First Baptist Church, Montgomery
Montgomery Baptist Association
Favorite Verse: Proverbs 3:5–6
Favorite Hymn: “Because He Lives”
Hobbies: Reading, word puzzles and photography
Family Status: Married to Terry for 43 years; three sons, Hugh, Steven and Kevin; and one granddaughter
Ruth Smith Yarbrough is the only person to work under five executive directors of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM): A.H. Reid (1944–1963), George Bagley (1963–1983), A. Earl Potts (1984–1990), Troy Morrison (1991–1999) and Rick Lance (1999–present). Since retiring in 2006, Yarbrough and her husband have helped start two Sunday School classes at their church.
Q: How did you come to Jesus?
A: I grew up in Chilton County with parents who took me to church regularly. I accepted the Lord in first grade at a revival.
Q: How did you first start working with the SBOM?
A: I was going to a business college in Montgomery, and the Baptist convention building was next to my church. I prayed for the Lord’s leading, and He led me to talk to them (the SBOM) about part-time work. I worked there part-time while in school, starting in 1963, and went full-time after I graduated. I worked there for three and a half years until my husband and I moved away. We moved back in 1982, and I started back in the church training office. Then I worked in church-minister relations with Dr. Troy Morrison. When he became executive director, he asked me move to that office with him, and I continued there as a ministry assistant to Dr. Lance. I worked for a total of 28 years. I always felt I was working “as for the Lord” (Col. 3:23) and believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well.
Q: What did you love the most about serving with the SBOM?
A: I felt like the Lord called me to that ministry. I enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful Christians, fellow employees as well as ministers and laypersons from around the state.
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