Auburn Heights Baptist Church, Phenix City
Russell Baptist Association
Favorite Verses: Proverbs 3:5–6; Deut. 31:8; Acts 17:28
Favorite Hymn: “To God Be the Glory”
Hobbies: Doing crafts, fishing, growing flowers and herbs
Family Status: Widow for 8 years after 32 years of marriage to husband, Douglas; daughter, Linda
This month, Joycelyn Carrell, 66, retires after nearly 42 years as Russell Association’s director of church and community ministries. In her work at the Baptist Center of Russell Association, she has touched lives through benevolence, Bible studies and English as a Second Language classes. She has coordinated the association’s volunteer and disaster relief efforts. She also is involved with her church, Red Cross, Lee-Russell Ministerial Association, Habitat for Humanity and Alabama Raceway Ministries. She is a graduate of Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Q: What influences in your life pointed you to Christ at the beginning of your faith journey?
A: My father was a deacon. My mother played piano in church. When I was 8 years old, my Sunday School teacher realized that the questions I was asking were pertinent to seeking Jesus. She brought that to the attention of my parents. My parents led me to Christ at home. My brother also had accepted Christ and it caused me to think about my own need for Jesus.
Q: When and how were you led into your ministry work?
A: That was a step-by-step thing. When I was 14, I was at an associational youth camp listening to a missionary and felt God calling me. … Now, I use social work skills to show people the love of God.
Q: How does your ministry work impact your life?
A: I just love the opportunity to share Christ. I find that very rewarding. It is frustrating sometimes because you don’t get to see (the results). But I have been here long enough to see the results of sharing Christ in the lives of many people and seeing their walk with the Lord be a testimony to many other people. It is amazing to see how God takes an opportunity to invest in a life and grows it.
Q: How do family members support you?
A: My family has always been helpful. They would help me with activities. They have never been negative about my work. My daughter would leave Post-it notes to encourage me. And if I was working too hard my husband would just take me away for a weekend.
Q: How do you see yourself involved in this in the future?
A: I am looking forward to seeing what is next. I’m going to take it moment by moment by the Holy Spirit.
Q: What difference will this ministry work make for you in the future?
A: That is in God’s hands. … [I want to] be sensitive to what the Lord wants me to do. I’m looking forward to trying new things.
Q: What difference has Jesus Christ made in your life?
A: Total difference. … I learned a long time ago not to run off and do my own thing. If I give it to Him, He will bless it.
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