The Board of Stewards of the Peyote Way Church of God, located in the Aravaipa Valley of Graham County, Arizona, is pleased to announce the appointment of Deacon Akbar Nazary by Peyote Way Church President Matthew S Kent to serve as First Counselor for at least one year beginning Sept 22, 2020.
Deacon Nazary became an associate member of the Peyote Way Church in 2011, visiting the Church at least once annually to partake of the Holy Sacrament Peyote in accordance with the Church’s Sacramental Procedure. In September 2012 he visited the church for his 4th spirit walk. It was during this period that he set aside most of his worldly business to be primary caregiver to his elderly mother who had suffered a serious stroke rendering her unable to walk or talk. After her death in 2017, he returned to the church for Spirit Walks and caretaking the church land while Rev Zapf and Rabbi Kent visited their children and grandchildren for the winter solstice holidays.
Soon after New Year’s Day 2016 Church President Kent and Apostle Zapf asked brother Nazary if he was interested in serving the Peyote Way Church as clergy of the First Degree. He agreed to become clergy and was initiated by Rabbi Kent in 2016. During that time, he was taught by Church resident clergy how to set up a Spirit Walk area and prepare a church member for Spirit Walk. He was also an integral participant in transplanting several thousand peyote plants into large planters for the church’s second sacramental greenhouse which was constructed beginning in November 2016 and planted in May 2017. November 27, 2017, brother Nazary took up full time residence at the church and began his 90-day deaconship training program required for ordination into Peyote Way Clergy of the Second Degree. He was required to read all of the Peyote Way Church of God extensive history and practice the principles of the Word of Wisdom. He assumed responsibilities assisting the resident staff in all their clerical duties including cleaning and maintaining the congregation house, greeting visitors, counseling communicants and fellow clergy members and preparing peyote seeds for germination. He was ordained clergy of the Second Degree by the laying on of hands by Apostle Zapf and President Kent in August 2018. Following another year of meritorious service that included introductory training in the creation of Mana Pottery, the Churches secular fund raiser. President Kent appointed Deacon Akbar to serve the Peyote Way’s resident Board of Stewards as Second Counselor assisting Apostle Zapf and President Kent in all of the clerical responsibilities.
During the last two years Deacon Akbar Nazary has been the epitome of selfless service to the Peyote Way Church of God, its members and the Holy Sacrament Peyote.
