Betty Brantley, affectionately known as Betty B. , began her career in Christian education in 1963 as an Educational Assistant at Fort Valley United Methodist Church. She stayed in that position for two years before moving on to serve other churches in the South and North Georgia Conference. This past April, after 43 years, Betty B. returned to Fort Valley UMC as a Diaconal Minister of Children's Ministries. Now she's reconnecting with members she hasn't seen in many years and teaching the children of former youth.

"God was not through with me yet. I knew that I could retire, but I wasn't ready to hang it up. I saw the position at Fort Valley UMC on a website early last spring and came back for an interview. It was a beautiful afternoon last March when I received the call that I had gotten the job." Betty said.

About 50 church members recognized Betty B. when she returned to Fort Valley.

"I've still got pictures of students from the youth group when they were young, and now they're grown, with children of their own. It's been fun just to come back and see some of the people I worked with in the past. It's like seeing your own children grown up. Sometimes, I stop and think, ‘Am I really back here? '

Then I thank God for allowing me to be back. I'm having fun. The congregation has been so warm and helpful, and the parents have bent over backwards to work with me on the children's program. I see the parents here wanting to grow as much as they want their children to grow in the Lord," Betty said.

From clowns to puppets, crafts to storytelling, Betty B. uses them all to teach children about Jesus' love for them.

"I want our children to know that Jesus Christ is their best friend and that he loves them no matter what they do. I want them to learn what it means to be a good steward of what we have as Christians. I want them to understand how to witness to those children at school who are mean to them and hurt their feelings. I want them to recognize that the church is a good, safe place to be. It's a place where they can find their true friends. They'll outgrow the sports and other activities, but the church is always going to be there for them no matter how old they get," Betty said.

The children have plenty of opportunities to hear the message.

"We offer an after-school program on Wednesdays and pick up kids from the Byron and Ft. Valley elementary schools for snacks, music and recreation. Our ‘Bible Bucks' program is working well, where children earn ‘bucks' for attending Sunday School and the church Worship Service, bringing their Bibles, and for their acts of kindness. Quarterly, we visit the Bible Bookstore (set up in a Sunday School class) where they can buy items with their Bible bucks. We've seen more and more Bibles in church on Sunday, and it's been fun for the children," Betty said.

Another activity the kids enjoy is playing a game of darts–Betty B.'s way. "Using a dartboard has provided a creative way to get kids thinking about the Bible. First, a child throws a dart, and then I'll ask his or her team a Bible question.

They have to answer the question as a team. Sometimes, we play Bible bingo or make crafts, but they really like the dart game. Our Tweens group is starting a puppet ministry."

Seeing young people feel good about themselves is Betty B.'s biggest joy. She is an encourager because she knows firsthand the importance of being encouraged.

"When I was a teenager, I felt the call from God to work in the church, but with my family's financial situation, I didn't see how it was going to happen. I wasn't planning on even going to college, but then a school counselor encouraged me, and a man from our church asked my mom if it was all right for me to go to Andrew College. They took me to the college to talk to some of the teachers and to see the campus. I went there for two years, and then I transferred to LaGrange College and graduated in 1963."

"We all need encouragement. I find encouragement through remembering that God is always with me. The Bible verse from Isaiah 40:31 stays with me. I have learned that when we wait on God, He's going to get us though whatever situation we are facing. I find encouragement through the excitement that I see in parents and their children," Betty said.

"We need both the parents and the church giving children the foundation that they need to deal with the world situation today. Kids today have more to deal with and more to avoid than they did a generation ago," Betty said.

Five of Betty's former children or teens have gone into ministry. Sonny Mason, pastor of Riverside United Methodist Church in Macon, was in Betty's youth group in Swainsboro, Georgia, and, later, Betty had the opportunity to work with him when he served as pastor of the First United Methodist of Waycross.

You can email Betty B. at Children@fvumc.net.