West End Baptist Church, Clanton
Chilton Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Ephesians 3:20
Favorite Hymn: “On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand”
Hobbies: Exercising and giving away witness caps
Family Status: Widower for two years after 65 years of marriage to wife, Louise; children, Joy Carol Sanders and Charles Christmas Jr.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren
Charles Christmas Sr., 87, of Jemison, was director of missions for Chilton Baptist Association and served in numerous churches in Alabama and Louisiana. In Alabama, he was associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Center Point, in Birmingham Baptist Association, and pastor of Rock Springs Baptist Church, Lafayette, in East Liberty Baptist Association; Mignon Baptist Church, Sylacauga, in Coosa River Baptist Association; Philadelphia Baptist Church, Hillview Baptist Church and the former Gate City Baptist Church, Birmingham, in Birmingham Baptist Association. Currently he is Sunday School outreach director for his church. For five years, he has written the weekly column “Simple Truth” for the Clanton Advertiser. Three years ago, he began a witness cap ministry, in which he has gospel messages printed on baseball caps that he gives away. Some of his nine different cap messages are “Jesus Christ is Lord” and “God’s grace is sufficient.” He received his education from Howard College (now Samford University) in Birmingham and holds a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: Really, it was my family and my church. When I was 10 years old, I came to understand that the question I was faced with was what did I do with Jesus, who died for my sins so I could be right with God. Death would mean heaven for me. On a Tuesday night in a revival meeting, God opened my heart and I opened my heart to Jesus. And that was the beginning of my journey with Him.
Q: When and how were you led into the ministry?
A: I surrendered to God’s call to preach when I was 18 years old and in the United States Navy.
Q: What does the ministry demand?
A: Obedience.
Q: What do you get from the ministry?
A: Fulfillment of pleasing the Lord and giving my life away to others in His name.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: Totally.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: In and through my church and my community and my family, as long as I live.
Q: What difference will this ministry make for you in the future?
A: I have a pastor’s heart. I will be serving Him as long as I have mind and strength.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: He is my purpose. He is my life.
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