Robert Elwood Sims recently retired from New Bethel Baptist Church, Braggs, after 40 years of service and more than 70 years in pastoral ministry.
Sims was ordained in 1952 by his home church First Baptist Church Prichard. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard College (now Samford University) and a master’s degree from Southern Seminary.
His first major preaching opportunity came when he assisted with revival meetings at Forrest Avenue Baptist Church, Gadsden.
While a college student, he served as interim pastor at South Park Baptist, Birmingham, and Macedonia Baptist, Bessemer. In 1954, he began serving as pastor of three part-time churches in the Selma Baptist Association: Benton Baptist; Sister Springs Baptist, Tyler; and Bethany Baptist, Collirene.
Alabama ministry
In 1957, he moved to Kentucky to attend Southern and served as a student pastor and led a mission church. He also was pastor at two churches in Indiana. In 1963, Sims was called as pastor of FBC Semmes.
After four years at Semmes he moved back to Selma to be bivocational minister at Orrville Baptist while working as a teacher and principal in Dallas County.
In 1977, he was called by Ephesus Baptist, Sprott, and served there until 1983 when he began serving Bethany Baptist and New Bethel Baptist. In 1994, Sims retired from teaching.
The church celebrated Sims on March 12 with a special service and fellowship meal.
Lee Tate, associational mission strategist of West Central Baptist Association, was guest speaker.
Sims and his wife, Sarah, have five children and six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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