Oak Park residents receive award

Oak Park residents Jerry and Lori Rushford were recently presented with the Barnabas Award, given annually by Lipscomb University in Nashville to someone who has provided an encouraging ministry to the Churches of Christ community.

Jerry Rushford is an author, professor and director of the Pepperdine University Bible Lectureship, described as the largest and most influential lecture series within the Churches of Christ fellowship. He became director of church relations at the university in 1982.

Lori Rushford serves as education program administrator for the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine School of Law. The Rushfords are active in the Conejo Valley Church of Christ.

"Through their work at Pepperdine, the Rushfords have provided years of nurturing support to preachers and ministers throughout the nation," said Lipscomb University President Randy Lowry, who previously worked with Jerry Rushford

while serving as director of the Straus Institute, which he established. "The call to ministry is not an easy road, and the instructional programs, resources and inspiration provided by Jerry Rushford, through the Office of Church Relations, has helped many a young and veteran minister make it through times of doubt and frustration," said Lowry.

The award is named for one of Jesus' disciples who was called "the son of encouragement."