She takes part in church board meetings, although her father also attends so there will be an ordained minister present to offer guidance if needed

The 20-year-old woman standing in the elevated pulpit at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Hueytown every Sunday preaches boldly, as though she’s seen a little bit of the world, and she has.

Micaiah Thomas grew up the child of missionary parents and is a dual citizen of Colombia, where she was born, and the United States. She lived in South America until she was nearly 10 and speaks fluent Spanish. “I learned Spanish and English simultaneously, so switching back and forth came naturally.”

She’s a junior at the University of Alabama, carrying a 4.0-plus grade-point average.
She’s working toward graduation in December, with a full course load and two side jobs — as a Presbyterian pastor, and as a Spanish tutor and translator for Tuscaloosa County schools. When Spanish-speaking parents need help communicating with school officials, the school calls her. “There’s a lot of juggling, a lot of late nights and early mornings,” she said.

Thomas’ congregation of about a dozen people embraced her when she took the job as pastor in August.

“We just have a few elderly people,” said Jeanette Ray, 70, a church member. “She brought the message as if she was in a stadium with 90,000.”

READ MORE: http://blog.al.com/birmingham-news-stories/2010/03/20-year-old_pastor_brings_new.html