Citronelle Memorial Baptist Church
Mobile Baptist Association
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 3:5–6
Favorite Hymn: “I Surrender All”
Hobbies: Embroidery and quilting
Family Status: Widowed after 47 years of marriage to Elbert; three children; and seven grandchildren
Leola Isbell grew up on a farm in Texas. In college, Isbell learned about an opportunity to work as a summer missionary through the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board). She applied and was sent to Oklahoma City. She returned to Texas in 1947 and married Elbert Isbell. The Isbells moved to Alabama and served as missionaries in south Alabama for almost three decades. At 86, Leola Isbell continues to teach a women’s Sunday School class at her church and lead a devotional time each week at an assisted living facility.
Q: How did you come to know the Lord?
A: I became convicted in a revival meeting at our church when I was a preteen. I made my profession in Jesus that night. It was in the country, and usually baptisms were in the creek. But this one was in a pond.
Q: What led you to serve in the church?
A: I just felt like I wanted to serve the Lord. When I went to college and heard about working with missionaries in Oklahoma City, well, of course, I wanted to do that. And that led me to teach school in Alabama, and my husband and I were missionaries for almost 30 years.
Q: How does your church family support you?
A: I really do appreciate my church family. I have people that stop by to pick me up for church … and someone volunteers to take me home. Some of them go with me every Thursday to have a devotional at the assisted living facility here in Citronelle. And I look forward to that.
Q: What difference has Christ made in your life?
A: He has given me meaning and hope for eternal life. And I can always go to Him when there’s a problem or go to Him every day.
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