Alumni Updates – May 2014
For more than 63 years, Rev. Eugene Black (1952) faithfully served congregations in the former Southern Illinois Conference until mandatory retirement at age 70 in 1995. Then a year later, he embarked on a 14-year second career as visitation pastor of Mattoon First UMC, retiring again at age 85. For this record of service, Black was named the 2013 Peter Cartwright Lifetime Evangelism Award recipient by the Evangelism Committee of the IGRC. The Peter Cartwright Lifetime Evangelism Award of the IGRC is awarded to someone who has exceptional leadership qualities to help the conference in making disciples of Jesus Christ. This person’s lifetime example challenges pastors and lay people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others and whose commitment to evangelism is reflected throughout their ministerial career. Rev. Black credits his wife, Helen, for being able to accomplish what he has in ministry. The couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in September 2013.