It was an honor to attend the ordination service for dear friend Claudia.  Claudia was the teacher for the Living Stones Sunday School Class (back then it was called Sunday School) for several years.  We loved having her for our teacher.  She is very intelligent (has a PhD), but at the same time Claudia is very down to earth and practical.  Under her guidance our class grew spiritually, and we were so sad when she returned to Cliff Temple Baptist Church to serve.

For as many years as we have been in Dallas, I have heard of Cliff Temple Baptist Church – it has a legacy as a mighty church for God, and a commitment for inner city missions. But I had never visited Cliff Temple.   As we walked into the sanctuary, the fretwork surrounding the baptistry literally took my breath away.  Does anyone do beautiful work like this any more?  I felt like I was somewhere in Germany as I looked at this carved surround.  The sanctuary gave me the feeling of serenity.  There was a calming reverence in this church.  (Now, I am not objecting to screens in our sanctuary, but the absence of the screens in this wonderful old church was nice.) The stained glass windows and light fixtures are gorgeous.  The pictures do not do them justice – light was streaming through the windows, and I felt like I was experiencing the sunshine from heaven. As the service began, Claudia shared her testimony – God’s Calling on My Life.  Many of the stories we had heard before, but it was so good to hear them again.  I was touched – and Claudia’s mother was moved to tears – as Claudia retold the story of a cold winter night when prayers were answered.  Claudia’s father was a church educational director.  The family was moving to a new town to serve.  Her father was away house hunting – looking for a home to rent.  Because they had a large family it was often difficult to find a home to rent.  That night Claudia and her mother were praying for her father to find them a home.  As they were praying, the phone rang, and it was her father with the good news that he had been successful and had found them a home.  Her mother said, “See Claudia.  It is just like the scripture in Isaiah says, ‘Before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking I will hear.’ ” (Isaiah 65:24)  What an impression this made on Claudia and her life. What a wonderful family that loves and serves the Lord.  Claudia’s sister, Sylvia, serves as second vice-president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.  Mrs. Jones and her husband trained these girls well.  (I once heard Claudia say that Elliott, Sylvia’s husband, is the finest man she has ever known.  Pretty high recommendation coming from a sister-in-law.)

When Claudia was young, she aspired to attend the seminary, but at that time, she was told that there were no opportunities for women in the ministry.  Several times in her life, Claudia has felt limited in her service for the Lord due to the fact that she was not able to obtain a seminary degree.  Thankfully, Cliff Temple recognizes this woman’s servant spirit, and has ordained her.  The laying on of hands, and prayers for her service at The Well was a moving experience.

The Well (Do look at the website.  The information will astound you.)  is housed at Cliff Temple, and it “is a community of people bringing love and health to adults recovering from serious mental illness.”  For Claudia to continue seeking ways to serve when she could easily retire and live the good life is a testimony in itself.  Come to think of it.  Serving our Lord is the good life, and serving the Lord is what Claudia has done for many years, and what she continues to do daily.

The representatives of the Living Stones felt blessed to witness Claudia’s Ordination for Pastor Care for The Well at Cliff Temple.  There were ten other members of this congregation ordained as deacons during this service.  You could sense the commitment and love for our Lord and his flock.

Blessings to you and yours,

“Jesus said, ‘People soon become thirsty again after drinking water.  But the water I give takes away thirst altogether.  It becomes a well of water within, giving life.’ ” (John 4: 13-14)

This is the verse on The Well website.  I did not realize how many people are suffering from serious mental illnesses until I read the statistics.  Claudia and others are striving to share the “well of water” to people considered “the least of these”.