Gabe Reynaud Award Recipients
2023
Despite being a reluctant digital disciple, the recipient of the Gabe Reynaud Award in 2023 is now a home-based worship leader with a worldwide following. At the peak of the pandemic, musician Sandra Entermann visited her brother’s house longing to open the Sabbath with others and chose to press the Facebook Live button to see if any others felt the same way. Sabbath Singalong is now a mainstay for tens of thousands of people from hundreds of countries, including those where practising Christian faith is difficult. It is pastoral but not polished. It is simple—one phone, one laptop, one ring light, four chairs. And it is sustainable—costs are low. The award recognises Sandra for sharing her passion for music as a personal response to disruptive change. And it demonstrates the adage: when you give, you receive.2019
Filmmaker Pr Wes Tolhurst received the Gabe Reynaud Award in 2019 for following a high-risk calling from pastor of the Written to the Created Word of God. As a photographer, he had won awards and been published in magazines before pursuing a career in pastoral ministry. But a call to make nature documentaries inspired Tolhurst to forgo a salary and begin a creativity-based small business. Tolhurst Creative is now not just an individual but a team that has served more than 100 clients. Its largest project: a 10-part Following Jesus: Multiplying Disciples and Following the Spirit: Multiplying Churches video series for the Adventist Church in the South Pacific, shot in Jordan, Israel and Turkey. It is currently producing a series on domestic violence for the City of Gold Coast and a Wild Hearts YouTube channel featuring Tolhurst’s sons Byron and Finn. The latter starred in a viral home video Tolhurst shot to promote a beekeeping enterprise.2018
Rod and Zan Long received the Gabe Reynaud Award in 2018 for sharing their creativity in children’s ministry and production locally and internationally. As longtime members of Kellyville Seventh-day Adventist Church in suburban Sydney, the Longs have led and supported key ministries, including those focused on worship, multimedia, young adults and children. In 2012, the Longs attended the One project gathering in Seattle (Washington, USA), a milestone in their journey of faith. They wanted to share the experience with their local church and with the church in Australia. Led by the Long family, the first Australian gathering of the One project convened later that year, which led to eight more across Australia and two in New Zealand. As well as its focus on the centrality of Jesus in the Adventist Church, the One project demonstrated excellence in production and presentation. Rod became a member of the One project’s leadership team while Zan noticed the absence of a program for children and developed TOP Kids.2017
Pr Daron Pratt and Melissa Otto received the Gabe Reynaud Award in 2017. Pratt is the first denominational employee—he is Director of Family and Children’s Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in northern New South Wales—and Otto the first solo singer/songwriter named as recipients.Pratt receives the award for his use of Facebook to promote the value of ministering to children and families. He creates content—often posts expressing an opinion that may challenge the denomination or championing children’s ministries creatives and leaders—and curates content—often from outside Adventism. He uses his influence to increase the reach of other’s posts. And he is an early adopter of the social media and social networking service’s new features.
Otto receives the award for her long-term commitment to full-time music ministry. The Novocastrian released her first EP, Patio, at age 20. Three albums—Opened (2007), Blue Sky (2011) and The Journey Home (2014)—have followed over the past 13 years, the most recent supported by a six-month tour of the United States. Donations and sales not only helped Otto and husband Jason Hinze—and their two young daughters—cover their costs but invest in their ministry.