Paul L. Kratz became involved in the concerted
effort of EMC’s Young People’s Christian Association (YPCA), the
Southern District of Virginia Mennonite Conference (VMC), and the
Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions (VMBM)
in the church planting effort in Staunton in the Spring of 1958, while
he was still a sophomore at EMC. Shortly after graduating, he was
licensed July 25, 1961, to assist Roy Kiser
who was pastoring part-time at both Staunton and
Mountain View Mennonite
churches. Within the year Roy transferred to Mountain View and Paul was
ordained as lead pastor for Staunton. During his pastorate, the meeting
place was moved from the storefront on Haile Street to the present
location on Third Street. He served as pastor of the Staunton Mennonite
Church until early 1969, when he and Evelyn were sent as missionaries
under VMBM to Guyana, South America. From 1972-1979 they served under
VMBM on the island of Trinidad. From 1979-1985, he served as assistant
pastor at
Zion
Hill Mennonite Church, near Singers Glen, Virginia; and from
1985-1997, as pastor of
Mount Clinton
Mennonite Church, near Harrisonburg. In 1993, he was appointed to
serve as overseer of five churches in the Central District of VMC, and
is still serving in that capacity today. Most of his pastorates paid
from little remuneration to as much as half-time, so Evelyn often worked
to make it possible for Paul to do more ministry. For the last decade
she has been Director of Financial Services for VMBM and VMC.
While pastoring in Staunton, Paul taught in several Augusta County
Public schools. In the early eighties, he wrote two Bible correspondence
courses for Mennonite Board of Missions Media Ministries. From
1981-1988, he was editor of The Sword and Trumpet magazine, and edited a
couple of books at the same time. He served as secretary of VMC for ten
years (1981-1991), and as secretary of the
Faith and Life
Commission of VMC for six years (1999-2005).
