Photo: Barb Kinnison (left) joins Barb McCann in receiving John Wesley Society plaques from Rick Penny, president of Caseyville UM Men.

CASEYVILLE, Ill. –– Caseyville UMC, a church that averages 81 in attendance, has 53 EMS members and 12 John Wesley fellows.

The Orville N. Mueth Chapter of UM Men in Caseyville presented their 11th and 12th John Wesley Society Awards to two women. The preceding 10 fellows of the society have all been men.

Barb Kinnison and Barb McCann were inducted into the society Rick Penny local UM Men chapter president.
 
Kinnison has served on the missions committee and has been elected lay member to the annual conference. She created Bear You Up Babies to recognize new residents of Caseyville and new arrivals of Caseyville UMC. She also served for eight years as the volunteer custodian at the church. Her only comment about the service:  "I thank God for the ability and opportunity to clean my church."
 
McCann became part of the first husband/wife team of John Wesley fellows in Caseyville. Husband, Don, was one of the 10 earlier inductees. She served as chair of the Missions Committee at Caseyville UMC, and she currently serves as treasurer while coordinating the community food pantry housed in the church.

The Rev. David Kueker serves as pastor of this remarkable congregation. “It’s my job to ‘equip the saints for the work of ministry,’” said Kueker, “but it's the laity––not the clergy––who make the difference. I mainly try to stay out of their way once they are in motion.”