10-year-old Zak McCullar organizes inaugural Children’s Ministry Day at FBC Carbon Hill

10-year-old Zak McCullar organizes inaugural Children’s Ministry Day at FBC Carbon Hill

By Jennifer Davis Rash
The Alabama Baptist

Within minutes of the first-ever Children’s Ministry Day emphasis being announced as officially on the denominational calender, ministry leaders wanted to know what First Baptist Church, Carbon Hill, had planned.

The northwest Alabama church would undoubtedly set the standard for the special focus every third Sunday in July through 2023 since the idea originated from the pastor’s 10-year-old son, Zak McCullar.

Zak’s dad (and pastor) Scott McCullar said, “I decided to let Zak lead the way for our faith family … and am thankful he allowed me to have a part in the special day.”

Zak made the original motion for Children’s Ministry Day to be added to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) calendar at the June 2018 annual meeting in Dallas. He then addressed the SBC Executive Committee in February 2019 prior to their vote approving it. 

Zak was recognized on stage in June 2019 during the SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, and the special emphasis at First, Carbon Hill, took place July 28.

Zak, his sister Mackenzie and their friend Addie Mae Crumbley helped lead the service. 

“Children’s ministry workers spend time, money and efffort,” Zak said. “Sometimes it is a thankless job but they still do it. They are very important to me.” (Jennifer Rash)