After Straughn High School graduate William Worley earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science, he felt a calling to join the ministry.

Worley was ordained as a minister Sunday night after being a ministry associate at the First Baptist Church of Andalusia for two and a half years.

“This has really been a product of the people that I have been around,” Worley said. “It’s not like I heard an angelic chorus or anything like that, but God used different people in my life to help guide me to this decision.”

Worley has been working with the youth and senior adults at FBC, but since they recently hired a youth director, he is only working with the senior adults now.

He explained that the reason he switched from exercise science was a complete “God thing.”

“I thought that I was still going to pursue a career in exercise science,” Worley said. “But then I started working with the First Baptist Church while I was still going to Troy and the longer I worked there I knew I wanted to give God my all.”

To prepare for joining the ministry, Worley said that he has been talking to several people to help guide him to make the right decisions.

“I have just been doing what God has told me to do,” Worley said. “I have been obedient to him and have talked with several different people that I respect in the ministry. I wanted to make sure that I received the right guidance.”

Although a layperson does not have to receive a degree in ministry to become a minister, Worley is enrolled at the Baptist College of Florida and on track to graduate in May with his bachelor’s degree in ministry.

“The church examines the bible to see if someone qualifies for the ministry,” Worley said. “And then the church ordains you. With that being said, I am very humbled to be ordained, but I still want to further my education and earn my bachelor’s from the Baptist College of Florida and then get my master’s degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.”

After graduating from the Baptist College of Florida, Worley plans to remain at FBC.

“I just want to be obedient to God,” Worley said. “So I will remain at the First Baptist Church until He calls me elsewhere.”

Worley said that there is no other place he would rather be than in his home community.

“I love this area,” Worley said. “It is an absolute blessing to be able to get the opportunity to serve the people here and it is the most humbling thing.”

Worley said that without the help of several people he would not be where he is today.

“I just want to thank each and every person who has invested their time in me,” Worley said. “I just am most thankful to God for giving me this opportunity.”