Sanders, Nell

First Baptist Church, Lillian
Baldwin Baptist Association

Favorite Bible Verse: John 3:16
Favorite Hymn: “The Old Rugged Cross”
Hobbies: Crocheting and volunteering at a nursing home
Family Status: Widowed after 30 years of marriage to Joseph; two daughters, Patsy Edwards and Joanne Lyndall; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren

Nell Sanders has served in just about any position in which the church needed her. Sanders helped start a clothes closet at her church and now serves as preschool Sunday School director and teacher, Awana teacher and director of its Cubbies program for preschoolers and chairwoman of the kitchen committee. She also volunteers at a nursing home, offering a beauty shop every Wednesday.

Q: When did you come to know the Lord?
A: I accepted Christ in 1958, and I wasn’t a young person. I was in my 30s at the time. I came to know Christ at that time, and I have been serving Him ever since.

Q: How have you been involved in church through the years?
A: I was the financial secretary and Woman’s Missionary Union director for 12 years.

Q: What have you gotten from those ministries?
A: Spiritual growth. I didn’t think I could do any of it. God just grew me to do His work. It was my life.

Q: Why did you help start your church’s clothes closet ministry?
A: We had needs; we had people at that time coming to the church asking for help. They needed clothing and things like that, so we started that ministry by beginning to call around and get things from people. We decided we needed a place to do that ministry. Not only did we serve our community but also we had a lady who made weekly trips to the city of Mount Vernon, and we loaded up her car.

Q: What have been some of the demands of the ministries?
A: Right now, with the things I am involved in, it means a lot of your time for preparation. For Sunday School, there is preparation every week for your program. I try to meet once a month for all the teachers in the preschool department.

Q: How do you see yourself involved in church in the future?
A: I intend to work as long as the Lord gives me the ability to.

Q: What difference has being a Christian made in your life?
A: All the difference. Now I don’t know anything but that I served Him more. I went to church before and did all that, but after I accepted Christ, the doors opened and I began to minister.