WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—Fearing she would one day lose her voice, and not wanting to give up musical ministry, Dottie Malcolm began taking violin lessons for the very first time when she was in her fifties. Today she plays in the church orchestra, and she’s still singing in the church choir.
This heart for ministry and desire to serve has led Dottie in ministry outside music as well. For 34 years Dottie has taught the primary Sunday School class at Faith Baptist Church. She was teaching at the church before the church even had its own building. And her ministry touched the lives of many of the adults who are now ministering alongside her, including her own children, Pastor Nate Osborne’s children, and many more.
On Saturday, Jan. 23 Faith Baptist Church honored Dottie Malcolm as the Adult Worker of the Year. Dottie says, “I haven’t always been a good Sunday School teacher. I have learned a lot over the years on how to be a better teacher. A lot of that comes from Pastor Osborne. I listen to how he preaches and how he prays, how he deals with people, and that has really changed a lot of my approach in teaching.
“I want my children and grandchildren to say, ‘Wow! This is what Grandma did, and I see it was worth all the time that she put into it.’ ”
While giving Dottie her award, Assistant to the Pastor Stephen Simpson said to her, “Thank you for the example you have set for all of us to follow. It is our prayer that the Lord will bless Faith Baptist Church with many more Dorothy Malcolms.”
