It wasn’t a typical Sunday morning at First Baptist Church, Sharon, Tennessee. At the age of 99, Aileen Edwards recently taught a combined Sunday School class in the main sanctuary, marking 75 years of Sunday School teaching ministry.
In the presence of current and former church members impacted by her ministry, she told the class that she considered it a “joy and a privilege to study and share from God’s Word today.”
Humble beginnings
Edwards reminisced on how her Sunday School ministry began at the church. She, her husband, and 5-year-old son moved to Sharon in May of 1948 and settled into a home on East Moore Street in the shadow of First Baptist Church.
They attended their first service at the church two days later on May 9, 1948. She remembered that she had never been in the church before that Sunday. The church was part of Beulah Baptist Association at the time, but would later join Weakley Baptist Association.
During that time, there was preaching only once a month, so their first attendance only included Sunday School, she recalled. There was only one class, and it was held in the one room sanctuary.
The next week, May 16, was Preaching Sunday, and Aileen and her family presented themselves for church membership that day. The next week, Edwards asked the Sunday School director, B.W. Bruce, if the church might have a class for small children. He responded, “Yes, if you are willing to teach it!”
On May 30, 1948, Aileen Edwards began teaching a Sunday School class at First Baptist Church — and her name has been listed as a teacher at the church ever since.
Strong proponent of Sunday School
Now, 75 years later, she is still a strong proponent of Sunday School.
“Sunday School is where we come together to study God’s Word, to learn from each other and to share our experiences,” she said. “How would we know the needs of the people if they were not discussed or brought up?” she asked.
Referencing II Timothy 2:15 and Proverbs 22:6, she stressed that “Sunday School is a very important arm of the church. As Sunday School grows, so grows the church.”
Edwards currently helps teach the Dorcas Women’s Sunday School class at First Baptist Church.
The Lord willing, Edwards and her family will celebrate her 100th birthday this year on Oct. 12.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Josh Moore and originally published by Baptist and Reflector.
