Return to Articles Index AMA's Oldest Pioneer Preacher by Owen Wilkie Tommie Paul In 1901 President William McKinley was assassinated, making Theodore Roosevelt our 26th President. That same year Walt Disney was born, Hubert Cecil Booth patented the vacuum cleaner, King Camp Gillette patented his safety razor, the Cadillac car company was formed in Detroit, Michigan, and Australia became a nation. In October of 1901, Tommie Paul, our oldest minister currently on AMA, was born to Pank and Phoenia Paul in Pope, Mississippi. Tommie lived his childhood in Pope, then moved to Garner, Arkansas, as a young man, where he married Hazel on December 3, 1922. When Tommie got saved early in their marriage Hazel told him she was not going to that “holy roller” church he attended. But, seeing the change in his life, she soon joined him in church, got saved, and served the Lord the rest of her life. Tommie felt called of the Lord to preach shortly after he accepted Christ, and began his ministry as an evangelist. His oldest daughter, Martha Hooper, remembers that he conducted revivals in such towns as Griffithville, Tupelo, Earl, and Bald Knob, Arkansas. She also remembers meetings in Kensett, Hayti and Gideon, Missouri, and in Pioneer, Louisiana. Tommie pioneered a church in Stringham Bend in the mid 30s, and pastored in Higginson and Griffithville. While pastoring at Griffithville he and his family lived in a vacant house because neither they nor the church could afford housing. When not holding revivals he often filled in at churches while they were looking for a pastor. Tommie and Hazel produced six children, all of whom followed the example set by their parents in serving the Lord. One son and one son-in-law became Assemblies of God ministers. Hazel passed away in 1986. Four children are still living. Tommie Paul today, at 102 years old, has 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 24 great-great grandchildren, and one great-great-great-grandchild. Currently he lives in a nursing facility in Judsonia, Arkansas. Martha says about her father: “Dad never met a stranger and he would eventually get around to talking Bible or talking about the Lord. Dad could quote Scripture about as well as anyone I know.” Tommie Paul is just one of the nearly 500 retired or disabled ministers receiving financial help from Aged Ministers Assistance. Each one is a reference library of stories they could tell of the churches they planted, the miracles they witnessed, the souls they led to Christ, the persecution they faced, and of God’s provision and guidance on their lives. Many spent all or much of their ministry pastoring in small assemblies where they received little or no financial support. They all gave their lives in selfless sacrifice to win people to Christ in our nation and around the world. Our Assemblies of God fellowship owes a debt of gratitude to Tommie Paul and all our retired missionaries, pastors and evangelists.