Paul
Paul Elledge
d. January 26, 2012
The Reverend Paul Elledge, an ordained minister of the Gospel for eighty-three years, died on 26 January 2012, aged 102 years. Born on 17 December 1909 in Fulton, Kentucky, he graduated from high school in Fordyce, Arkansas, from Ouchita University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and completed the Master of Divinity degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Paul was a junior at Ouchita Baptist University when he answered God's call to the ministry. On the day of his ordination, his parents told him about that long-ago Christmas when they dedicated him to the Lord. In seminary, Paul married Amy Ruth, a tiny, southern lady, who became a partner in his ministry. In time, God blessed them with two sons and three grandchildren.
When Paul graduated from seminary, he wanted to be a foreign missionary. But this was during the Depression, and Southern Baptists did not have money to send new workers. For several years, he pastured small churches in Arkansas and Louisiana. He considers his call to a large church in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the miracles of his life. Following that call, he served as pastor of Broadway Baptist Church for nine years. Then he moved to the Kansas side, where he served 13 years as director of missions. In that position, he started:
1. The Christian social ministry in Wyandotte County, including work with the Juvenile Court.
2. He worked in the United Prayer Movement, an organization that encouraged integration in black and white churches.
3. Campus Ministry at area Junior Colleges.
4. Ministry for the deaf and a visual aids library in an office for the churches.
He also supervisied the cooperative work of 26 churches and two missions in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, plus three in Tonganoxie, Paola and Leavenworth.
When Paul moved to Overland Park, the area was mostly farmland. But he had a vision of growing neighborhoods and the need for a church. With the help of dedicated Christians, he planted the seed that would become Emmanuel Baptist Church at 10100 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas.
When Paul retired, he helped start other churches and served as interim pastor of them. Then he lost Amy Ruth. In his grief, he felt his work was finished. But the Lord remembered that he had wanted to go as a foreign missionary. During that dark period, a friend who financed the way for many volunteer missionaries, asked Paul to go overseas. In his 70s, he preached in the Philippines, India, Argentina and Jamaica.
In 1987, Paul married Marie Walston, a writer he had known for many years. They were married for 25 happy years, and Paul likes to tell people, "I am a two-time winner at the marriage game."
Paul is survived by two sons, Dr. Paul Elledge of Nashville, Tennessee and Dr. William Elledge of Olympia, Washington, by three grandchildren, four great grandchildren, two stepsons, and several grand-stepchildren. Services will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Monday, 30 January, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at the Church from 10 a.m.. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Paul was a junior at Ouchita Baptist University when he answered God's call to the ministry. On the day of his ordination, his parents told him about that long-ago Christmas when they dedicated him to the Lord. In seminary, Paul married Amy Ruth, a tiny, southern lady, who became a partner in his ministry. In time, God blessed them with two sons and three grandchildren.
When Paul graduated from seminary, he wanted to be a foreign missionary. But this was during the Depression, and Southern Baptists did not have money to send new workers. For several years, he pastured small churches in Arkansas and Louisiana. He considers his call to a large church in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the miracles of his life. Following that call, he served as pastor of Broadway Baptist Church for nine years. Then he moved to the Kansas side, where he served 13 years as director of missions. In that position, he started:
1. The Christian social ministry in Wyandotte County, including work with the Juvenile Court.
2. He worked in the United Prayer Movement, an organization that encouraged integration in black and white churches.
3. Campus Ministry at area Junior Colleges.
4. Ministry for the deaf and a visual aids library in an office for the churches.
He also supervisied the cooperative work of 26 churches and two missions in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, plus three in Tonganoxie, Paola and Leavenworth.
When Paul moved to Overland Park, the area was mostly farmland. But he had a vision of growing neighborhoods and the need for a church. With the help of dedicated Christians, he planted the seed that would become Emmanuel Baptist Church at 10100 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas.
When Paul retired, he helped start other churches and served as interim pastor of them. Then he lost Amy Ruth. In his grief, he felt his work was finished. But the Lord remembered that he had wanted to go as a foreign missionary. During that dark period, a friend who financed the way for many volunteer missionaries, asked Paul to go overseas. In his 70s, he preached in the Philippines, India, Argentina and Jamaica.
In 1987, Paul married Marie Walston, a writer he had known for many years. They were married for 25 happy years, and Paul likes to tell people, "I am a two-time winner at the marriage game."
Paul is survived by two sons, Dr. Paul Elledge of Nashville, Tennessee and Dr. William Elledge of Olympia, Washington, by three grandchildren, four great grandchildren, two stepsons, and several grand-stepchildren. Services will be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Monday, 30 January, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at the Church from 10 a.m.. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Emmanuel Baptist Church.
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