Joe Eades and Brian Plymell were appointed elders in the South Region of the Los Angeles church earlier this year at a special ceremony that included a great time of celebration.
 
Henry Cramer, Kevin Mains and Marco Pellizzeri appointed the two men, who for several years participated in a monthly shepherds-in-training course directed by Los Angeles church elders Al Baird and John Mannel. Henry, who has served as an elder in the South Region since 1999, personally mentored Joe and Brian for several years.
 
At a special appointment ceremony, each received an antique scale with the inscription of Psalm 89:14: \Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.\

Joe, 56, is married to Sarah Lynn and they have three adult children: Sonja, Tazma and Joey. They had been married for 18 years when they were baptized in San Diego in 1986. The United States Navy moved them in 1989 to Pearl Harbor and the Hawaii Church of Christ, where they led the military ministry. The Eades moved to the South Region in 1993 and have served as Bible talk, family group and spiritual recovery leaders and also as deacon and deacon\'s wife.

\Lanna and I became great friends with Joe and Sarah over 10 years ago. We have also had the privilege of working with them in various leadership roles over many years. They are a joy to partner with, and they have the complete respect and admiration of the disciples in the South Region,\ Henry said.
 
Brian, 46, and his wife Karen were both baptized in 1978 in the campus ministry at the University of Colorado, Boulder. There were seven campus students baptized that day. One of them, Linda Eaton, was at the elder appointment ceremony in March to share in the Plymell\'s joy. Brian and Karen were married in 1983 and have three children: Daniel, 17, Kathryn, 15, and Michael, 14. From 1983 to 1992, Brian and Karen were in the churches in Colorado and helped to plant the Denver church in 1986.
 
Brian served as an administrator with the Denver church from 1989 to 1990, when he entered the full-time ministry.  They moved to the South Region when their youngest, Michael, was less than two months old.  Since 1993, they have served in multiple capacities, including as Bible talk and family group leaders, deacon and children\'s ministry leaders. They served as camp directors for the LA Church\'s Preteen Camp in 2003.  Karen works as a high school substitute teacher in the sciences and Brian works for Hines Interests Limited Partnership. He recently was promoted to director of property management for the firm\'s Southern California operations.
 
\Lanna and I are tremendously grateful to God for developing our friendship with the Plymell\'s over the last eight years. Their leadership in youth and adult ministry has transformed multiple lives in many families. We tremendously value their counsel, and appreciate their dedication to building the Lord\'s Church,\ Henry said.
 
Joe and Brian are self-supporting elders.