Members of the Alabama Baptist Education Music Association (EMA) had a full afternoon and evening at their annual meeting Nov. 14, which was held in conjunction with the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Huntsville. They elected officers, handed out awards, listened to a presentation on wellness and were serenaded, entertained and inspired.
The meeting began with a presentation on wellness in ministry from Tommy Yessick, director of Upward Unlimited Sports Ministries. Yessick, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology and wellness, led the audience through an explanation of how to build good health.
“Four things guaranteed to make cells happy are managing stress, proper nutrition, supplemental vitamins and enzymes and a balance of exercise and rest,” he said.
Yessick emphasized the importance of monitoring and caring for one’s own health.
Quoting a doctor friend he said, “Your best physician, other than the Great Physician, is sitting in your chair.”
During the banquet the audience laughed with Hartselle native Kay DeKalb Smith as she sang her own fractured versions of well-known songs, including “If you knew Baptists like I know Baptists” and “It’s my solo and I’ll cry if I want to.”
Smith donned several different costumes to enhance her impressions of a variety of choir members and reminisced about singing “O Holy Night” at a Christmas pageant with a donkey who decided to accompany her song with loud braying.
In a serious moment, she encouraged her audience.
“I don’t know what season you are in in your ministry,” Smith said.
“If you are facing difficult times, consider holding on. Nothing is impossible with God.”
In related business, outgoing president Don Campbell, minister of music for First Baptist Church, Birmingham, handed over the gavel to his successor, Johnny Kilgore, minister of music for Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Birmingham. Other officers for the 2005–2006 year include Jerry Henderson, minister of music for First Baptist Church, Vincent, as president-elect; Larry Morrison, minister of education for First Baptist Church, Enterprise, as vice president; Charles Shaddix, minister of music for First Baptist Church, Hartselle, as secretary; and Jim Simpson, minister of education for Golden Springs Baptist Church, Anniston, as treasurer.
EMA also gave out two awards. The Paul Stewart Excellence in Music Ministry Award went to Kilgore. The group’s newest award — Christian Educator of the Year — was presented to Carl Wells of First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa.
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