LIVING FAITH AWARDS
2025 Recipients

Living Faith Award

Su Ann Farnlacher
Julie Hart
Diane Kessler

Alvin R. Hadley
Social Justice Award

Amanda Hays
Madeline Trichel
Richard Korn

Interfaith/Multiculturalism Leadership Award

Sue Hachten

Hope for Tomorrow Award

Isaiah Wood

Enduring Hope Award

Dr. J.S. Jindal

For many years, the faith communities of Columbus, Ohio, have come together to celebrate individuals doing life-changing work in our city with the Living Faith Awards.

For many years, the faith communities of Columbus, Ohio, have come together to celebrate individuals doing life-changing work in our city with the Living Faith Awards.

These honors were originally given by the Metropolitan Area Council of Churches. The Spirituality Network has hosted the ceremony since 2012. In addition to the Living Faith Award, we also recognize interfaith and multicultural work, social justice, and work that inspires hope for today and tomorrow. In 2022, we created the Enduring Hope Award for those who have made a lifetime impact on our faith community. In 2025, we joined forces with the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio and the Spiritual Life & Learning Center to serve as co-sponsors of this celebration. Together, we continue the tradition of recognizing amazing people who are actively living their faith here in Columbus.

Living Faith Award
Recognizing those who create a more hopeful, peaceful and faithful world. Laypersons who exemplify dynamic faith in their lives, those whose faith is both lived and alive in ways that inspire, challenge and serve. These recipients embody: peacemaking, tending to the “least of these,” caring for creating and/or loving neighbor and self.


Alvin R. Hadley Social Justice Award
Recognizing exemplary work in the field of social justice; giving voice to voiceless, and/or seeking access to basic civil and human rights for all, and/or working toward changing unjust laws and practices.


Interfaith/Multiculturalism Leadership Award
Recognizing an individual who creates bridges of understanding and acceptance between different faiths or cultures while exemplifying the best of his or her own faith tradition or culture.


Hope for Tomorrow Award
Recognizing a young person who lives his or her faith balanced with action that will serve as a model for spiritual development.


We’ll also have a special celebration to recognize an individual who has had a lasting impact on the Columbus community through their work. That person will be awarded the Enduring Hope Award.