Intermountain General Baptist Convention Usher and Nurse Auxiliary Mission
The Usher and Nurses Auxiliary is comprised of women and men who have been called to serve in their church. Our goal is to unite, develop and strengthen individuals that have accepted the challenge of person to person ministry within the church.
Our full focus is on the four pillars of God’s church; Doctrine, Evangelism, Stewardship and Fellowship. To achieve these objectives we engage in the following:
❏ Ensure Christ is the center of all we do
❏ Create a positive environment through fellowship within our ministry
❏ Support all auxiliaries within the parent body and National Baptist Convention USA
❏ Inspire and encourage young adult and youth participation
To this end, the Ushers' and Nurses' Auxiliary continues to provide information about Christian salvation. We encourage members to understand what salvation means and share the goodness of Jesus Christ and carry out His "Great Commission" through ushering and health related programs.
IGBC USHERS HISTORY
The Ushers were organized as an auxiliary in the 1950’s, and over the years evolved into the “Ushers, Nurses, First Aid and Hospitality Auxiliary”. Building upon the foundation left by long-time presidents Mrs. Clydies Finn, Mr. Theodore Twiggs, Mr. Edward Miller, and Mrs. Daisy Eason, succeeding Presidents such as Mrs. Jannie Lewis, Mrs. Denise Elbert, Mrs. Sonjia Daniels, Mrs. Bettie Cisco, Mr. Walter Fore, and current President Mrs. Susan Campbell have contributed greatly to the growth, training, and commitment of the IGBC Ushers Auxiliary.
Presidents Finn and Twiggs assured that quarterly teaching and training at the Association level took place. During his 1990-93 tenure as President, Mr. Miller instituted the Ushers’ Luncheon on Wednesday afternoon of the Association’s Annual Session, after the Moderators Luncheon was discontinued. He also initiated the Annual Fashion Show and Banquet that the Ushers sponsored for several years. The banquet evolved into the Annual Association Banquet and was planned by various auxiliaries and individuals. These activities were an effort to provide at the local level some of the activities that the ushers enjoyed and still enjoy at the national level.
For many year the ushers held an annual picnic, usually during the Convention’s annual session. It later became a summer activity for the auxiliary and provided an opportunity for fellowship for ushers, families, and friends of the various member churches.
During the tenure of Mrs. Sonjia Daniels the ushers sponsored an annual evening banquet. Some of the proceeds from those banquets were used to assist ushers of the IGBC churches in attending the Annual National Baptist Congress of Christian Education and some were donated to the France A. Davis Scholarship Fund.
Mr. Fore led the ushers in instituting an annual afternoon Fellowship Luncheon. This luncheon is still held annually in December of each year. During this luncheon, the ushers recognize an adult and a youth usher from each church for outstanding service as an usher. Some of the proceeds from the luncheon are donated to the IGBC Youth Department, the IGBC Youth Laymen, the IGBC France A. Davis Scholarship Fund, and youth who participate in the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education Oratorical Contest.
During the tenure of Mrs. Jannie Lewis, the ushers attended the National Baptist Convention in New Orleans, LA as a group. IGBC ushers took part in daily usher activities, classes, and floor ushering.
Both Mr. Miller and Mr. Fore served as Marshals for years at the national level and several ushers have taken part in ushering at the National Baptist Convention and Congress as well. Mr. Miller also served on the Presidents Council in the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Ushers Auxiliary and was instrumental in getting Mrs. Shirley Brown appointed to teach a class in the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Ushers Auxiliary in Kansas City, Missouri in 1998.
A project that the IGBC ushers are presently working on, under the leadership of President Susan Campbell, is to present annually the “Walter L. Fore Award” to an IGBC Usher to honor the great work done by Past President Walter Fore. The criteria are almost complete and hopefully the Auxiliary will present its first award in 2017.
For many years, IGBC churches celebrated and some continue to celebrate Annual Ushers Day. This proves to be a great fellowship as ushers from all IGBC Churches support each other. Ushers have served at both the National Baptist Congress and Convention, and hold positions in the IGBC Parent Body and Auxiliaries.
