I first met Jean and Will Daniel in December of 1970. They had been studying Search for Truth with Mike and Margie Power for several months and that Sunday they came to Church for the first time. A few weeks later, in a Watchnight Service, they were baptized in Jesus Name and God miraculously filled them with the baptism of the Holy Ghost in March of 1971.
So many things changed in our lives and in the Church from that time on. There was a new energy that came to the Church. Never one to do anything half way Sis. Jean was involved in everything. She started off as a soul winner, recruiting others to join her and Will in their home Bible Study, Slim and Rose Daniel, Peggy King, David Daniel all joined in at different times and all were baptized and received the Holy Ghost during the same week as Sis Jean.
Tragedy struck her life, as well as the Church, with a tragic boating accident that took the lives of Will and Maureen Power in August, just five months after they had received the Holy Ghost. Our concern was would this new spiritual baby survive such a blow? Although it was hard and there were many questions and lonely hours, she immersed herself into the Word of God and prayer. She gave herself to the Work of God and fought her way through the battle.
We were just talking about what a giver she was. Some of you might remember the 1971 yellow and black Datsun that she drove the wheels off of for Jesus. Miles were put on it selling Peanut Brittle in Rio Dell, Fortuna, Ferndale, Crescent City, Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Garberville and points in between. Driving to fellowship meetings in Oroville, Chico, Redding, Yuba City. Driving to Dinsmore, Bridgeville and Carlotta to teach home Bible Studies. Loading it up with 7 and 8 kids to carry them to Sunday School week after week. When she finally retired it with over 300,000 miles on it she bought another car and ran the wheels off of it for Jesus.
I remember my dad asking her to teach the Jr. High class. She had only been in the Church a short time and felt inadequate but she never said no when asked to do something, so she taught the class. Her students were David Doran and Mike Power, Jr. They should have never been allowed to be in the same class anywhere and here was a new teacher with these two "star" students. Every Sunday after Sunday School the teacher and the students had a meeting with the Pastor, but she stuck it out. Both students are living for God today and active in ministry.
She worked as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Supt. Outreach Director, Home Bible Study Director, Choir Leader. She played the piano, taught several to play the guitar. She made candy, sold candy, made crafts and sold them. She baked and sat at bake sales. The list goes on.
However there are two things about Jean Daniel that stand out in my mind when I thought about her life. One was Jean Daniel was a pastor's best friend. Not only was she a hard worker in the Church, but she went out of her way to take care of her pastor in any way possible. Many years ago several came to my dad and asked if he would go full time for the church. They pledged to pay 20% tithes to help him do this, they felt it was that important. Many years later, after Dad had retired and I was pastor, Sis. Jean was still paying 20% tithes to help her pastor and the work of God. I don't know how many times I had called her and said I need you to pray about this or just with me. I would hang up the phone and know that she was already on her knees praying. Dinners, after church refreshments were all taken care of by Sis Jean. I was 13 years old when we met. She watched me grow up, learn to preach. She saw the mistakes and failures I made as a young man. When I was asked to become pastor my reservation was the people I would be pastoring were people who had known me "when." Yet, I can honestly say there was never one time when I felt Sis. Jean did not honor and respect us as her pastor, although I am sure it must have been difficult at times.
Sis. Jean was a nourisher, but naturally and spiritually. Although she never had any natural children of her own, she adopted every little stray that came by and made them her children, even to the discomfort of some. It was just natural for her. When she taught some one a home Bible Study, she adopted them spiritually. She prayed for them. She visited them. She called them on the phone. She drove miles to bring them to church. She talked to her pastor about them. Anything she could do to help them to live for God, she did it. They were her children.
Just before he died, Sis. Jean's father, Bro. Burl Horn asked her to promise him she would take a Bible Study. She promised and kept that promise. When the news came of her promotion I couldn't help but think of what must be taking place in heaven this weekend. There are some warriors of the Cross who are welcoming home another warrior, saying Well done. There is a heavenly jubilee taking place as Burl Horn, Will Daniel, Maureen Power, Mike Power, Ronnell Tyler, Dora Estes, David Doran and others welcome home another one.
We will all miss Sis. Jean... but will never forget her, she has left too many fingerprints on too many lives to be forgotten...
Just a Thought...
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