Communion Remembrances

ORLANDO, Florida — General Superintendent Doug Clay and his two immediate predecessors presided over a Communion service Aug. 5 at the biennial General Council in Orlando honoring Assemblies of God ministers who have died in the past two years.

Clay, 58, has been in the top denomination post for four years. He succeeded George O. Wood, 79, who served as general superintendent for a decade. Wood’s predecessor, Thomas E. Trask, 85, served as the Fellowship’s leader for 14 years, ending in 2007.

At the service, Trask asked for those who needed healing to stand for prayer. He recounted how his wife, Shirley, spent 40 days in an intensive care unit six years ago. A doctor told Trask his wife would never leave the hospital.

“Nobody told God,” said an energetic Trask, noting Shirley’s presence in the Communion service. He attributed her miraculous recovery to the prayers of God’s people. He said such healing touches have been repeated time and again in the past 17 months with those on death’s door from COVID-19.

Noted clergy who have died since the 2019 General Council include former AG Assistant General Superintendent Charles T. Crabtree; retired U.S. Missions Executive Director Charles E. Hackett; longtime Georgia pastor Randy L. Valimont; former executive presbyter J. Don George; educator Robert E. Cooley; Calcutta Mercy co-founder Huldah Buntain; former Global University president Zenas J. Bickett; and Robert H. Spence, president of Evangel University for 40 years.