photo by Jack Martin

Elbert A. Smith Memorial Award
Presented to Robert R. Kyser II

The Elbert A. Smith Memorial Award honors writing that best represents the integrity, clarity, and soundness of intellectual and religious thought characteristic of Brother Elbert’s writing for the church’s publishing house throughout the fist half of the 20th century.

Robert (Bob) R. Kyser has been a regular contributor to the Herald since 1999. Set apart in 1998 as the Senior President of Seventy serving in Independence, Missouri, Bob’s responsibilities as a missionary team leader, coordinator of church planting, and feld missionary coordinator spurred well over a decade’s worth of contributions to the Herald. He contributed monthly, then bi-monthly, under column headings, including “Casting Our Nets,” “Voices,” and “Sharing Our Witness and Resources.”

Herald readers have looked to his columns for the how-to’s of invitational ministry, heartfelt testimonies of transformational ministry, and real-life examples of the Holy Spirit at work in the church throughout the world. Editors and producers have counted on his sincere, mission-focused storytelling abilities.

Bob now is transitioning to a new ministerial role as pastor to the World Church staff. In his final article for the “Sharing Our Witness and Resources” section of the Herald in March 2010, Bob signed off not in sorrow but with gratitude, hope, and invitation, saying: “God calls each of us to a new thing. That new thing, in ways I far from fully understand, is the unfolding of Zion and the peaceable kingdom as never experienced before.”

Bob, we accept your invitation to “walk together into such a future!”

Your Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY, Herald editors in chief
Apostle Linda L. Booth, director of communications
Herald Team