Arbor Springs Baptist Church, Northport
Sipsey Baptist Association
Favorite Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13
Favorite Hymn: Old hymns
Hobbies: Fishing for fish and the souls of men
Family Status: Married to Dorothy for 52 years; three children, Janice, Brenda and Jeffrey; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren
Dwight Beams has been a member of Arbor Springs Baptist Church, Northport, for 50 years and has held various positions in the church through the years including deacon, choir member and assistant Sunday School teacher. Since 1953, he has owned and worked with Beams Tree Surgery, a tree-cutting business, through which he helps young men by providing jobs and direction in life.
Q: How did you begin helping young men?
A: I worked with Alabama Power Co. and did the tree-cutting business on the side. When I retired in 1992, I did tree cutting full time. I use a lot of young people through my grandkids and their buddies. I stay after them trying to make them do right, but I mainly want to help them spiritually.
Q: How do you help them?
A: I talk to them. We have prayer in the mornings before we go to work and in the afternoons. I try to show them the right way to live and keep them away from drugs and drinking.
Q: Do you consider this job a ministry?
A: Yes. That’s my main purpose in life. We not only try to witness to the young people who come to work, we also try to witness to the people we work for.
Q: What does this ministry demand?
A: Just going out there and being yourself in the bad times along with the good.
Q:What do you get from the ministry?
A: I’m 72 years old and it is just a part of the more abundant life of a Christian to go out and work with these young folk.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: They support me really good. My wife is my secretary, and she is a fine Christian person. By her faith, I was saved.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A:As long as I can, I want to hang on and enjoy this more abundant life.
Q: What difference will helping young men make for you in the future?
A: It really means a lot to me to see them do what God wants them to do.
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