Claude D. Ambrose was born in Chicago, Illinois and at an early age moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he continued his education, graduated from Harrisburg High School and attended Stevens State in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. After returning to Chicago as a young adult, and through the leading of God’s Spirit, he became actively involved in church ministry at St. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois, under the pastorate of his spiritual father, John H. Rice, Sr. During his nearly 30 year tenure, he served in various capacities, including serving as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, and Outreach Ministry Director. In 1991, God called him to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through Minister Ambrose’s passionate pursuit to experience God, he worked to develop and enhance his unique gifting of teaching, heart for counseling, as well as making true worship a priority. After the retirement of Pastor John Rice, Minister Ambrose was asked to serve as Interim Pastor, where he continued to lead the congregation spiritually from 2010 to 2013.

After 36 years of service with Union Pacific Railroad, he retired early as Manager of Operations, to pursue full-time ministry. In 2014 he accepted God’s next divine assignment and founded The Word Worship Center (TWWC), where he currently serves as Senior Pastor. TWWC is a powerful, personal and progressive ministry located in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, which operates by its motto: “A Church Where The WORD is Priority and The SPIRIT Has Authority.” As an effective communicator of God’s Word, Pastor Ambrose is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style, which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives. Pastor Ambrose and his wife, “Lady Charlie,” enjoy co-laboring in the ministry. Their joint passion is providing pre-marital and marital counseling, as well as leading God’s people to experience the full presence of God through worship. Pastor Ambrose received his higher-level education from Chicago Baptist Institute and Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago, Illinois. His favorite bible personality is David, as he is drawn to David’s heart for God and his relationship with Him.

He and his wife live in the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and have one son, Andrae and a daughter-in-law, Denise Ambrose. Every Friday he makes it a priority to spend “date night’ with his lovely wife of 33 years, and in his spare time he enjoys fishing, yard work, and watching a good football or basketball game in his man cave.