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| Pastor
Clyde Woodward |
I was born into a Christian family. My father, grandmother, uncle, aunt,
and aunt's future husband were all charter members of Grace Baptist Church,
Chico, CA. I don't remember any time when my parents didn't take me to
church with them. When I was about five years old I realized that I was a
sinner in need of a Savior. At my mother's knee I asked Jesus to come into
my heart to become my Savior and Lord. Five years later, on September 14,
1941 I was baptized by A. M. Kurkowski at Grace Baptist Church, Chico, CA.
After two years of study at Chico State College, Chico, CA, I joined the US
Army in 1953. After Basic and Leadership training at Fort Ord, CA, I was
shipped to Korea where I served with the third Division for six months, and
with KMAG for eleven months as a cook. On returning to the states, I
completed my enlistment at Fort Eustis, VA.
After I was discharged, I returned to Chico State College to finish my
education. It had been my intention to go on to Bible School or Seminary to
prepare for full time Christian Service after graduating from Chico State
College; however, in 1960 during my last semester of college, I had to
withdraw from school to work full time in order to support my new family. I
finally received my Bachelor's of Arts degree from Chico State College in
1968. Due to family problems I wasn't able to enroll in Seminary until 1983.
After much prayer and counseling, I married my present wife,
Barbara December 19, 1964. She has been a constant source of spiritual
comfort and strength ever since, even when California courts took my two
boys away from their mother and awarded custody to me. Both boys have said
that my present wife was more of a mother to them than their natural mother.
During all my years I have made it a practice to seek out a local, Bible
believing church where I could worship with my family and serve the Lord in
whatever capacity that He directed. For ten years we were active members of
Grace Baptist Church, Antioch, CA where I had served as a Sunday School
teacher, Deacon, Choir member, occasional soloist, and regularly preached
both in our own church and in other sister churches in the area while I was
a student at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, CA.
Since I graduated from seminary in 1987 with Master of Divinity degree, I
served 21 months as pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Chowchilla, CA
until I had to resign because of health problems. My wife and I were among
the charter members of Crossroads Community Church of Chowchilla, Ca, and I
was an elder in the new church. I then served approximately nine years as
Associate Pastor of Senior Ministries, at Lincoln Road Baptist Church (now
known as Dayspring Baptist Church), Grants Pass, OR, and as Volunteer
Chaplain for Three Rivers Community Hospital, Grants Pass, OR, and Chaplain
at Royale Gardens Convalescent Hospital, Grants Pass, OR.
About three years ago my wife and I moved to Shelby, MT to be near our
family. It was my son's idea so He and his wife could take care of us. Here
we have been involved in Prison Ministry at Crossroads Correctional Center ,
and I have a Bible Study at Marias Heritage Senior Center, and also serve as
backup Sunday School teacher for the mixed Adult Sunday School class at
First Baptist Church, Shelby, MT for about three years.
Currently I am a member in a new church called, Living Faith Baptist Church, MT,
and serve in various capacities as the Lord directs. I will continue to serve her in Shelby for His glory until He comes again, or until he call me home to be with Him in heaven.
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