From:ย
Rev. Roy & Sherry Warren,
TRIBUTE TO A GOOD MAN
"The steps of a good man are
ordered by the LORD: And he
delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not utterly be cast down: For the LORD upholdeth him with His hand."
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Psalm 37:23-24
He was a trustworthy man!
He was a kind & sensitive man!
He was an evangelistic man!
He was a peacemaker!
He was a hospitable man!
He was a family man!
He was a man who loved God!
My name is Rev. Roy L. Warren, and I know the man of whom I write!
Ted Blair, "Ted", as I affectionately
called him, was my Associate Minister at Christ Temple CME Church, San Bernardino, CA. Yet, he became much more than that: Ted was my confidant, & my friend. My young family & I met him the first Sunday we arrived at my new assignment. We also met three of his four children. Ted's wife, Barbara, and their less than 1 yr-old baby were visiting her
parents in Ohio. Because of his genuineness, and I believe a sensitivity to a somewhat tense situation, Ted immediately put forth his hand, flashed that wide smile, and called me "Pastor". My wife, Sherry & I appreciated that moment, because we had been taken aback at the Annual Conference when Bishop E. Lynne Brown switched the assignments between Christ Temple's Pastor, Rev Charles Lakey & me!
Rev. Lakey went to North Fontana CME, where I had previously been.
ย For a young pastor, that was quite an experience! We often hear the phrase uttered, "But God...!" But God had Ted Blair there to help me navigate the path that God was leading. Looking back now, it is astounding that Ted & I are the same age! I say that because Ted was awesome. He used his position as Associate Minister to positively influence members of the congregation when necessary. He had a lo father, speaking to his son, I shared pastoral church related. I share it Pastor ve & zeal for God's Word & God's people. Ted soaked up God's Word & church-related discipline like a sponge soaks up liquid. One thing he & I shared was a love of praying & discussing the word of God! We did that for endless hours - sometimes just sitting in a car. As I have reflected on Ted through the years, he many times stood in-the-gap between the youth, young adults and elderly members.ย
Ted was trustworthy. As I mentored him, it felt like a father speaking to his son. I shared pastoral, church-related information, and never heard again what we discussed in private.
ย ย We both loved to evangelize in the streets, and many times did so with fruitful results...we planted many seeds. Praise God! On his own, he brought and invited many prospects for membership to the church. I remember his concern for his mother to be in church, and many times, we would visit her home. Eventually, she began attending Christ Temple, and at a later date, joined and became a faithful member. He often spoke of his siblings, and Sherry & I met two of them.
ย ย Ted drove me around to meet and visit the shut-in members of Christ Temple, and we ministered communion unto them. When my schedule did not permit, he joyfully took on that task alone. Ted was also very active on the district and annual conference levels of the CME Church, so much so that years later, he was assigned a pastorate in Pomona, CA, which my family and I visited to support them.
ย ย Yes, Ted loved God and God's people. However, you absolutely knew, if you were around him for any length of time that he loved his family a great deal. His wife and children were his crowning Glory. As the father of a "blended" family, as close as Ted & I were, he never complained about family issues. Of course they existed, as they do in all families, but when we talked, it was not to complain, it was for guidance and prayer. Ted knew his family was a blessing, and he was very protective of them in that way.
ย ย Regarding hospitality, one of the the homes we were invited to spend weekends in was the Blair's. My family drove from Los Angeles each weekend to conduct various meetings, activities & Sunday worship services. Our families cooked, ate, laughed and had true fellowship. At the time of my most need (when my body was threatening a stroke from the constant traveling, pastoring, and working a more than full-time job), my doctor advised me to step away from the ministry for a while. I did, and Ted & Barbara welcomed Sherry & I to transfer our calls to them, sleep in their bed, and rest for an entire week! What a tremendous blessing! We were so tired that most days, Sherry & I didn't know we were even in the world! We will never, ever forget the love and friendship. We conveyed it many times over the years to the family. Indeed, Ted was a good man...he was not a perfect man...he fell, as we all fall, but God was holding him with His hand! Hallelujah to the Lamb!!ย
ย ย We say to you now family, as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8:
"I (Ted) have fought a good fight: I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Therefore, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also who love His appearing."
Respectfully & Lovingly Submitted,
Rev. Roy Lee Warren
Associate Minister
Galilee Baptist Church
Tyler, TX
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