Big Al

Algernon "Big Al" Quattlebaum was born on February 12, 1969 in the Bronx, NY and from brith it was not easy.  I was put up for adoption from birth, while this might be a big pill to sallow but God had His hands on me from brith, as I was bless to come in the care of Algernon "Pete" and Thelma "Lady Q" Quattlebaum.

They took me in at 2 weeks and became the parents I grew up with.  Now at 51 I wish I told them both how much I appreciate and love them for taking me in when they did not have to and that I am sorry for the trouble I cause them through the years.  

I had my fair share of trouble in my life but all in all I would change a few things but we can not live in the past.  I have been married 3 times I have 2 children, 1 son 23 years old and 1 daughter 16 years old whom I love very much.  My son did not have me around most of his child-hood because if the dumb things that we as adults do to each other but we are working on our relationship as adults and I hope he knows how much I love him.  My daughter who has had me around all of her life use to me my running buddy but now since she is turn 10 or 11 she wants to hang around her mom now.  Dad's that is going to happen I been told that they come back!!!  

I now understand what many people where trying to tell me when I was younger, this is your race and you are going to have to run it all I can do is give advice and had you some water to help you along but You Have To Run This Race!!!  So no matter what you do or say to your children remember they have to run their race, just understand that what you tried to put in them while they were young sometimes might does not take for years and you might not be around to see it but know it is there.  That is the case with my mom I was doing okay when mom passed in 1995 but I had not even started to reach my potential or my purpose.  Then I started to creep into it before my dad passed in 2020.  So just keep PRAYING for our children. 

I really did have any desire to stay in New York, I wanted to move back to LA.  I consider that my home now.  No one here really knew me I did not know the lay of the land anymore.  But I met and ended up marry my current wife and we have been married for over 15 years now.  I know that life with me was not easy and I did not make it easy as I said I did not want to be here in the first place.  Sometimes you have to stick and stay and pray and God will work it out.  

As I look back over my life from sports, becoming a dad, to preaching, back-sliding again, becoming a chef and business owner, to coming back to preaching.  God has always been there and had His hand on me all this time, I am not dead, in jail or strung out on drugs.  I thank God for His grace because it is only by that I am able here to tell you my story.  

If you would like me to come and speak with to your youth or congregation please email me at alquattlebaum@alquattlebaum.com