Accompanying her mother as she shared the love of Christ and the “three C’s” — casseroles, cakes and cookies — with neighbors was one of many early influences that would point Sonya Tucker, associate in the office of Sunday School and discipleship for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), to the ministry.
And after serving 16 years as a state missionary and more than 20 years total with the SBOM, Tucker will retire from her SBOM role Sept. 30.
Tucker was offered an internship with the SBOM’s discipleship training office, and before completing the internship in 1993 she was asked to serve as a contract consultant for discipleship.
After John Sawyer retired as director of that office in 1997, the SBOM combined discipleship ministries and family ministries, Tucker explained. The office was later combined with the Sunday School office.
Within her role as an associate in the office of Sunday School and discipleship, Tucker has equipped church discipleship leaders to help church members and their families grow in Christlikeness.
The area of Bible drill has also been an important part of Tucker’s ministry. One of her favorite memories she will take away from her SBOM tenure — which has happened more than once — was to walk into a church and hear a child whisper, “That’s the Bible drill lady.”
Daniel Edmonds, director of the SBOM office of Sunday School and discipleship, noted Tucker has been a mentor, influencer and encourager to pastors, missionaries and leaders in discipleship.
“Her passion for making disciples and disciple-makers is evident in everything she does,” he said.
The SBOM will honor Tucker on Oct. 11. She and her husband, Bill, a hospice chaplain with Alacare Home Health & Hospice and interim pastor of Pinedale Baptist Church, Montgomery, have one daughter.
Share with others: