For the past two years, Delores Brown-Hunder, 74, has had an immense, inner longing to preach the good news. This past Sunday at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, Hunder gave her first sermon to a crowd of supportive family and friends.

Active in the church for years, Hunder said she’s always known there was something more for her.

“I’d given speeches and read from the pulpit before,” Hunder said. “I worked in the church in different categories — a missionary, superintendent of Sunday school and president of a group.

“I denied the calling at first, because I felt I wouldn’t be accepted to preach because I was a female …”

Born in Alabama, Hunder moved to New York and Florida before coming to Selma in 1998. With four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, Hunder said her family has supported her efforts to become a female preacher.

“They’re all supportive of me,” Hunder said. “I’ve been blessed.”

Brandon Kimbrough said he was inspired by his grandmother’s sermon.

“I’m Baptist and from Birmingham, and up there, I’m used to seeing women ministers,” Kimbrough said. “In Selma you don’t see a lot of women ministers, and I think it opened up people’s eyes. She preached really well; she did a great job.”

Ebenezer’s pastor Dr. Frederick D. Reese said the church wants to be a support system.

“We’re here to recognize her call and give her the opportunity to speak,” Reese said. “She’s been a very great assistance in carrying out various programs that’s been assigned to her by various pastors and myself. She’s very efficient.”

Hunder hopes to become a role model to other women who desire to preach but feel discouraged.

“I hope my sermon will help women,” Hunder said. “It doesn’t matter about education, because you can be smart in scriptures, and it doesn’t matter your occupation or your age. God will guide you through. If you have an inspiration to spread God’s word, go on and do it.”

After all of the tears and making the hard decisions to leave assemblies that wouldn’t embrace her gift, Hunder said it was worth it.

“I believe those positions helped me and prepared me,” Hunder said. “I took courses, had to learn to research the Bible, use other resources and learn how to relate the word to others. I cried a lot, but I needed to do what I was called to do.”