| We are a traditional neighborhood church. |
| Elm Avenue Baptist Church |
| 1510 N. 17th St. Grand Junction Colorado 81501 970-243-8541 |
| se habla espanol |
| "And we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word." Acts 6:4 |
I grew up on a farm in Iowa attending an independent Baptist church. Like many Evangelicals, I was
encouraged at a young age (7 years old in my case) to "ask Jesus into my heart". For me it was my older
brother acting from what he had been taught. So, to keep out of Hell, I prayed "the sinner's prayer". Our
pastor assured me I was saved and I was soon baptized and became a member of our Baptist church. I have
come to describe my life after this as "bi-polar Christianity". My life was a round of worldly living and
numerous "re-dedications". Following one of these re-dedications, I enrolled in Bible institute to prepare for
the mission field. Surely this was the most spiritual place I could be.
In my first year, I met my wife, Becky, and we transferred to Rio Grande Bible Institute. It was there
through the ministry of Professor Bill Hueston that I was confronted with my non-biblical understanding of
grace. I had a dilemma. I discovered that I did not believe the Book we were studying. As a product of the
public school system, I believed in evolution, albeit for me, "theistic". When I was confronted with the
Sovereignty of God, I was literally driven to my knees in February of 1975 and I surrendered to the God of the
universe and immediately I BELIEVED! The Word of God came alive as I studied and the doctrine of
salvation thrilled me.
Our plan was to go to the mission field, but God had other plans. In submission to His will we served as
laymen in various churches in Minnesota and Colorado. I continued to preach as a pulpit supply and interim
pastor and led home Bible studies. To support my family, I worked in the building trades and metal work.
In order to be closer to our kids (3) in their growing up years, I took a job as a ranch-hand for about 7
years. When the kids were grown, I went back into construction management. In 2001, I was asked to help out
with pulpit supply at a small Southern Baptist Church (now known as Elm Avenue Baptist).
After 9/11, I began realizing that God was calling us into a more worthwhile and lasting job and surrendered to
full-time ministry in April 2002.
In November of 2006, after the loss of our grandson, Isaac, God began a work of renewal and revival in
both our lives. This website is an outgrowth of that movement of God in us and Elm Avenue Baptist Church.
encouraged at a young age (7 years old in my case) to "ask Jesus into my heart". For me it was my older
brother acting from what he had been taught. So, to keep out of Hell, I prayed "the sinner's prayer". Our
pastor assured me I was saved and I was soon baptized and became a member of our Baptist church. I have
come to describe my life after this as "bi-polar Christianity". My life was a round of worldly living and
numerous "re-dedications". Following one of these re-dedications, I enrolled in Bible institute to prepare for
the mission field. Surely this was the most spiritual place I could be.
In my first year, I met my wife, Becky, and we transferred to Rio Grande Bible Institute. It was there
through the ministry of Professor Bill Hueston that I was confronted with my non-biblical understanding of
grace. I had a dilemma. I discovered that I did not believe the Book we were studying. As a product of the
public school system, I believed in evolution, albeit for me, "theistic". When I was confronted with the
Sovereignty of God, I was literally driven to my knees in February of 1975 and I surrendered to the God of the
universe and immediately I BELIEVED! The Word of God came alive as I studied and the doctrine of
salvation thrilled me.
Our plan was to go to the mission field, but God had other plans. In submission to His will we served as
laymen in various churches in Minnesota and Colorado. I continued to preach as a pulpit supply and interim
pastor and led home Bible studies. To support my family, I worked in the building trades and metal work.
In order to be closer to our kids (3) in their growing up years, I took a job as a ranch-hand for about 7
years. When the kids were grown, I went back into construction management. In 2001, I was asked to help out
with pulpit supply at a small Southern Baptist Church (now known as Elm Avenue Baptist).
After 9/11, I began realizing that God was calling us into a more worthwhile and lasting job and surrendered to
full-time ministry in April 2002.
In November of 2006, after the loss of our grandson, Isaac, God began a work of renewal and revival in
both our lives. This website is an outgrowth of that movement of God in us and Elm Avenue Baptist Church.
| Pastor Paul's Bio |
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