Sebring, Velma

Sebring, Velma

Church:  Center Point Baptist Church, Scottsboro

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 37:4–5

Favorite hymn: “Surely Goodness and Mercy”

Hobbies: Gardening, reading, crocheting

Family status:  Widowed; three children, four grandsons and three great-grandchildren

Velma Sebring is someone you should know. At age 17, she began teaching Sunday School and has continued for 67 years. She has served the last 56 years teaching at Center Point in Scottsboro.

Q: What are some of your first memories of teaching?

A: I started out teaching under a tree. The church just had one room so we went across the road under this little tree and sat on the ground. As I remember, I think the only Bible we had was the New Testament.

Q: What does the ministry demand?

A: It demands a lot of studying. It’s especially hard when you get older to study all this stuff and retain it. But I enjoy it. I try to go to any kind of training that’s offered.

Q: Why have you done this activity?

A: I just loved to teach.

Q: What do you get from the ministry?

A: I just get the satisfaction of thinking that I’m doing something the Lord wants me to do.

Q: How do your family members support you?

A: They’ve always been real supportive of me doing this even when we’ve had company on holidays.

Q: What led you into this ministry?

A: My heart’s desire from the time I was a little girl was to be a schoolteacher.

Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?

A: I’m 84 and I’ll just be doing it until I can’t.

If you know of a person whom you think should be “Someone You Should Know,” send his or her name, a contact number and the reason you think he or she should be featured to: Someone You Should Know, c/o The Alabama Baptist, 3310 Independence Drive, Birmingham, AL 35209.