our former State Director, Jeff Nicholas. This connection eventually led Craig to accept his current position with CEF. He also expressed heartfelt appreciation for our volunteers and donors and their commitment to CEF of Jackson.
Once the informative portion of the evening concluded, Club Coordinator Patti Hale presented our Good News Club volunteers with certificates of appreciation for their years of service. These certificates were awarded to volunteers from our six Good News Club locations, recognizing their commitment of 1 to 12 years. Their dedication has resulted in 21 professions of faith in 2024, with an additional 11 since January 2025.
We extend special thanks to our local committee for their tireless efforts in helping us grow our presence in Central West Tennessee. We appreciate Helen York for designing the table centerpieces and Walkers Quality Cleaners for providing the linen service. A shout-out to our youth servers: Caleb S., Brayden, and Caleb V. We also want to thank Brooksie’s Barn for providing the meal. Lacey Wilkins and Craig Warner for their warm remarks. Lastly, we are grateful to everyone who attended and made this event possible.
