One of the happiest moments of Aubret White’s life was when The Alabama Baptist placed his first written work, an article on the good Samaritan, on its front page in 1955. Little did he know that more than 40 years later he would be an author.
“I’m really not a writer, I just got interested in a couple of items and began to jot things down,” said 80-year-old White, retired Autauga Association director of missions (DOM). “I could not have written a word … without the Holy Spirit’s leadership.”
Originally from Perdido, White enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 18 and spent three years in World War II. Upon returning home, he met and married his wife, Florence, and began attending Livingston State Teachers College, now known as the University of West Alabama.
In 1946, White gave his life to God and was called to preach two years later. After graduating with a degree in social studies, he immediately entered New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and served as pastor of churches in Washington, Clarke and Monroe counties.
Obtaining a bachelor of divinity degree in 1957, White was commissioned as a chaplain in the United States Navy Reserve and was called to active duty three years later.
In February 1962, White was privileged to welcome back from space the first American to orbit the Earth – astronaut John Glenn.
“I presented him with a Bible with the inscription, ‘May the words of this Book be your navigation chart in all of your heavenly travels.’”
Upon being released from active duty in 1969, White had spent more than 20 years in military service. He then served churches in Pensacola, Fla., Huxford and Mexia, and began graduate work.
In 1978, White became Autauga Association DOM and served eight years before retiring. Since then White has served as interim pastor of Autauga and Elmore county churches and has worked on his writing.
In 1992, he wrote “Amy’s Children,” a book about his mother’s family history. In 1995 he wrote a book of sermons and poetry called “Sermons from the Heart.”
White had his first Christian fiction novel, “The Shepherd of Spring Hollow,” published in 2000, on what a Baptist church would be like if it allowed the Holy Spirit to work through the community.
White also has written a sequel to the book called “Millie’s Children,” which should be published within a year, and he is in the process of finishing a novel on the childhood of Luke.
(TAB)
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