From United Methodist News Service:
Jean Christy celebrated her 106th birthday by renewing her baptismal vows Aug. 21 at Andrews United Methodist Church, where she has been a member since she was 12 or 13 years old.
At 104, Christy called her pastor and asked what more she could do for the church. Since then, she has been the church’s “birthday ambassador.” Last year, she estimated she called at least one person a week to offer birthday well wishes.For Christy, it was just another chapter in nearly a century of service to the church. For decades, “Miss Christy” taught the youth Sunday school class and helped lead the youth group. Her extended family has included a district superintendent, two ordained elders, a diaconal minister and a full-time local pastor. A brother was Andrews United Methodist Church’s treasurer for 36 years….
Her pastor, the Rev. Mike Macdonald, calls her an inspiration. He said her example shows that a person is never too old to heed God’s call to ministry.
Elsewhere, we read of “Miss Christy”:
… she had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian, and she still commands the respect of former students, some of whom are now in their 70s. Macdonald said that once Christy walked into a restaurant and saw a group of men she had taught, all wearing their ball caps indoors.
“When she walked by, she didn’t say a word,” Macdonald said. “She just flipped off their ball caps.”
A visitor to town seeing what she was doing quickly removed his ball cap as well.
This kind soul happens to have Methodist leanings. Have you witnessed such extraordinary commitment to lifelong service in the Episcopal Church? Tell us about it.