A Word From the Perot Fa mily Headm aster
St. Philip’s Gives Tribute to the Life and Legacy of Dr. Barbara Cambridge We are humbled that when God created Dr. Barbara
Cambridge, he knew she would pray, probe, push, promote, and persist for the promise of the ministry of St. Philip’s and would have a mighty impact on many lives. In the celebrated poem, "The Creation," renown poet James Weldon Johnson beautifully interprets and retells life’s beginnings. It opens with God reflecting on the emptiness of space and the recognition of His loneliness. In doing so, He decides to make the world. Johnson goes on to describe how God took things from darkness, cast the stars, made the moon, sun, along with the water and the creatures of the sea, land, and sky. “And God said, That’s good.”
James Weldon Johnson died June 26, 1938, yet, the story of
Johnson ends the historic work with: “This great God, Like
creation did not end with him. Four months after the death
a mammy bending over her baby, Kneeled down in the
of James Weldon Johnson, I believe God looked at the
dust, Toiling over a lump of clay, Till he shaped it in is His
advancements of humanity and the conditions of the world
own image; Then into it he blew the breath of life, And man
and said, “I’m not satisfied, I’ll make Barbara Cambridge.”
became a living soul. Amen. Amen.”
God knew He was sending her to a racially challenged yet promise-filled city in Texas called Dallas. When Barbara found her way to South Dallas, I am convinced God said, “That’s good.” In a blink of an eye, God allowed Barbara and a faithful crew to seed a ministry in South Dallas through the establishment of a church called St. Philip’s. And God said, “That’s good.” Barbara Cambridge and the church members looked at the needs of the community and the church congregation dug into the depths of their resources and joined with other Episcopalian friends to fuel the fires of their passion; launching an athletic program for youth in the neighborhood. And God said, “That’s good.”
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WINTER MAGAZINE 2019
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