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							I have heard of long term 
							church secretaries through the years but never 
							anything that came close to what Vera Thomas has 
							accomplished. After 42 years of service to one 
							church and with six different pastors, she has 
							decided it is time to pass the button and title of 
							church secretary onto another. She will be retiring 
							at the end of May.Vera has done an incredible job for our congregation 
							with exceptional compassion, unmatched 
							professionalism, and deep relational loyalty. She 
							has served the church through some of our greatest 
							challenges and helped us through countless 
							transitions.
 Working with Vera has been nothing but a joy. I 
							trust her judgment. I respect her confidentiality. I 
							appreciate her competence. I have witnessed over and 
							over again her heart for our ministry and her 
							commitment to the worldwide mission of our church. I 
							have watched her juggle a hundred different task all 
							the while maintaining the smooth running of our 
							offices. She has dealt smoothly with hundreds of 
							interruptions, met every deadline, and all the while 
							maintained her integrity. We trust her with every 
							aspect of our church from personal information to 
							cash to signing the checks. And I have marveled at 
							her ability to remember the life details of our 
							people. Vera was made by God to be a church 
							secretary. And we were blessed to be the church she 
							served.
 So often it’s the person on the phone or at the door 
							with the first contact that makes the greatest 
							impact on people’s impression of our church. Vera 
							has been a perfect example of how to accomplish that 
							well.
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			 I 
			have had the great pleasure of working with Vera for nearly seven 
			years. I credit her with making my transition to Lincoln easier. I 
			couldn’t have got started without Vera and I am relieved that she 
			will still be an active church member and accessible for questions 
			for her replacement.From my heart Vera, thank you for everything you have done to 
			protect me, inform me, warn me, comfort me, counsel me, respect me, 
			and love me with the love of Christ. I will forever be grateful.
 
 Ron Otto, Lincoln Christian Church
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