Charles Merry Christmas Sr., a former pastor and director of missions, died March 10. He was 97.
Christmas surrendered to God’s call to preach when he was 18 years old and in the U.S. Navy. He was ordained at Cottonwood Baptist Church in 1946. He studied at Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham and earned his doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
He served as director of missions for Chilton Baptist Association from 1990 to 1997, as well as serving over the years in numerous churches in Alabama and Louisiana. In Alabama, he was pastor of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Lafayette, Mignon Baptist Church in Sylacauga, Philadelphia Baptist Church, Hillview Baptist Church and the former Gate City Baptist Church in Birmingham. He was also associate pastor of First Baptist Church Center Point.
Legacy of ministry
For years, Christmas was an active member of West End Baptist Church in Clanton, and he wrote a weekly column for the Clanton Advertiser called “Simple Truth.” He also began a witness cap ministry, in which he had gospel messages printed on baseball caps that he gave away. Some of his nine different cap messages were “Jesus Christ is Lord” and “God’s grace is sufficient.”
After his retirement, Christmas continued to serve as an interim pastor, and up into mid 90s he continued to fill the pulpit occasionally and teach a weekly Bible study in his community in Memphis, Tennessee.
Christmas is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Louise. He is survived by his daughter, Joy Carol; his son, and Charles Jr.; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Share with others: