The recipient of the 2019 Sabre of Boldness award is the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA.

He was recognized for his selfless dedication to the faith and your strong influence toward reverent and confessional worship in the city of Pittsburgh over several decades, effectively holding to the historic liturgy while fostering several outreach ministries including the establishment of the Lutheran Center for the Blind, a Hispanic mission, campus ministry, homeless ministry, and deaf ministry; he has been deeply involved with outreach in the city of Pittsburgh, and also over the years in the Eastern District (in which his congregation formerly held membership) a vocal supporter of historic Lutheran liturgical practice and the confessions.