It was a storm that brought them together.  It was in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  Clyde and Celeste Chandler and members of their church family, the Creekwood Church of Christ (Mobile, AL), worked in relief efforts and hosted others who participated in the efforts.  That’s how they met Neal Pharr, his sons, and other members of the North Tampa (FL) Church of Christ.  They met and worked together back in 2005-2006 assisting families whose homes had been destroyed by the hurricane and the floodwaters that it brought along the southern coasts of Alabama and Mississippi.

That was the beginning of a deep friendship… and more.

Twelve years later, on May 13, 2018, Clyde Chandler passed away.  Celeste notified their good friend, Neal.  Neal sent the following message to be read during Clyde’s funeral service:

“Paul wrote in Philippians 1:7, ‘It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.’  Even though I cannot be with you today, know that I have you in my heart.  While I grieve the loss of my friend, there is an indescribable joy that I have because of our connection and knowing that we will be together in heaven.”

“There are not enough hours in this lifetime to enjoy the relationships we have on earth and I am looking forward to eternity where that will be fulfilled.  While thinking of my relationship with Clyde and Celeste I cannot help but think of the word ‘Communitas.’  It is a Latin word that means ‘shared experience.’  I met Clyde and Celeste while doing clean up after Katrina.  They graciously invited several of us into their home and we instantly became family.  Clyde and I shared the same sense of humor, much to Celeste’s dismay, and we became instant friends.  It was like we had known each other all our lives.  The bond we shared in Christ was our foundation, but the relationship grew as we worked together and shared meals together.  Their hospitality made an impact on my boys and the other members of North Tampa Church of Christ that came to help... I watched a husband and wife team tease and cut up, but most of all love each other deeply as they worked together to feed us.  There was a richness to our time together that I cannot describe; it was a connection of shared belief, hope and love that went deeper than most of our surface relationships.  It is one that continues to bring me joy, even today as I write these words.   I am so thankful to God for bringing Clyde and Celeste into my life, my sons’ lives and to the impact they have made on North Tampa believers.   To Celeste and the family, my heart is with you today and always.”

Communitas.  It’s one of the spiritual blessings that is found in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).  As Neal stated well, the bond that believers share in Christ is the foundation and the relationship grows as they work together, share meals together, and do other things... together.

The Scriptures teach us that when one hears and obeys the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then he/she is added to the church, the family of God (see Acts 2:36-47).  Then members of God’s family eat together, worship together, and serve together.  As a result the relationships deepen; communitas occurs.

We obey the Gospel and are added to the church when we place our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4).  Then, as “we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship [or “communitas”] with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Salvation, eternal life, communitas.  These are some of the wonderful blessings that are found in Christ.

Won’t YOU accept these wonderful gifts through your trusting obedience to Christ?

-- David A. Sargent

* In loving memory of William Clyde Chandler (October 6, 1938 – May 13, 2018).  Until we meet again.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org