The end of 2024 saw the passing of former president Jimmy Carter at the age of 100. Not only did he live the longest of any president in American history, but in the words of Amanda Tyler, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, he “will be remembered for living out his devout Baptist faith through his pursuit of peace and support for human rights as well as acts of service, such as building homes for Habitat for Humanity.” Amanda continued in her reflection in Time magazine, “When it came to following Jesus, Carter walked the walk.”

After he became president, Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn joined The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., located about seven blocks north of the White House on 16th Street. This is the church that Linda and I joined after I retired in 2018 as pastor of Village Baptist Church in Bowie, Maryland.

When the Carters were members of First Baptist in D.C. from 1977-1981, Linda and I were members of Montgomery Hills Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, where I was serving as associate pastor. All three churches—First Baptist, Village, and Montgomery Hills—are members of the D.C. Baptist Convention.

While at First Baptist, President Carter occasionally taught the adult couples Sunday School class. Our friend Christi Harlan has written a book containing 14 lessons that President Carter taught. The book is titled, MR. PRESIDENT, THE CLASS IS YOURS: Jimmy Carter’s Sunday School Lessons in Washington, D.C. Although President Carter taught Sunday School at First Baptist only occasionally he and Mrs. Carter attended the church regularly and their daughter Amy was baptized there.

Christi has written a second book titled, NORMAL LIVES: President Jimmy Carter and His Church. The title is drawn from President Carter’s remarks during the First Baptist Sunday School class banquet in October 1977. He said, “You have made our lives normal lives…you have taken us in, and we are indebted to you.” The book includes first person accounts from church members, reporters, a church publicist, and the diary of a church usher.

After his presidency, Jimmy Carter continued to express his faith in many ways. Well into his 90s, he remained a deacon and taught Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. In 2007 he helped to create the New Baptist Covenant to bring together leaders from different racial and theological groups in Baptist life.

At the conclusion of her magazine tribute Amanda wrote: “Thank you, my dear brother in Christ, for being the epitome of a faithful Christian in American public life.” May his life of service inspire us as we seek to follow Christ too.