Our homecoming emphasis in 2008 was on the critical role women have played in the origin and emergence of Altadena Baptist Church. We came to this idea by the realization that some older women of faith have graduated to eternity during recent months, such as Jeanne Marsh, Dorothy Olson and Lois Shotlow and Betty Stickles. People who have been part of the fellowship in recent years probably don’t realize the important roles such women have played in the church’s ministry over the years.
We entitled our theme, “Lois, Eunice and You,” based on the words of Paul to his young assistant Timothy:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” II Timothy: 1:5
Until 1979, women at ABC were not allowed to serve on its main governing body, the Board of Deacons. But many of these women found a way to be powerful leaders in spite of such limitations.
It doesn’t take much insight to see that the lifeblood of churches like ABC has more often than not been based on the faithfulness of women who were de facto leaders long before they were allowed to be official church leaders.