The John Hus Alumni Award

Initiated in 1974, the John Hus Alumni Award was created for the purpose of "giving special recognition to an alumnus or alumna, who, through outstanding service and loyalty to ministry, has brought distinction to the work of the ministry and to Moravian Theological Seminary." It is appropriately named for John Hus, one of the great leaders of the Christian Church, who is revered as a pastor, preacher, scholar, and martyr for his faith.

2018 Recipient Moufid H. Khoury ’93 MDIV & MATS

Moufid Khoury ’93 was born into a family of Lebanese pastors reaching back five generations, nurtured by the 19th century Presbyterian mission school movement. Knowing the love of God and the challenge of living that love in the midst of conflict and violence, Moufid and his wife Afifi, a Masters-level nurse, have made their ministry one of healing.

Moufid’s father encouraged him to try a vocation other than the family business of ministry. For 15 years he worked in construction in Saudi Arabia. Violence and persecution of Christians caused him and his growing family to flee. In 1989, he and Afifi immigrated to Allentown, where her parents lived, and they opened a franchise of Swanson frozen food in the Lehigh Valley Mall. Then, a call to ministry started knocking on the door of Moufid’s heart, leading to a phone book search and Moravian Theological Seminary.

Twenty years ago, Moufid began his ministry at First Presbyterian, Allentown, as a volunteer working with Middle Eastern refugees to address the dual needs of faith and citizenship. Today, a Commissioned Lay Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Moufid is the Director of Arabic Mission and Ministry, conducting worship and helping new immigrants settle in the Lehigh Valley. He uses his bilingual skills to help immigrants work through the 1-3-year application process for asylum and citizenship. He walks beside them, telling their stories to authorities as trusted translator and/or witness on their behalf. His motivation? To “prove the love of God.” In the midst of these challenging times when persons of Middle Eastern descent are held in suspicion, Moufid lifts up as his rallying cry, Galatians 3:28: “since we believe there is no Jew, no Greek, no slave or free, no male and female; we are all one in Christ Jesus. Let us show the love of God to our fellow human beings.”

Moufid and Afifi are the proud parents of three adult sons: John Moufid, Salah Matthew, and Kareem Andrew. Their names illustrate Moufid and Afifi’s long-standing commitment to live as Christian disciples in a conflicted, diverse world; a world, they believe, God so loved in all its many lands and languages.

Education: BA, American University of Beirut; MDiv & MATS, Moravian Theological Seminary

Take Action

online nomination

Seminary alumni are invited to make nominations for the John Hus Alumni Award.

Forms are mailed in September and are due back by October 31st. Or you may make online nomination.

Past Recipients

2017 Rev. Dean R. Jurgen ’81
2016 Rev. John D. Rights '85
2015 Rev. Theodore McCabe '73
2014 Rt. Rev. Samuel Gray '96
2013 Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews '70
2012 Rt. Rev. D. Wayne
Burkette '69
2011 Rev. Dorothy F.
Burcaw '85, '91
2010 Rt. Rev. Douglas H.
Kleintop '75
2009 Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer '67
2008 Rev. Dr. Douglas W.
Caldwell '69
2007 Rt. Rev. Dr. Kay K. Ward '80
2006 Rev. Richard L. Sides '75
2005 Rev. Charles W. Eichman ’51
2004 Rev. Dr. Samuel B. Marx ’42
2003 Rev. Dr. Gene E.
Handwerk ’77
2002 Rev. James L. Johnson ’59
2001 Rev. Robyn Szoke ’89
2000 Rev. Dr. Gordon L.
Sommers ’61
1999 Rt. Rev. Dr. Edwin A.
Sawyer ’38
1998 Rev. John H. Giesler ’58
1997 Rt. Rev. Dr. Allen W.
Schattschneider ’25
1996 Rt. Rev. Dr. Authur J.
Freeman Jr. ’52
1995 Rev. Dr. Mary D. Matz ’75
1994 Rev. Dr. George L. Lloyd ’62
1993 Rt. Rev. Warren A.
Sautebin ’45
1992 Rev. Dr. Henry E. May ’63
1991 Rev. Dr. Earl R. Shay ’44
1990 Rev. William E. Gramley ’62
1989 Rt. Rev. Dr. Edwin W.
Kortz ’34
1988 Rev. Dr. William W. Matz ’53
1987 Rev. Dr. Joseph H.
Gray Jr. ’45
1986 Rev. Dr. Mervin C.
Weidner ’40
1985 Lt. Col. Thomas N.
Christianson ’65
1984 Rev. Dr. William H.
McElveen ’58
1983 Rev. Ann Deppen Lutz ’70
1982 Rt. Rev. Wilbur Behrend ’49
1981 Rev. Elmer R. Stelter ’44
1980 Rt. Rev. Milo A. Loppnow ’40
1979 Rev. David M.
Henkelmann ’57
1978 Rt. Rev. Robert A. Iobst ’39
1977 Rt. Rev. George G.
Higgins ’34
1976 Rev. Gordon A. Stoltz ’38
1975 Rev. Dr. Vernon W.
Couillard ’24
1974 Rev. Dr. Frederick P.
Stocker ’23