By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
For Ashley Grantham, it was a &#8220God thing” that led her to Brewton and to a new position as youth minister at First United Methodist Church.
This time, the call came before Grantham even knew it. Her pastor at Dauphin Way United Methodist Church in Mobile, an old friend of First Methodist's pastor Ed Glaize, called Glaize to recommend her for the Brewton position.
Growing up in Eufaula, Grantham found her church to be a second home.
Although she has always wanted to participate in ministry in some way, Grantham earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Samford University and UAB, respectively, with the intent of becoming a history professor.
She took a job as a museum curator in Mobile before going to work for the Historic Mobile Preservation Society. There she worked on a number of projects, including outreach educational programs for children.
Grantham loved her job in Mobile, but she said she could not miss the opportunity to follow God's path to Brewton. &#8220(My boss) told me, ‘You warned me the only person you would leave me for is God,'” she laughed.
Already, two parents have helped Grantham form an angel choir for pre-school through first-graders, and she is planning to initiate a Bible study for middle and high school students. Grantham also wants to find opportunities for the youth to participate in service projects in the community.
Her ministry is important, Grantham said, because it prepares youth &#8220for the peer pressures they're going to face.”
Grantham said the church's main goal with the youth ministry is to strengthen the programs, not necessarily just to draw new members.
Grantham said her door will always be open to the youth. &#8220They're great kids,” she said. &#8220From nursery to 12th grade, they're all my little blessings.”