January 19, 2002 at 2:45 a.m., Claude Cook, missionary outstanding, went to be with his Lord and Savior
Claude had served God as a dentist, church planter, preacher, evangelist, farmer, chauffeur, child evangelist, Bible teacher, Christian bookstore operator and film evangelist. No hamlet waas too small or too far away to visit and none large enought to scare him away. In most of these activities he was accompanied and encouraged by his beloved missionary wife Esther and/or one of his four children, Anna Elizabeth, Charles, Raymond and Claudia.
Five new churches in the Tapachula area are only a small part of his legacy. People from all over Southern Mexico have experienced the power of Jesus' love because of his pioneering effort.
In 1952, I attended a Navigator Conference at Forest Home. On the way back, some Christians from the conference met Claude, at that time a master sergeant in the army, and they decided to pray for him. Claude shortly afterwards dedicated his life to Christ, went off to Azusa Pacific College and among other things, distinguished himself on their baseball team and, in good time, his graduated. A mission trip between his junior and senior years brought him to Southern Mexico where he met Esther. He was smitten by her beauty and love for God.
In 2000, Claude was named one of Azusa Pacific University's one hundred outstanding graduates in 100 years of education.
The work in both Tapachula and Mexico City will go on. It would be a wonderful gift to Jesus if you could remember Claude with your continued support of Pan American Missions activities. So much needs to be done in this country of hungry, receptive people.
For God's Glory, Fred Jappe,
President of Pan American Missions, Inc.
