By Leigh Pritchett
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
At 96, Jettie Kirkpatrick of Cottondale is a busy woman. At her church she serves as church clerk, secretary-treasurer and Sunday School records keeper. The influence her life of service has had through the years is evidenced by the name given to one of the church’s buildings — the Jettie McKinley Kirkpatrick Christian Life Center.
Ministry description: Service
Church name: Wildwood Baptist Church, Cottondale, in Tuscaloosa Baptist Association
Life verse: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” (Ps. 19:14)
Q: Describe where you focus your greatest ministry efforts?
A: Serving wherever needed.
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: My aunt and uncle who raised me. We had lost my parents by the time I was 8 years old. My aunt and uncle raised us. They always carried us to church. And they always taught us to do what was right and to treat other people right.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: I’ve been involved in church work since I was 13. I was teaching my age group in Sunday School. My uncle helped me prepare the lesson. It gave me responsibility at an early age. I’ve felt a responsibility to contribute something wherever I was.
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: I’ve been asking for patience. I’m not always as patient as I should be.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: You can’t ever have too much (faith). You grow in it every day.
Q: Have you ever read a book or heard a song that changed the way you think about God and faith? What was it and what did you learn from it?
A: I love music. I love the old hymns. My favorite would be “Amazing Grace.” His grace is amazing.
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you? What are they?
A: We major on children. We have a couple of vans, and we pick up children on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. They look forward to coming. Their parents don’t come to church. A number of them have become Christians because of the influence they (get) at church.
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