Clifford E. “Mac” McLain was born October 21, 1909 in Blanchard, Oklahoma where he attended high school. In 1949 he received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Atlanta Bible Institute, Georgia (now Atlanta Southern, associated with Trinity Schools of the South), and later was granted a degree of Doctor of Divinity from Trinity Bible Seminary in Atlanta.
He was a World War II veteran of two years’ service with the U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater, where he met his future wife, Peggy, an Army nurse lieutenant, while they were in the Medical Corps. They later adopted a fine son, David. Dr. McLain was a member of American Legion Post 145.
Dr. McLain founded Grace Institute of the Bible in Oklahoma City, serving as its director for several years and teacher for 5 years. He co-founded with Ben McCammon the Northside Bible Church in 1966. He hosted a successful, live radio program, “What’s the Question,” on KQCV for several years. Until the last few years of his life, he conducted frequent Bible seminars at Big Spring Federal Prison, Texas, and maintained contact with many of the men who had been influenced to turn to the Christian life through his teachings. He was probably best known for his various Bible studies throughout the Oklahoma City area, Publications Written by Clifford McLain occasionally, other cities in Oklahoma as requested.
Authoring several books, numerous study papers, charts and sermon and study cassette tapes, Dr. McLain’s principal emphasis was on the calling of Ephesians 3:9: “To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” Consequently, his works focused on the Apostle Paul’s epistles written after Acts 28:28 -- the “Mystery” letters. From his teaching, a multitude of Christians have more correctly understood those letters (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Timothy, Titus and Philemon) concerning Apostle Paul’s ministry and our present dispensational calling and hope. His life verse was I Timothy 4:16: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
Dr. McLain went to be with the Lord on March 4, 1990 in Oklahoma City, and his legacy is eternal.
