Shady Grove Baptist Church, Randolph
Bibb Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Romans 12:1
Favorite Hymn: “Amazing Grace”
Hobbies: Puzzles, singing
Family Status: Married for 62 years to Lindy; four children, DeNay, Kim, Landra and Robin (deceased); four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Floyd Helton, 83, has been the music director for Shady Grove Baptist Church for 55 years and says, “Music has been my calling.” He joined the church at 16 years old and has remained a member for 67 years. He was also a deacon for 43 of those years.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: When I was younger people would meet in their homes and have revivals. There were 13 teens that were saved that night at a home when I was 16. When I grew up my granddad was music director there (at Shady Grove Baptist) too. You used to be able to hear my granddad for a country mile. We didn’t have cars so we would walk two miles to church each way … I grew up going to Shady Grove except for two years when I served in the Korean War.
Q: When and how were you led into the ministry?
A: I had a good mother. She taught me a lot and was instrumental in leading me to the Lord. I lost her at a young age but she was always the biggest influence in leading me to the Lord.
Q: What does the ministry demand?
A: You have to be dedicated.
Q: What do you get from the ministry?
A: (I get) fulfillment. I believe everyone who doesn’t know the Lord [doesn’t] know what they are missing. It just means everything to be a Christian.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: They love me and treat me good. We’ll never get over losing our daughter. My other daughter DeNay is a pianist for the church. She plays and I lead the music. My wife is a huge support, too.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in music ministry in the future?
A: I’m getting short-winded now so I’m trying to get them to get a young music director so I can retire. As long as the Lord can use us I think we ought to do what we can.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: I hope I’ll be around a long time. I’m asking the Lord to let me live as long as my dad did, until he was 88. Singing has been my calling.
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