Union Hill Baptist Church, Bessemer
Favorite Hymn: “Victory in Jesus”
Hobbies: Golf
Family Status: Married to Eva for 55 ears; two daughters, Cindy and Pam; one deceased son, David;
seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren
Billy Rice, a member of Union Hill Baptist Church for 56 years, serves the church as a deacon, elder and Sunday School teacher. He has taught Sunday School since age 19. He began by teaching juniors and also has taught married men and a couples class. For the past 13 years, Rice has taught the senior adult men’s class at Union Hill Baptist.
Q: How did you come to know the Lord?
A: When I was 12 years old, we had a revival at our church at First Baptist Church, West Blocton. My mom and dad got saved [and] both my sisters [and me], and we were all baptized at one time. That was in 1948.
Q: What led you to teach Sunday School?
A: When I was about 19, they needed a teacher for junior boys at First, West Blocton. They got me to teach the class. I [taught] it for about a year, then I moved. Most of my other teaching has been at Union Hill.
Q: What other ministries have you been involved in?
A: Over the years, four different times I’ve taught Baptist doctrine, which would last six to seven months.
Q: How have your family members supported your ministry?
A: I guess no man could be more lucky to have a Christian family like I have. My daughter works with underprivileged kids … and my younger daughter is married to a preacher in Bibb County. And they’ve just always been very supportive and very uplifting.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: All the difference in the world. I guess the older I get … the closer I get to Him. … I’ve thoroughly enjoyed teaching Sunday School and getting into the Word.
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