10/11/2026
Honoring Dr. Glen and Cathy Byron
Today, as we celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month, we have the privilege of honoring our senior pastors, Dr. Glen Byron and his wife, Cathy.
John and I have only been part of the Cornerstone church family for about a month, but we have known Glen and Cathy for nearly 20 years. That gives us a unique perspective today. We are not people who have known them only through their ministry at Cornerstone, but as longtime friends who have had the privilege of knowing them through the years.
For the past 8 years, God has used them to lead and serve this congregation. But Glen’s ministry began long before Cornerstone. He has been pastoring for nearly 50 years!
Think about that for a moment. Nearly five decades of answering God’s call. Nearly 50 years of preaching the Gospel, shepherding people, equipping leaders, and going wherever the Lord has opened a door.
His ministry has included leading both large congregations and smaller, more intimate ones. He has developed and directed Masters Commission, ministered in revival services in numerous countries around the world, and helped lead building projects to provide places where people can gather to worship and grow in their faith.
But as we honor a pastor today, I want us to remember something important: the true measure of ministry is not just what happens in front of a congregation. So much of it happens when nobody is watching.
It happens in hospital rooms, sitting beside families as they face the heartbreak of losing someone they love. It happens when a pastor prays over a baby and dedicates that little life to the Lord. It happens in the difficult conversations, the late nights, the burdens carried in prayer, and the countless decisions made for the good of God’s people.
And sometimes, it happens with a mop in one hand and a toilet brush in the other!
Because real ministry is not about being too important to do the dirty work. It is about being willing to serve wherever there is a need.
Jesus Himself demonstrated that kind of servant-hearted leadership. He did not come to be served, but to serve. And that is the example every pastor is called to follow.
Today, we also want to recognize Cathy. Behind every season of ministry are sacrifices that people may never fully see. The demands of ministry reach beyond the pastor, and we want Cathy to know that she is loved, valued, and appreciated, too. We honor her faithfulness and the role she has played throughout these years.
1st Corinthians 15:58 reminds us that our labor in the Lord is never in vain. And when we consider nearly 50 years of ministry, we know there are stories we could tell for hours about the people who have been touched, the lives that have been changed, and the seeds that have been planted.
Glen and Cathy, after nearly 20 years of friendship, John and I are grateful for the opportunity to stand with you in this season. We may be new to Cornerstone, but our appreciation for you is not new.
Thank you for continuing to answer God’s call. Thank you for the visible ministry and the unseen ministry. Thank you for your willingness to serve in the extraordinary moments and the ordinary ones. And thank you for investing your lives in the Kingdom of God.
Church family, today let’s do more than simply recognize our pastors. Let’s encourage them, pray for them, love them, and remind them that the work they do matters.
Dr. Glen and Cathy Byron, we thank God for your nearly 50 years of ministry, for your 8 years of faithful service here at Cornerstone, and for the privilege of calling you our friends.
We love you, we appreciate you, and we thank you for saying yes to God!
Let’s show them how much they mean to us today!
And if you weren’t prepared to honor them today, don’t let that stop you. Feel free to bring them a card of encouragement, gift card, or a token of your appreciation.
