SALT LAKE CITY -- Six Top of Utah pastors were honored this week by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Standing Together, an evangelical network of pastors of various denominations along the Wasatch Front.
The six were honored at a Christmas gift luncheon at Biaggi's Italian Resturant at the Gateway Mall hosted by Rev. Greg Johnson, president of Standing Together.
Those honored were: Fernando Calaguas, from the Nations for Christ church in Clearfield; Mark Gomez, from Calvary Chapel Wasatch Front in Clearfield; Robert Guiller, from the Crossroads Christian Fellowship in Uintah; Tom Koehler, from Christ Community Church in Sunset; Don Kraft, from Grace Presbyterian church in Layton; and Steve Peterson, from Victory Christian Fellowship in Riverdale.
In a personal letter to each of the honorees, Herbert thanked them for the significant contributions they make in their Christian service and leadership.
"Through the leadership you provide through your local congregations, Utah gains stronger families, happier homes and marriages, individuals devoted to the service of their fellow citizens, and richer expressions of Christian love and values," Herbert wrote.
"America is a nation of rich religious diversity with a heritage of honoring religious freedom and valuing the important role of faith in God.
"Additionally, the State of Utah is a place where religious diversity is celebrated and where religious freedom must be guaranteed."
Herbert wrote that as a result of the pastors' daily service, the importance of high moral values is affirmed, community service and respect for others is encouraged, and the importance of acknowledging Almighty God for the gifts and blessings he offers is respectfully promoted.
"It's our desire to recognize and express appreciation for those pastors within our network who are serving the community of Christ in a noble way," Johnson said.
"As a fellow pastor with them, it is an honor to recognize them."
Johnson said the honored pastors were very deserving.
"Being a pastor is a difficult job and a difficult ministry," he said. "Sometimes you have a lot of critics. We think that it's important to say well done, you did a great job this year."
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