Thomas Lee Gebhart, 82, of Foley was recently recognized by his church for 56 years as a deacon. For three years longer than that, he has been a church usher and greeter. Currently, he and wife, Della, volunteer for the church’s crisis center, which helps people of the community with food and other needs. Gebhart retired from Moyer Ford Sales in Foley after 35 years and ran a lawn care business for 20 years after that. He and Della, who have been married 59 years, have three children, 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. His church was founded in the home of his great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Monteith.
Ministry description: Deacon, usher and greeter, crisis center volunteer
Church: First Baptist Church Foley in Baldwin Baptist Association
Life verses: Psalm 23
Describe where you focus your greatest ministry efforts. Serving people. I love people. I love to be around people. I love to share God.
Q: Who was or is one of the most influential people in your faith life? Why?
A: My mother, Alice (Gebhart) Killion. She was always such an influence. She always saw that we were in church, and she was there with us. My mother’s mother (Laura Monteith Wolbrink) and my father (Cecil Gebhart) were really great Christians. They were such an influence in my life. When the doors (of the church) were open, they were there. For 50 years, my mother taught Sunday School once a month at a Black church (Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church). I went with her. Another is my brother, James (a pastor and missionary). He traveled 1,000 miles to help ordain me.
Q: Tell about a turning point in your life and how God was involved.
A: It was a real turning point in my life when I was ordained a deacon. I was the youngest person on the deacon board. At 26, I appreciated the guidance from the other deacons. It was a turning point because it put me involved with people. We went to visit people on my “deacon family ministry” list. Della has been with me in the deacon ministry.
Q: What has God been teaching you lately?
A: God has taught me to trust Him in everything, pray and be faithful. He is always there for us and will never let you down. I feel sorry for people who don’t have God to hang on to.
Q: If there were one thing you could tell your younger self about faith, what would it be?
A: Focus on God all the time. Pray. Listen to His guidance in directing you. Go in the path He leads. Don’t take for granted Christian faith. Count your blessings one by one.
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: “How Great Thou Art” has always touched my heart. God is the greatest. I want that song sung at my funeral because that tells it all.
Q: Does your church have any special traditions that mean a lot to you? What are they?
A: The Lord’s Supper. I have been blessed to be able to serve that for 56 years. That has always meant a lot to me to be able to serve at the Lord’s Supper. The Christmas programs — I have helped with those since I was little. They have always meant a lot. That is a tradition our church has had and still does. Easter sunrise service has meant a lot. As long as I can remember, we have had Easter sunrise service. We always took the kids and enjoyed that. Good memories.
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