Paul Elwyn Moore

Paul Moore was a larger-than-life figure. Capable and intelligent, he was remarkable, yet humble. He could do anything he set his mind to, but not before putting God first. He did not compromise his principles but was not rigid. He exemplified integrity but wasn’t fault-finding. He was a husband, father, minister, professor, carpenter, and architecture. He was many things, but above all, he was a man of God.

Paul was born of humble beginnings. The Moore family lived in a dugout at the time of his birth, a mere hole in the ground, consisting of a roof that was made up of two car chassis. It was not an uncommon dwelling for the poor during the height of the Great Depression. For this reason, Paul was born at the neighbor’s farmhouse, on October 4, 1933. It was a harsh time, where growing up poor was practically requisite to being a member of society, but the Moore’s always found ways to live a joyful life. Paul had ten siblings, although only six sisters and one brother reached adulthood.

As a child, he often walked barefoot to school until the weather became cold. He started working with his family in the fields and orchards when very young. By the age of five, he was picking asparagus. Being so young, he was allowed only half a wage. By the age of eight, he was earning a man’s wage.

In 1954, the family moved to Saint Helena, California. Paul was an early teen when he came across an ad in the Gleaner for Willie White’s old home which was originally part of the Elmshaven Estate that now houses an Ellen White Museum. It was there that the family started Rose Haven, a rest home for the elderly. This care home was in the family from 1954 to 2018. The home was near Pacific Union College. While going to college, he met and fell in love with Jeannie Wyant, who would soon become his wife. He adored her and loved spending time with her above anyone else. Their marriage lasted for sixty-three years – “till death doeth part”.

He completed his first master’s at Columbia Union College and from there went on to pastor churches in Port Orchard, Yelm, Bremerton, and Morton, Washington. In 1966 Paul accepted a call to Entre Rios, Argentina as a professor of Greek and Hebrew. To prepare for this, Jeannie and Paul spent time learning Spanish. Then they set out on a ship with their children, Miriam, Simeon, and Paul Jr, passing through the Panama Canal in order to reach Argentina. Once there, the family welcomed their youngest child, Daniel.

Paul left a lasting impact on the Colegio Adventista del Plata students and faculty. Knowing how much their Father cherished his time there, his oldest granddaughter, Rachelle organized a trip for him and the family to return and visit. Tickets were purchased to travel to ‘La Villa, but to everyone’s disappointment, the airline cancelled the flight due to Covid.

Leaving Argentina for Texas in 1977, Paul accepted the role of youth leader for the Texas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. He served as Director of Lone Star Camp during the Summers, as well as leading out with Pathfinders and other youth programs in the State. He also played a pivotal role in developing Nameless Valley Ranch. After this foundational work, he took a call to pastor the Arlington Seventh-Day Adventist church.

Always being one to love a challenge, he began discussing the need for a larger church. One of his friends, Lloyd Whitten went with him as they looked for properties and they found the land where the current Arlington church stands. (The Church was able to buy the property for the amazing price of two dollars a square foot and building began.)

Paul and his sons built the parsonage not far from the church. The boys spent a memorable summer building the home with their Father’s supervision. Paul, Jr. was yet a teenager and drew up some plans for a colonial-style home. His Father liked the drawings and incorporated his designs. This home is still in the family, as his daughter, Miriam, and her husband care for frail elderly in the home.

In subsequent years he returned to pastor a church in Yakima, Washington. This was in the same area where he began as a young pastor. It was during this time that he became interested in radio and eventually founded Lifetalk Radio. This broadcasting ministry is located in Tennessee and has 80 affiliates in the United States, as long as 113 stations internationally. The main station is streamed through Roku and also can be accessed on the internet.

Following his involvement with Lifetalk Radio, Paul retired and moved back to Arlington where he still had family. Although retired, he was anything but idle. During his “retirement” he spent twenty years working with his son Simeon, utilizing his skills of architecture and carpentry to develop medical clinics, he loved teaching Sabbath School and he sat on the board of the Burton Adventist Academy. (He was invested in the school as his youngest son, Daniel attended his Junior and Senior years there in the eighties. Several grandchildren graduated from Burton Academy and two of his great-grandchildren are presently attending the church school.)

The last few years of his life, he and Jeanie joined the Grand Prairie church. He was excited about their building project and loved going to a small church. He also became interested in his grandniece, Melissa Harding’s orphanage and boarding school for at risk children in Bolivia. He travelled there to help with building the foundation and structures for the main edifice of La Familia Feliz. He also helped fund the endeavor.

Paul loved God and wanted as many people to know Him as possible. After he had a stroke a few years ago he began to struggle with some aphasia. After a recent stroke, he passed away quietly after a short convalescence. He was ninety years old. He died on November 6, 2023, surrounded by those that loved him.

It is with a heavy heart that we lay him to rest. But we know we will see him again in the Kingdom of Heaven. Until then, he is dearly missed.