Meet the Women of NAOBC – Martha Sirles
On Mondays, we’ll take time to meet the women of NAOBC. Five questions followed by how you can connect with the NAOBC women on social media. Today’s interview is with Martha Sirles.
Q: Tell us about yourself
A: I grew up in a family of seven children. We all were involved in Sunday School (the former BFG) and other organizations at NAOBC and this is where I met and married Urb. We have been married 64 years and had two wonderful sons, Wes and Brian, who also grew up at NAOBC. God called both sons into ministry. Wes is one of the pastors at Grace Community Church in Georgetown, Ky. Brian was minister of music in four churches before God called him home. Both sons had two sons each. Urb and I are great grandparents of five.
Q: Tell us about your time at NAOBC
A: At age nine, I became a Christian and was baptized in a church in Indiana. When I was 10 years old our family moved to Louisville near NAOBC (the original location) and I moved my membership. I was very active in Girls Auxiliary (under Women’s Missionary Union), then was active in WMU in Round Table and missions. After Urb and I married, we worked with youth then College and Career for 30+ years. I went on youth mission tours and choir tours and on these tours was cooking (with the help of other ladies) three meals a day. In 1968, Urb took a job in Lexington and then we moved back to Louisville in 1972. However we were home often and in summers I came back to work in VBS at NAOBC. Ninth & O has always been and always will be where we want to be and be involved!
Q: What is a fun fact that most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I have enjoyed doing activities such as Hot Air Ballooning, a Helicopter ride in a police helicopter and once when on vacation, Parasailing and Zip lining with grandchildren. For my 80th birthday, my plan was to jump out of an airplane (connected to someone, of course) but my plan was interrupted and I couldn’t follow through.
Q: What woman has made the most impact in your life?
A: One of the most influential people in my life was my GA leader, Martha Zoeller. She was like a second mother to me and other GA girls. We had sleepovers and GA parties in her home. She loved the Lord and her influence made a lasting impression on my Christian life.
Q: What is something the Lord has taught you in the last year?
A: This last year has shown me, because of COVID, how much I missed friends, how wonderful it is to be with others in worship services. It has also shown me how much Urb and I appreciate our wonderful church staff and all they do to keep programs going.
You can follow Martha on Facebook.
