Bailey, Amos Lee

Bailey, Amos Lee

York Baptist Church
Bigbee Baptist Association

Favorite Verse: John 3:16
Favorite Hymn: “Beulah Land”
Hobbies: Fishing and hunting
Family Status: Widowed after 64 years of marriage to Elnor; one daughter, Susan; and two grandsons

Amos Lee Bailey, 86, has lived in York since he was a child and has been a member of York Baptist Church since 1943. He serves as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. Bailey has taught the senior adult men’s class for more than 10 years.

Q: How did you come to know the Lord?
A: I was always in a Christian home, so it came naturally to me. I was just an average teenager, and then I met my wife. She had such an influence on me. … I put everything away except her. I started teaching the Sunday School class, then about 10 years after that I was superintendent of (Sunday School) [and] I’ve been a deacon since I was about 24 years old.

Q: What led you to teach Sunday School?
A: I had two Sunday School teachers when I was just a little boy [who] had such an influence on me. You don’t realize how much impact you’re having on the children until you teach. Anyway I could serve I always did, because I felt like it was not only my duty but a privilege. We have such a loving church that’s so easy to minister to.

Q: What difference has Christ made in your life?
A: I’ve had a good, healthy life for the most part. I was in a car wreck and almost killed once and had cancer. But you can feel the hand of the Lord sustaining you. … You knew that God was there with you and that you never would walk by yourself.

Q: Why have you given so much service to the Lord?
A: If it wasn’t for God’s love for us and for His forgiveness and if He hadn’t sent Jesus to die for us, we’d all be doomed for hell. We only have so much; we never could give back to the Lord what He’s given to us.

Q: How do you see yourself involved in teaching Sunday School in the future?
A: I am going to teach [while] I’m physically able and mentally able.