UAB students fill needed roles in children’s, youth work at Birmingham-area church

Thanks to several college students, Vicki Wood, a member of Eastside Baptist Church in the Roebuck area of Birmingham, is able to attend the Sunday morning worship service at her church — something she hasn’t done in months.
   
“Since our children’s minister and youth minister resigned from the church this past summer, it’s been up to the parents to fill in their roles at church,” said Wood, a mother of three. “It’s been so helpful that [the college students have] come and given us a break.”
   
The seven University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) students, leaders in UAB’s Baptist Campus Ministries, started what they call a church strengthening team to last 10 weeks, from September through the first of December. They committed to lead children and youth on Sunday morning at the Birmingham Baptist Association church and return in the evening for the youth program. 
   
Asking college students to help was the idea of Bill Morrison, the senior Baptist campus minister at UAB who has served as interim supply preacher at Eastside Baptist since March.
   
“I noticed there were only a couple of youth and half a dozen children involved in the church, and I wondered how I could help these programs get back on their feet — and then I thought about all of these college students I work with and knew,” he said. 
   
Analyn Kracke, a UAB junior from Vestavia Hills, is one of the student volunteers who helps with children’s Sunday School and worship.
   
“We have about 10 kids during worship, and they are so precious and sweet. It’s a blessing to be around them,” said Kracke, a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, in Birmingham Association.
   
According to Morrison, the students have done great work. “It’s been a give-and-take situation for the students and the church. Their involvement helps the church and allows the students a place to use their gifts.”
   
Morrison said two of the students on the team feel called to full-time pastoral ministry and one recently preached at a Sunday evening service, giving him “great hands-on experience” and feedback from a different generation.
  
The student, Andrew Gothard, a UAB sophomore from Clanton, said he enjoyed the opportunity to preach.
   
“It was a little intimidating,” said Gothard, a member of First Baptist Church, Clanton, in Chilton Baptist Association. “I knew there was a lot of age and wisdom in the room but they were extremely supportive.”
   
Gothard said he’s been surprised at how much he’s been able to do to serve the church.
   
“I’m really getting some good experience in what I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life,” he said. “Not only preaching but I’m learning about getting involved in lives.” 
   
Gothard said hosting fifth-quarter events after football games, going to local high schools to eat lunch, hanging out with youth and doing outreach at apartment complexes near the church are some ways he and the others are trying to reach youth in the area.