Five Points Baptist Church, Northport
Tuscaloosa Baptist Association
Favorite Verses: Proverbs 3:5–6
Favorite Hymn: “Without Him”
Hobbies: Reading; taking classes through colleges, universities and Baptist association; preserving family history by writing stories for younger generations to read
Family Status: Widowed; two children, Valerie Flores and Stephen Fleming; two step-children; four grandchildren; six step-grandchildren
Pattie Bohannon, 82, was by the side of her first husband, Bin Fleming, as he served as pastor of churches in Alabama and other states. Later they served in Guam through the International Mission Board. After her husband died she continued her work through missions trips to China, Australia, Brazil, Alaska and Europe. Bohannon later married a Methodist minister, Ken Bohannon. Now a widow once more, Bohannon continues to teach Sunday School at St. Mark United Methodist Church, Northport, while representing Five Points Baptist by teaching Sunday School at an assisted living facility in Northport. She serves on the executive boards of Tuscaloosa Association and Good Samaritan Clinic.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: My home and my local church. Nell Hubbard (now deceased) was my Sunday School and Sunbeam teacher. She was a big influence in my early years.
Q: When and how were you led into ministry work?
A: I was a Sunbeam as a very young child. Even then, I thought about becoming a missionary. I made that decision public as an early teen. It was prevalent in my thoughts throughout my life.
Q: What does this ministry work demand?
A: Commitment to the Lord and commitment to what I’ve said I would do; study of His Word; time; right attitude.
Q: What do you get from ministry work?
A: I get inspiration from those whom I teach and visit. I get satisfaction knowing I may have brought a little bit of light into their lives and that I know I’m doing what God is leading me to do.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: Having been a pastor’s wife for 37 years, I didn’t do things because they were expected of me. I did what I felt led to do. My family has always supported the decisions I made about ministry.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: As long as I’m physically able to study and to teach, to go and to visit, I will continue.
Q: What difference will this ministry work make for you in the future?
A: I plan to do this as long as I am physically and mentally able. That will affect what I do. When I’m not able to do that, I’ll do what I can do.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: I can hardly realize what life was before. I came to Christ as my Savior as a young girl. I just came to the point of knowing that I wasn’t good in God’s sight. Even though I don’t see Him, I feel Him and know that His Spirit is within me. As I get older, I realize that in a greater way.
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