How does Concord Baptist Church member Patricia Jackson describe her Sunday School teacher, Janet Earley?
“She is remarkable.”
Remarkable is a good description for this dedicated teacher who turned 90 years old last October. Although her age might entitle her to retire from teaching, Earley shows no signs of slowing down.
About 45 years ago, Earley was comfortably serving as class president for a large Sunday School class at Concord. Then one day, the Sunday School superintendent asked her to take over teaching a class because a teacher was moving away. Earley was surprised by the request. She did not consider herself teacher material and had little experience in public speaking. But she explains, “I said, ‘I’ll try, and I’ve been trying ever since.’”
Gradually, Earley’s class grew. “We started with just one or two, but I called and visited. I was so excited when we got up to half a dozen.” Even after 45 years, she has never stopped calling and visiting, and it makes an impression on her class.
Jackson praises Earley’s knowledge of the Bible, but she is most impressed by her affection and commitment for her class. “She just loves us,” says Jackson. “She calls us ‘her girls.’ If we miss a Sunday, she always calls to check on us.”
Today Earley’s median adult women’s class averages 20 in attendance, and it’s reaching second generations. Jackson has been a member of the class five years.
She has attended Concord since childhood when her mother, Jane Holman, was a member of Earley’s ladies’ class.
Pastor James Pruett has only been at Concord five months, but he says Earley has already made a great impression on him. “She is a faithful servant. It’s very apparent … that she loves the Lord and loves the Bible,” he said. “The ladies can’t wait to get to her class on Sunday mornings. They know she’s going to dig in and teach them the Bible. That’s encouraging to me.”
Earley not only teaches the class, but she also leads them in other ways. She explains, “They are such a good bunch of girls, always giving, planning and helping with our special projects.” Special projects include an ongoing nursing home ministry, family sponsorships at Christmastime and a meal ministry to those in need or sick.
“It’s just a pleasure,” is how Earley describes teaching. The misgivings she had 45 years ago about public speaking are long gone, and she enjoys the challenges teaching presents. She says, “I don’t mind studying. I do have to study, too, because they are doggone smart in there! They ask me lots of questions.”
Although she has an assistant teacher, Wanda Stanley, she tries never to miss a class. She was terribly disappointed when a recent cold kept her out two Sundays. So how much longer will Janet Earley teach Sunday School? She answers quickly, “As long as the Lord wants me to. He’s the only reason I’m doing it.”
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