Donald Lingle sang his first solo in church at only four years old, and 16 years later he felt God calling him into full-time music ministry. After 47 years of living out this calling, Lingle recently retired from First Baptist Church, Andalusia, in Covington Baptist Association, where he served as minister of music for the past 28 years.
Choir members honored Lingle for his many years of service with various gifts and several parties leading up to a church-wide reception May 27, his last Sunday in the position. "I’ve loved music all my life," Lingle said. "I love standing before a congregation and leading them in worship. … When I see them enjoying what I’m enjoying, it shows you that you are doing what the Lord wants you to do and that you are blessing others in the process. That makes it worthwhile."
Lingle began his ministry in Florida churches while earning a bachelor of church music degree from Stetson University in Deland, Fla., and master of church music and master of religious education degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, he began his first full-time music ministry position at Petal-Harvey Baptist Church in Petal, Miss.
For the past 40 years, Lingle has served Alabama Baptist churches including Bellevue Baptist, Gadsden, and Ridgecrest Baptist, Montgomery. Lingle and his wife, Dorothy, reside in Andalusia.
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