Whether it's working on the annual CROP sale for Church Women United or organizing a support group for widowed members at First General Baptist Church, Dolly Jewel believes her role is one of a helper.

Jewel is a member of First General Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau and has been attending worship there since the 1960s.

She is active with the women's ministries of the church, working with fund-raising activities that include pizza and fresh apple pie sales, a mother-daughter banquet and a talent tree around the Christmas holiday.

All the money collected during these events is used to support mission work.

Jewel has been involved in missions trips to Honduras and Jamaica over the years and continues to support missions in the church.

When she came to First General Baptist, Jewel helped develop projects that would give women in the church a role in mission outreach. "I wanted to find ways the women could help," she said.

And Jewel also teaches Sunday school in the preschool department, a role she's had for 40 years.

She sings in the choir and serves on the executive board for the women's board within the General Baptist denomination.

With all that work, it seems like there would hardly be time left in the day. But Jewel says, "The Lord gives me strength to do it."

Her desire is to help others.

"I think we should serve him and I just try to be part of his work here on earth," she said.

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