Keith Risner 2019 Darty and Dot Stowe Award Recipient
Pastor Keith Risner, pastor Edgewood Baptist Church Trenton, received the 2019 Darty and Dot Stowe Award at the 66th annual meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio November 5. This was the 25th presentation of the award.
When Darty and Dot Stowe began their ministry with Mission Ohio in 1954, our candidate for this year’s award was born. He grew up in Southwest Ohio and then planted Edgewood Baptist Church in Trenton in 1982.
By God’s grace, Edgewood has baptized and discipled 820 new converts, partnered to plant multiple churches, nurtured and sent out around three dozen leaders into the gospel ministry. Pastor Risner leads leaders by hosting weekly a vibrant Community Leaders’ Fellowship. Now in his 38th consecutive year as Senior Pastor at Edgewood, Keith Risner continues to model faithfulness and fruitfulness.
Keith and his wife Debby will soon celebrate their 46th year of marriage. God has multiplied their legacy by blessing them with seven children they raised and sent out, each of whom remains involved in the local church. Love in their hearts continues to grow as God blesses them with the precious gift of grandchildren (27 and counting!)
About the Darty & Dot Stowe Award:
Darty and Dot Stowe began their ministry with Mission Ohio in 1954 as director of missions for the greater Cincinnati area. A year later he became state director of missions and then became the associate executive secretary, working closely with state executive secretary Ray Roberts. Darty and Dot loved their work in Ohio and served until his home going in 1981. Dot accepted a position as director of a women’s residence hall at Georgetown College in 1983, where she influenced many young women. She moved back to Ohio in 1989 and stayed in close contact with friends in the ministry until joining Darty with our Lord in 2000.
Darty Stowe led well from the ‘second chair,’ with a servant’s heart, leaving a great legacy in Ohio. The award is given every year to a pastor or minister who has served faithfully, perhaps never recognized like those in the larger, more visible churches, but leaving a legacy and serving in the spirit of 1 Thessalonians 2:3-12. The Darty and Dot Stowe Award is provided by annual gifts to Georgetown College from members of the Stowe family.
Candidates for the Stowe Award must be currently serving Mission Ohio and have at least five years of service. Nominations are submitted to the state convention staff by October 1 each year. The award is announced during the annual meeting of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. A recognition plaque and a financial award for the purchase of books and/ or continuing education are presented to the recipient.