This week's WOW! is Kathy Tilley. Kathy is a 43 year member of ISBC and has a wonderful story. Read below in her own words:
"I was born in Kingsport, TN but was raised in Big Stone Gap,VA, where my parents and my 4 siblings lived with my maternal grandmother. I was 14 years old when my father died, and also, I accepted Christ at age 14. My daddy always went to church with us but he had never joined until the summer I was saved, and we joined the same Sunday. I was always very involved in my church, especially during my teenage years. I have always felt the Lord had his hand on me, directing my life. When I graduated high school, I had a Civil Service job offer in Washington, DC with the Agriculture Dept. but, my pastor at the time took me to visit Hiwassee College in Madisonville, TN. I had no hope of being able to go to college, never dreamed I could afford it. But God made a way for me to be able to attend. Amazing!! I met my future husband, Sterling, there and this October will be 47 years we have been married.
We began our life’s journey together in Elizabethton, TN where I worked as secretary for the First Methodist Church there. Sterling was with Beaunit Fibers until Uncle Sam’s US Army called him up in the spring of 1966. I was able to go with him for a short tour in Missouri, but then he was sent to Vietnam in 1967-68. I returned to Kingsport and worked for Holston Defense Corp. When Sterling’s tour was up, we moved to Indian Springs in the spring of 1969 and joined Indian Springs Baptist Church that same year. Our first child was born in 1970. He was premature, living only 3 days. But God is so good, he carried us through that terrible season and over the years has graced us with three healthy children and 5 wonderful grandchildren. I have worked part time for the last 19 years as secretary to Indian Springs Christian Church.
I have been so blessed over the years to be a part of this body and bring our children up in the ISBC family, and we all have benefited from the preaching and teaching of several godly pastors. I have taught just about every age of children from Mission Friends through 7th and 8th grade girls in Sunday School and VBS. Also, this church has instilled in me a love for missions and I am active in the WMU here.
What’s next? Only God knows, but wherever, I know He will go before me, leading the way."
Submitted by Kathy Neal
WM Communications Coordinator
We began our life’s journey together in Elizabethton, TN where I worked as secretary for the First Methodist Church there. Sterling was with Beaunit Fibers until Uncle Sam’s US Army called him up in the spring of 1966. I was able to go with him for a short tour in Missouri, but then he was sent to Vietnam in 1967-68. I returned to Kingsport and worked for Holston Defense Corp. When Sterling’s tour was up, we moved to Indian Springs in the spring of 1969 and joined Indian Springs Baptist Church that same year. Our first child was born in 1970. He was premature, living only 3 days. But God is so good, he carried us through that terrible season and over the years has graced us with three healthy children and 5 wonderful grandchildren. I have worked part time for the last 19 years as secretary to Indian Springs Christian Church.
I have been so blessed over the years to be a part of this body and bring our children up in the ISBC family, and we all have benefited from the preaching and teaching of several godly pastors. I have taught just about every age of children from Mission Friends through 7th and 8th grade girls in Sunday School and VBS. Also, this church has instilled in me a love for missions and I am active in the WMU here.
What’s next? Only God knows, but wherever, I know He will go before me, leading the way."
Submitted by Kathy Neal
WM Communications Coordinator
