Roger and Marcia Pauley

It was Dr. Frank Sells who first used the term “spiritual father” in my hearing. I was a young student when I came to understand that there are men used of God to nurture and guide the next generation. 

Paul understood this principle. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15). John also would reference a group of spiritually mature examples as “fathers” (1 John 2:12-14). It is a rare blessing, but it is my heritage. My physical father truly became a spiritual father to me.

Dad was a businessman and faithful church member when God called him to preach in his 30s. It was shortly thereafter that I surrendered my life to preach the gospel. As he grew, he taught me. Dad became my best friend and spiritual mentor. He was my first preaching professor!

When I was in Bible college I thought perhaps God would allow me to return to West Virginia and serve with my dad in our home church. I interned there in the summers, but it was not the Lord’s will for me to go home once I graduated. At each season in my life and ministry, Dad and Mom were a constant encouragement and source of good counsel. And, as the years went by, none of us thought that we would be allowed to minister side by side again.

In the summer of 2016, we moved back to the family farm in West Virginia and lived close to one another for the first time in two decades. The Cranberry Baptist Church in Beckley became our sending church. When Dad retired from a 33-year pastorate of our home church, he came on our team and joined us in an itinerant ministry to other pastors and churches. It has been a great joy to serve together again, and the Lord is using him and mom to help so many other servants of Christ.

One of the lasting blessings of Dad’s ministry was the wise and fruitful transition he made to the pastor who followed him. Pastor Kevin Cormican served with Dad for a couple of years as an assistant and co-pastor and is being used of the Lord now to lead the church forward. Watching the passing of the shepherd’s staff and the continued growth of the flock has been a thrilling thing. (Watch for a special video interview regarding this pastoral transition in the near future.)

Dad preached about 50 meetings in his first three months on the road and has continued to speak regularly at revivals, pastor’s meetings, mission conferences, and special events. Mom speaks at ladies’ gatherings and they love ministering together at marriage retreats and family conferences. Mom’s experience in starting and directing a church daycare has also been a great resource for other ministries.

They are both happy Christians and I am grateful to call Roger and Marcia Pauley my parents. They have demonstrated through over 50 years of marriage what “Enjoying the Journey” looks like. If you would like to communicate with them regarding a potential meeting or need counsel, email them at [email protected] or [email protected]. 

(Read Roger Pauley’s full bio here. You may also listen to one of his Bible messages “While I Was Musing.”)

About Scott Pauley