Reverend Donald R. Ruth Selected as
2009 Servant Heart Pastor of the Year

Reverend Donald R. Ruth is lead pastor at Saint John Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was nominated by Edna Cosey who submitted these comments about Pastor Ruth:

Our pastor is a humble-spirit kingdom builder. He reaches out to all races, ages, and socio-economic groups. His love for God is seen through the people he serves, especially children, youth and seniors. Salvation for this world and pleasing God are his number one priorities. He teaches by example; in giving, service, compassion, and his treatment of others. He labors in the Word and is forever interceding for others. The children just flock to him. He does not have enough arms for all of the children. Although a fulltime pastor, he manages to get involved in every aspect of the church, from serving food to cleaning the facility. Nothing is too menial for him. He has a passion for serving all people and does so with humility. He is about meeting needs, regardless of the cost.

His service extends beyond the church to other communities, local and international. He ministers quarterly at the prison, visits prisoners, has done revivals and missionary work in Trinidad, reaches out to Zimbabwe with prayers and finances, and has adopted three children abroad (Brazil, Indonesia, and Senegal) that we supply with material and financial support. He directs and teaches in a St. John Bible Institute, that he founded 7 years ago. Three years ago, he started an educational/recreational summer camp for kids ages 5-12.

The camp includes year-round tutorial and mentoring services for youth of the church and community. His goal is to reach out to youth with activities to enhance their lives that would deter them from becoming a part of the judicial system through crime/or unplanned pregnancies. He opened the church to 200 Katrina victims and volunteered his labor in the shelter operations. This awesome man of God is the very essence of love and untiringly gives so much to so many.

Congratulations also to the pastors who received honorable mentions:

• 2nd Place: Walt Heidecker of Grace Baptist Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Walt Heidecker, Evangelism and Outreach Pastor, has a heart for God beyond description. He started our Recovery Discovery ministry. He is "retired" yet serves 40+ hours a week, reaching out to those in our church and community who are dealing with addictions. He oversees three classes on Sundays for men and women from recovery houses (Gospel presentation for first timers, a class for those who returned, and a class for new believers, including those who continue coming to the church following treatment). During the week, classes are held in four recovery houses following up and counseling those who attended on Sunday, and making contacts with those who have just arrived. (In '08 over 900 people were reached with over 200 decisions made for the Lord!) Each Thursday evening he leads an Accountability Class for those who seek to live life as a child of God (many times writing his own materials) equipping them to "survive". He counsels individuals who are dealing with a spouse, sibling, or child who are battling addictions and all the ramifications such as loss of job, home, divorce, financial crisis, jail, emotional and spiritual needs, etc.

Our church has been mightily blessed by his vision to touch these lives. Because of his faithful commitment (with great personal sacrifice), he has taught our church body to reach out and love in ways we never thought possible. His heart for God has brought God's heart of love to our congregation.

In years past he has spearheaded EE programs/instruction and special seminars for parents of preteens and teens equipping them to be Godly parents as they raise children in a world with such destructive choices...plus more.

I write this with tears of gratitude because of the mercy of God to have brought this man to our church.

• 3rd Place: Pastor Leon Manigan of New Life Outreach International in Huntsville, Alabama

My pastor demonstrates a servant heart by always wanting to see others succeed! The vision that God has given him for this ministry is "to win souls & make disciples." He does just that. The way he does it is through outreach ministries such as New Life Men's Home (an 18 month residential program designed for men from all walks of life who are bound by drugs, alcohol or any life controlling problem), New Life Women's Home (set to open soon!), Homeless Outreach (where a team goes out & cooks breakfast at the homeless camp as well as distributes other items such as Non-perishable foods, toiletries, etc.), "Rock Da Court" (an inter-city ministry that is taken into the public housing communities to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ via free food, drinks, live music, skits, basketball tournaments (winners receive trophies), raffles for prizes such as bicycles, microwaves, mp3 players, radios, gift cards, etc.), "Praise on the Lawn" is an outreach ministry used to gather the community by way of live music, skits, free food & drinks where they are able to hear the Word of God preached.

Our pastor organizes MANY other outreach ministries. In addition to all of this, he is currently enrolled as a full-time student at Heritage Christian University where he is getting his Theology degree. He has two semesters left before earning his degree. He drives an hour and a half TO school at least twice a week since he began.

He is an awesome man of God! Not only does he preach the Word of God, but he LIVES it! I have been blessed to be his wife for 19 years! He is the extraordinary father of six children with whom he shares his heart and God's unconditional love consistently. Pastor Leon deserves the "Servant Heart Award 2009 Pastor of the Year" award because God has done great things in Him!