Jerry Bedsole jokes that his Sunday School class at First Baptist Church Foley is the “last stop.”
“If you come here, you go ‘up,’ you don’t go out,” said Bedsole, who turned 85 in March.
But that doesn’t mean his class isn’t active — Bedsole said for the 30 years he’s taught the class, he’s challenged them to dig deep and do everything they can to serve God and help people.
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And just recently, a new opportunity came across their path.
“I have a subscription to The Alabama Baptist,” he said. “I enjoy reading it.”
TAB recently sent out a letter to Bedsole and other subscribers asking for help funding subscriptions for retired missionaries, pastors and other senior adult readers who might have a hard time paying for the paper.
Bedsole feels one of those categories most personally — he and his late wife, Rosie, served as missionaries to Ethiopia for 25 years before retiring. He often shares stories in Sunday School of how God taught them there that holding onto comfort and possessions aren’t what following Jesus is about.
“We all need to be challenged, even when we’re in this stage of life, and we need more projects outside the walls of our class,” Bedsole said.
“I told our class about the request from The Alabama Baptist and asked, ‘What do you think we could do to help?’ And someone said we should pass around the basket and whatever we collect that day, we should send to help.”
‘Foot on the gas’
They did — and sent a check for $256, which will cover more than 16 yearly subscriptions.
“When our class is challenged, they really respond,” Bedsole said. “It’s good for us. As older adults, we don’t need to stop helping, we need to put our foot on the gas and keep moving.”
Would you or your Sunday School class like to help out too? You can provide subscriptions for senior adults by sending any amount to The Alabama Baptist at 3310 Independence Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209.
We’re grateful for the older adult Sunday School class at FBC Foley — and we’re grateful for you too!
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