Gary Curl, 76, of Tarrant, recently was recognized by his church for 50 years of teaching Sunday School. Curl, an Army veteran, is also a deacon and church treasurer. An engineer with a math degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Curl worked more than 50 years for what is now AT&T. Curl currently works part time in information technology. He and his wife, Donna, have two daughters, Heather and Stacy; a son-in-law, Cory; and a grandson, Bryce.
Ministry description: Deacon, Sunday School teacher, church treasurer
Church name: Springdale Baptist Church, Tarrant, in Birmingham Metro Baptist Association
Life verse: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Describe where you focus your greatest ministry efforts.
A few years back, I received a help request and used a flimsy excuse to turn it down. That haunted me badly. I made a promise to God that I would never let that happen again. If I received a request, I would do my best to help through the church. Be thoughtful about your promises to God. God began filling my bucket with people in need: people needing rides, people needing groceries picked up and delivered, help making doctor appointments, people in financial need, etc. … Even when I did [turn down a request] due to circumstances, I was able to get help from another church member to fulfill the request.
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: My pastor, when I was younger at my church in West End, was James Rushing. He was an Alabama Power Company lineman who was called to God’s work as a full-time pastor. He was strict and held very closely to God’s way of living, even when that meant he, his wife and his children may not do all the things others did. He set the example for my life, and I will never forget him. He knew God’s way of living. Another who influenced me was my longtime pastor Jim Mixon. I was with him at two churches.
Q: Tell about a “turning point” in your life and how God was involved.
A: I was in the Army from 1968 to 1971. While I was in the Army, my church in West End disbanded, so when I got out of the Army, I had no home church to go to. The pastor who had been my pastor at the West End church, Jim Mixon, had moved to Springdale Baptist Church in Tarrant. So I, not having a church to fall back on, decided to go to Springdale. Shortly after, I joined that church. Soon after, I started taking jobs within the church and soon was asked to be a deacon. … When I was about 25 years old, I was asked to teach a “young married” Sunday School class. I accepted, and now have been teaching Sunday School there for the past 50 years. My church and the [Birmingham Metro Baptist Association] had a special recognition for me on Sept. 24 … for the 50 years of teaching. Having reached Springdale by rather odd circumstances, I felt God led all the way in that. Instead of being a regular attendee as I was in my church at West End, God put me to work. I now have several jobs in the church at Springdale. Springdale is also where I met my wife, Donna. God arranging it so that I would come to Springdale was a major turning point in my life for many reasons.
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: That He does recognize your good work. He does this through people recognizing your work. He also made me feel that any time someone asked me for help, even outside the church, that I was to help them. I am often disappointed by how the world and our country is turning from God, but God has shown me He is still in control, and the end to all this is still His alone. We as Christians must have faith and patience. Do not let discouragement win.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: Change your priorities in life very early on. I got away from God a bit while in the Army. I hated that I let that happen, and as soon as I was out of the Army, I set about to fix that. I wish I had been stronger in my faith before I went into the Army. The change in priority should be that God comes first, period.
Q: Have you ever read a book or heard a song that changed the way you think about God and faith? What was it and what did you learn from it?
A: Very early in my life, the words to “How Great Thou Art” sunk in. That is my favorite of all. Too often, we sing songs over and over and do not let the words sink in. The words to that song really explain the magnificent God we serve. As it says, “bow in humble adoration.”
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you? What are they?
A: This is not really a tradition, but a change in how our church building is being used. We have a lot of unused space in our church building. About three years ago, Springdale began partnering with Grace Klein Community in the “We Sew Love” ministry. They rebuild old clothes to new clothes and also handle clothing donations. The ladies meet every Wednesday for sewing. They have clothing giveaways at regular times. … It is a great reflection on Springdale.
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