Kerry Sparks, his wife Teresa and daughter Anna Brooke stand behind CDs that Sparks was selling at the Morris Christmas Festival on Dec. 1.

By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



A Kimberly man offers a solution to area worship leaders who may need a Sunday night off.

Kerry Sparks’ ministry, Sunday Night Supply, does just what the name says: Provides a worship leader for Sunday nights.

Sparks, of Kerry Sparks Music Ministries, serves as the interim pianist at East Gardendale Baptist Church. He previously served as worship minister at Glenwood Baptist in Morris for a year.

East Gardendale Baptist does not meet on Sunday nights.

“That opens us up on Sunday nights to fill in,” said Sparks.

Sparks has led worship in at least 20 churches in northern Jefferson County and other areas of the state.

He started Sunday Night Supply out of his own experience as a worship minister.

“I remember well how difficult it was to feel at ease about taking a Sunday night off for a conference or going away on vacation,” he said.

Instead, he found it easier to leave after the evening service rather than finding a replacement to lead worship.

Sparks plans his Sunday night worship services according the wishes of the music minister for which he is filling in.

He has experience leading worship in several styles, including traditional, contemporary and blended.

“I truly believe any and all of these worship styles can bring glory to God,” wrote Sparks in a Sunday Night Supply pamphlet.

If there is enough advance planning, the church’s regular music minister can provide an outline for the flow of the service, prepare the choir and follow the normal soloist schedule.

But Sparks can also fill in on short notice, such as during a sickness, if his calendar is open for that night.

In addition to leading worship, Sparks can also serve as a pianist, an organist or a soloist.

His wife Teresa often sings duets with him. Sparks is hoping that their youngest daughter, Anna Brooke, who attends Bryan Elementary School, will also someday be a part of the ministry.

“We love what we do and we know it’s a unique ministry. It’s what we feel called to do,” said Sparks. “We just don’t know what kind of doors will open up from it.”

Sparks has already recorded three CDs: Songs for Daily Worship: Volume 1; Songs for Daily Worship: Volume 2; and Songs for Daily Worship: Instrumental Christmas Hymns.

“Teresa and I have a vision of providing music that people can use during their quiet time,” said Sparks.

The Sparks do not charge for their services on Sunday nights, but leave compensation up to individual churches.

Sparks and his family live in Kimberly. Their oldest daughter, Stephanie Sparks, is in the master’s program at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Their daughter and son-in-law, Lindsey and Wes Hicks, live in Gulf Shores.

For more information about Sunday Night Supply, call Sparks at 647-5434 or go to www.kerrysparksmusicministries.com.