Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston, Calhoun Association
Favorite Verses: Psalm 23:1; 1 John 4:8
Favorite Hymn: “The Old Rugged Cross”
Hobbies: Horseshoes, slow-pitch softball and basketball
Family Status: Married 60 years to Lois, one son and two grandchildren
For the past 50 years, James Conaway has had perfect Sunday School attendance. In fact, he arrives early enough to sit next to the teacher. Conaway’s only two absences were excused because all the churches in his area were closed on those Sundays. The first Sunday he missed was because of the blizzard of 1993. Conaway called all the churches in his community to see if any were open. “I could not have driven but I could have walked,” he said. The other excused absence came a few years ago when Christmas fell on a Sunday. None of the churches in Conaway’s area held Sunday School that morning, but he found a church that held it Wednesday night.
Q: How did you come to know God?
A: It was a long time ago, but through teaching and preaching, it came to me that I needed to be a Christian.
Q: How have you been involved in church through the years?
A: I grew up in a little community. There was one church. Both of my grandparents were involved in church. I have always gone. Back in those days, the community revolved around two things: your school and your church.
Q: Why has it always been important for you to attend Sunday School?
A: I am not a teacher, I am not a speaker but I can show others that I am an attendee.
Q: How have churches changed over the years?
A: Today you will find more churches that have better teachers. As far as the church service is concerned, when I first started the church, if that old preacher had a good congregation, he didn’t know when to quit. Now the sermon is somewhere within 25 minutes. Today you have larger churches.
Q: What difference has being a Christian made in your life?
A: I don’t know what would have happened if I had not been.
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