Position
Pastoral Office Assistant
Verse
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciline.”
- 2 Timothy 1:7
Info
Born: July 21 in Coleman, TX
Married: May 24, 1980 to Dennis
Children: Paige, Abbey
Education: BA in Business Administration, Minors in Accounting and Religious Education from Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
Siblings: Jim, Deborah
Hobbies & activities: I enjoy family activities, reading, attending athletics events, cake decorating.
Favorite music: Jeff Powell’s Classic Rock Thursday (or not)
Favorite movies: The Adventures of Pastor Jeff and Mission Man.
Favorite coffee drink: Golden Eagle Coffee at Java Werks
Life Story
Our family moved from Texas to Nebraska when I was in the 8th grade. After graduation from Lincoln Southwest High School, I worked for State Farm Insurance at their regional office in Lincoln. After being there for a few years, I felt God leading me back to school at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, MO. This turned out to be an eventful move, as not only did I receive my bachelor’s degree, but I found my first job out of school as the Associate Director of Admissions at Southwest.
This job lead me, after about two years, to meeting my future husband, Dennis, who came to Southwest as the Assistant Basketball coach. We were married in Bolivar on May 24, 1980 and that summer, Dennis was named the Head Coach at Southwest Baptist. The next seven years in Bolivar were busy, fun and our blessings increased with the arrival of Paige Nicole, our first daughter.
Dennis then felt God leading him to continue his education and in July of 1987 we moved to Springfield, MA where he received his Doctorate of Physical Education from Springfield College. And I went to work for the Vice President of Administration at Springfield College; but I also began preparation for the arrival of Abbey Brooke, our second daughter. We loved being in the Northeast–we enjoyed tent camping as a family, even when Abbey came down with chicken pox while camping out on Cape Cod. We loved our trip through Maine, St. Johnsbury, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and back to Maine.
But then God opened the door for us to make another cross-country move–our move to Mississippi in 1992 where Dennis joined the staff of USM in the HPR Department. Two months after arriving in Hattiesburg, our family became members of First Baptist Church and have enjoyed the spiritual and social growth that our friends here have been so great a part of. I didn’t work outside the home the first two years we were in Hattiesburg. But then I applied and was accepted as an assistant teacher at Oak Grove Upper Elementary school. I loved being there where the girls were in school; we’d go to school and come home together. But then I heard that “some guy” at First Baptist was needing an assistant–and now 10 years later, I continually feel God’s hand in my position of Pastoral Assistant to both Jeff Clark and Jeff Powell.
I love being at First Baptist, not only as a member, but as a member of the support staff. Our girls are nearly grown now. In fact, Paige now works as Director of Guest Services here at First Baptist. Abbey is a sophomore at USM, lives in the dorm, but is a frequent visitor at home also. And to add to that, my parents, James and Dorothy Hamilton, moved to Hattiesburg in November of 2006. It’s the first time we’ve lived close to family members and we are enjoying having them be a part of our daily lives.
What is in store for us? I don’t really know what lies in the future for us, but I can see God’s hand in our lives constantly over the past 28 years, so I know whatever lies ahead will be worthwhile, exciting and God inspired.
Sensing a Call
I feel that every day is a call from God to be his daughter and partner in the work He has for me to do that day. My prayer is that I won’t let my own plans upset those that He has for me!
Vision
Our family has loved First Baptist Church from the first day we visited. My vision would be that we continue to be the church family that inspires those who visit to become a part of the exciting God things going on here. We look forward to the move to our new location and look forward to seeing God’s hand print on the lives of each of our members.
