VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — The Friendship Baptist Church of Yorba Linda, California was selected by the Advisory Council of the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (RMMO) to receive the 2002 Widow's Mite Award. The Rev. Dr. Perry Hopper, associate executive director of The Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board (MMBB) will present the award to the church and its founding pastor, Rev. Dr. James Carrington on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002.

The Widow's Mite Award commemorates the anonymous gift of a Vietnamese refugee woman offered to the First Chinese Baptist Church in Fresno, California in 1981. She had given an envelope written with the words, "thank you,"and filled with her wristwatch- her only possession of value.

Most American Baptist congregations on Sunday, Dec. 1, will receive the RMMO and many will continue receiving contributions throughout the month.

By Pauline J.
pjang@chtoday.com