Church uncovers old Sunday school lessons from the late former President Carter

Key Takeaways:

• Discovery of audio recordings and photos of President Jimmy Carter teaching Sunday school at the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington D.C.
• Despite his presidential duties, Carter actively participated in church life, officially joining the congregation and teaching classes.
• The Carter family, including daughter Amy, were deeply involved in church activities.
• Carter’s Sunday school lessons sometimes provided insights into his presidency and leadership style.
• After his presidency, Carter expressed a desire to be remembered as “the best Sunday School teacher ever.”

A Discovery in the Church Basement

In a box tucked away in the basement of the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington D.C., church members stumbled upon a remarkable piece of presidential history. Unearthed were old photos and audio recordings of President Jimmy Carter, who—despite leading the nation—found solace in teaching Sunday school and participating in church activities.

Jimmy Carter: A President and Parishioner

“He may have held many more duties, a greater amount of duties, but he never forgot his upbringing,” recalled longtime church member Shirley McBeath. Carter, known for his humility, officially joined the church like any other congregant. Pastor Julie Pennington-Russell explained, “The process was at a particular time in the worship service, you would walk forward and let the pastor know God is leading me to join here. And then you get introduced to the congregation. And so they actually did that here.”

Front and Center in Worship

Contrary to the norm for presidential church attendance, the Carters chose to be actively engaged, taking their seats just a few rows from the front. “He chose that pew because from that seat he had a direct view of the stained glass image of George Washington Carver, who, of course, was the other peanut mogul,” Pennington-Russell noted.

Family Roots in Faith

The Carter family’s involvement extended beyond the President and First Lady. Their daughter, Amy Carter, was baptized at the church and joined other children for sleepovers and youth activities. McBeath reminisced, “She got to spend the night in their home and she got to be upstairs and the Secret Service gentleman slept on the couch in the family room. So they really had great faith in the membership.”

Teaching from the Balcony

During his presidency, Carter attended services at the church about 70 times and embraced the role of teaching the couples class from the balcony. “The way he taught it, you just could not miss a word that he had to say,” McBeath stated. Pennington-Russell described his teaching style: “His style was to take a little portion of scripture and then to expound upon that and to talk about not only the biblical background, but to try and connect it to people’s lives.”

Lessons Reflecting Leadership

Carter’s Sunday school lessons occasionally mirrored the challenges he faced as president. “Just seven days after he had accomplished the Middle East peace accords with Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, he was in the balcony teaching his Sunday school class. His Bible study lesson that day was on facing life’s tensions. So it was remarkable,” Pennington-Russell shared.

In that lesson on September 24, 1978, Carter reflected, “We read in the newspapers about those who try great things and flop, and we don’t often admire them for their great attempts at high achievement. We laugh when they fall and how they never striven for greatness or exalted achievement. They wouldn’t have been embarrassed. And all of us have that tendency to want to be careful not to get out on a limb and endanger our stature.”

A Legacy Rooted in Faith

Perhaps most telling of his character was Carter’s wish after losing the 1980 election. He simply said he wanted to be remembered not as a great president, but as “the best Sunday School teacher ever.” Pennington-Russell reflected on this sentiment: “He gives us a picture of someone who, whether in the spotlight of national and global affairs or in the tiny little town of Plains among people who’ve known him since he was a peanut farmer, he has been a Christ follower. And I just love that about him and Mrs. Carter as well.”

Through the uncovered recordings and memories of those who knew him, President Jimmy Carter’s legacy as a humble servant and dedicated teacher shines brightly. His commitment to faith and community offers a profound reminder of the impact one individual can have, both on a national stage and within the pews of a local church.