2015 Kentucky Missionary of the Year

Thirty-two years ago, after serving in Hawaii, Iowa, and Louisville Greg & Alice Whitetree came to the Lookout Community of Pike County, KY to become the Directors of the Freeda Harris Baptist Center.  They planted themselves deeply in the community and today call that place “home.”  Greg & Alice not only minister to children, but the entire family through the various ministries of the Center.  It is estimated from their monthly reports that over 1,200 professions of faith have been made as a direct result of their ministry.  Of the forty-eight years they have been married, forty-five of those have been spent in ministry.

Last week, during the KY-WMU Annual Meeting at Sand Spring Baptist Church in Lawenceburg, Greg and Alice were presented with the 2015 Kentucky Missionary of the Year award.  This award is given each year to a missionary or missionary couple that demonstrates:

• Commitment to and effectiveness in evangelism, church planting, or ministry.
• Demonstration of “going the second mile”.
• Outstanding performance in achieving assigned tasks.
• Tenure.
• Unusual commitment to our Lord’s service.
• Positive representation of Kentucky Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board.
• True reflection of being an “On Mission Christian”.

Greg and Alice meet all of these requirements and more.  In 2011 the Whitetrees retired but agreed to remain as volunteer directors so that this ministry would continue in the place they love and serve.

Alice shared a story about Debbie, a lady she has been friends with and has witnessed to for the thirty-two years they have been at the Freeda Harris Baptist Center.  Time after time she had asked Debbie to give her heart to the Lord and Debbie kept saying no.  Just a few weeks ago, when a new volunteer was sharing with her, Debbie asked Christ into her heart.  “Thirty-two years,” Alice said.  “It was worth it all.”  Then, to the new missionaries being commissioned, Alice said, “Don’t give up,”

Thank you Greg and Alice for your love for the Lord and for your faithfulness in service.  CONGRATULATIONS on being chosen as the 2015 Missionary of the Year.