Timeless Service

“You’re never too old to be of service,” Jean said, reiterating one of the values that motivates her at her current stage of life. She first attended Saddleback 18 years ago after moving across the country. Today, at age 97, she is a greeter at Saddleback Laguna Woods and serves at the Food Pantry. In her free time, she busies herself with golf, neighborhood card games, regular exercise, and used to help driver her friends to appointments. “You have to keep moving,” Jean said. “Just like Psalm 92 says: in old age, godly people will still bear fruit, and they will stay fresh and green!”

Serving others has been a lifelong pattern for Jean, who learned while growing up in Ohio to notice opportunities to help and act on them.

“It’s okay to be inconvenienced if you’re helping another person. Helping just sort of happens,” Jean continued as she flipped through scrapbooks that document her history of leaving a mark on the hearts of others.  

While an interior designer, Jean founded a prison quilting group, now one of her fondest accomplishments. It wasn’t easy to convince the prison warden that the female inmates would benefit from learning to quilt; harder still to convince him to trust them with needles. After the warden drew the line at allowing scissors, Jean organized a group of friends to cut all the fabric beforehand. As each quilter at the prison crafted her own bedding, Jean also led the inmates in a time of devotion. it was a soothing and creative way to pass the time and produce something to be proud of. The warden expressed gratitude to Jean for the numerous hours spent volunteering and for how the quilting ministry improved the atmosphere in the prison.

Jean had 52 wonderful years of marriage to her husband, Jacob. They raised three children together and instilled in them a love for serving others. When it was time to face life without her husband, the Ohio native decided to move to California at age 77. She left her familiar life behind to step into the unknown and a fresh start.

After moving to California, Saddleback became Jean’s home church. She found ways to get involved and build many great friendships through the church in her new home. For 12 years, the Lake Forest campus gave her many opportunities. But when the Laguna Woods campus opened, she immediately offered to help serve there.

Jean considers greeting at Laguna Woods each Sunday as a chance to make everyone feel welcome. Jean still often attends the Lake Forest services on Saturdays and looks forward to Mother’s Day services, when she is often the last one standing in Pastor Rick’s “oldest mother” contest.

Jean has learned to accept circumstances as they are, allowing her to focus her energy on creating meaningful opportunities to move forward and continue living a rich life.

Recently, Jean met a homeless family and decided to work with them find stable housing. She connected them with a local outreach organization and worked with the family to navigate the maze of social services that could offer support. The family was able to find a safe place to live and call home. Knowing that the parents can build a loving home for their children gives Jean an inner sense of peace.

Jean and her family are now leaving a legacy through service and devotion to the church. Her example has inspired her own children to lives of service. Her daughter is a Christian author and, along with her husband, planted a new church in Newport Beach where they serve as pastors. Her grandchildren also served the church as missionaries for five years in Uganda. While in Africa they sent Jean letters and photos, keeping her up to date with everything God was doing through their ministry.

Jean isn’t letting old age stop her. She’s seen what God can do through the simple act of service. She’ll continue to make time for people that need help and, through her example, influence others to do more good.

Learn more about finding your SHAPE for serving at saddleback.com/class301