Donnie Isbell Byrd, 92, of Tuscumbia, was born in 1929, one of nine children. She never misses church and is involved in WMU and other ministries. She has been on five international and two home missions trips. When her flowers are in bloom, she brings fresh flowers to her pastor, Greg Beasley, each Sunday. She has read through the Bible 44 times.
Name: Donnie Isbell Byrd
Ministry description/title: Encourager
Church name: Valley Grove Baptist Church, Tuscumbia
Life verse: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22–23)
Q: Describe where you focus your greatest ministry efforts. (In what are you involved? With whom do you work? How does this ministry affect others?)
A: When I was younger, we grew most of the food we ate. We did not have the supermarkets we have today. We grew fruits and vegetables to can and freeze to have to eat during the winter. I made a garden for many years and shared vegetables with family and friends. I’m no longer physically able to make garden. I miss the fresh vegetables.
For many years. I made pear preserves and shared them with family and friends. I gave them to my Sunday School class at Christmas along with turtle candy, peanut candy and pecan logs. I shared them with my pastor and church staff.
Brother Greg Beasley came as our pastor about 12 years ago in June. I had some flowers blooming in the yard and thought I would put some of the flowers on his desk to make him feel welcome. I did not know how much Brother Greg loved flowers. I still enjoy sharing flowers with him. If I can make the load lighter, it gives me pleasure.
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: I did not grow up in a Christian home. My daddy and mother were good people, but they did not attend church. They went to revival in the summer. When I was 8 or 10, I started walking to church with the Jeffries family. I was in Mrs. Lula Gargis’ Sunday School class. Mrs. Gargis created in me a love for reading the Bible, and I still enjoy reading the Bible today.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: Around 1976, someone challenged us to read through the Bible in one year. It took me two years the first time. I first read through the Bible in 1978, and I have read the Bible through 44 times. I’m on my 45th time. I want the Lord to draw me closer to Him.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: If God calls you to a difficult task and there are problems, He might not deliver you from the problems, but He will go with you through them. There is a song with lyrics that said, “Lord, don’t move that mountain, just teach me to climb.” God does not always answer our prayers the way we think He should, but He knows best.
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: God has been teaching me I can trust Him. If God tells me something, I can believe Him. He will never lead me astray. God only wants what is best for me. I want the rest of the time I have left on this earth to count for the Lord. He has been so good to me. He deserves my best.
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you? What are they?
A: When a church member or a member of their family dies, the church furnishes food for the family. This is a great blessing and also a Christian witness to the family.
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