Glendal and T.E. Pate

In 1961, a young man, T.E. (Red) Pate moved to Rusk with his young wife and three small sons: Thomas, Jr., Steven Dale and Jan Evans. The Church, although already established and affiliated with the United Pentecostal Church, was more like a home mission work. Along with the pastor's family, there were eight members. The building was so old and rickety that it was held together at the ceiling with turn buckles connected to taut wires. Among charter members of the church were Elsie Kimbrell, daughter, Jeannette Kennedy, A.B. and Morene Trawick, and Jack and Julia Barnette Harris. Young Pastor Pate had to supply his own income and much of the church's expenses. He worked as a crane operator for various construction companies, one being Brown and Root. This occupation called for long drives to job sites and many times, there was little sleep between an evening church service and time to leave for work the next morning.

It is quite hard to believe, after 40 years of ministry here and their being so beloved in the community, that the little church was not welcome in this town. It was located in a residential area where many of the neighbors petitioned for its banishment. The young pastor was undaunted and went forward with the members he had and the meager building fearlessly, if not somewhat dismayed. He knew the call from God that came so clearly and He knew he had vision that kept Him and the family going. Faith in the vision God had given him of a church in Rusk was all the motivation this family needed to stay around. At this time in our culture, "Pentecostals" were considered from the other side of the tracks and not matter how much good came from the church, there were always scoffers and busybodies in the wings to heckle the little congregation; however, it only served to united the members in loved and determination to fulfill the Great Commission.

The time came that the little church had to be replaced. And then a few years later, the time for a new construction. Pastor Pate had the confidence of Mr. Eldredige Gregg and he provided the financing for this new building. He respected the obvious hand of God at work in the First United Pentecostal Church of Rusk.

Bishop T.E. and Glendale Pate

It would not be a true story if I did not mention the helpmeet. Mrs. Glendale Pate, Pastor's wife and full time musician for the church. Even when she was young, her robust voice and anointed playing of the piano brought the saints into a mood of worship and praise. It was not a rare occurrence for her to "make" her boys sing special songs in the church services. Sometimes they were the choir and always they were the typical preacher's kids (p.k.'s) -- blamed for things they may or may not have done. She also contributed to her husband's income by working as a checker at Brookshire Bros., as a veterinary assistant to Dr. Marting and running a fruit stand selling fresh fruit, worked as a nurse's aid at Newburn Hospital in Jacksonville. It was at this time that she decided, "If I'm going to have to work, I want to get paid good money for my work." She started and completed nursing school at Angelina College, in Lufkin, while working graveyard shifts to help out. She graduated, passed her state board examination and became a registered nurse. In 1978, she hired on at Rusk Independent School District as the school nurse -- a job she retired from after 20+ years. I took the time to calculate once and determined the lives of children alone that she touched during her tenure as school nurse was in excess of 3,200 (by my estimation).

The young boys also helped out by mowing lawns, working in the fruit stand, hauling hay, and doing about any job that was available without complaining. They lived in a small trailer behind the church after the boys got a bit older (ages 9-13). School was difficult at times due to their hard work and church duties. Many sacrifices were made on the part of the boys for the success of the church. The United Pentecostal Church of which they were a part frowned upon any kind of organized sport activities. Their spare time was spent working and learning music both vocally and instrumentally. All three of the boys became accomplished musicians on the trumpet as well as get singers and soloists.

The boys turned into young men, all willing to work hard and assist the family as well as the church. Young Thomas Jr. (Tom-El as he was known) worked for Wallace Thompson Hardware and drove an ambulance for them as well. it was this tie that he became interested in the work of Funeral Director. He married and moved to South Texas where he worked for Dow Chemical until 1980. He moved his family back to Rusk and evangelized throughout the U.S. having his headquarters here. He became an ordained minister in the UPC and worked faithfully as a district youth president He also went to college and received his license in Mortuary. During his work as a funeral director at Thompson Funeral in Jacksonville, Texas, Thomas had an automobile accidents at which time he broke his hip. After much time spent in the hospital and many surgeries to repair and later replace his hip joint, Thomas passed away in October 2002 due to complications following an unsuccessful hip replacement surgery. His son Joey, now married to Suzette Clement, now lives in Rusk and works there at the Hospital Nikki, his daughter is a teacher in Jacksonville and his adopted daughter, Jessie is a student at Rusk Junior Higher. He is greatly missed by the church, his family and all those who loved him dearly.

Steven Dales (Steve as everybody knows him) married young (age 16) and moved away briefly to Temple, Texas, south Texas and finally back to East Texas. He operated Pate Timber Company, for several years and ministers in song at the church on the Hill. He is presently working for Builder's Best  in Jacksonville where he lives with his wife, Pam. They have quite an extended family now. The eldest of their three sons, Steven, is married to Leslie and they have two daughters, Kelsi and Abigail. Spencer, the middle son ia married to Brandi and they have two children, a son, Aidan who is 2 years old and a brand new daughter, Kylie Grace who was borned in June of 2005. The youngest of Steve and Pam's sons, Jeremy who is presently single, is an officer in the Cherokee County Sherriff's Department.

Jan and Susan Pate

The elder Pate's youngest son, Jan Evan, also married young (17), moved to Nacogdoches for a year, but felt the call to come back to Rusk to help his father in the church here in 1978. It was at that time that he and his wife, Susan started a singing group, New Kingdom Heirs. He owned and worked a pulpwood operation during the week and the group traveled and ministered in song on the weekends. Presently, he and his wife Susan live in Rusk and he is the Senior Pastor working under his father, the Bishop or overseer of all the ministries of the First Church on the Hill. Their own family has grown extensively as well. Their first born, a daughter, Summer Bri'Ann married Jeremy Driver of Whitehouse, Texas in 1997. They live in Rusk and are both ministers in the church. They share in each other's ministry of Music and Youth. They presently have two sons, Bryce Paten, born in 2001, and Jeran Trent, born in May of 2005. The elder son, Dannon Kitt married Amber Nicole Carroll of Rusk in 2000. they live in Jacksonville and are both instrumental in the administration of the church. Dannon is a creative writer, authoring dramatic production, and Amber is the administrator of the church offices. Dannon and Amber have one child, a little girl, named Raygan JoAnna born in November of 2003. Jan-Michal, the younger of Jan and Susan's children married Carissa LeeAnn Driver (Jeremy's younger sister) in December of 2003. They, too live in Rusk and are active in the church in several areas. They have no children at this time, only a Yorkshire terrier named August.

The elder Pate, tells of his dream of seeing "wall to wall" people of all ages, races, and social standings worshipping together. He lived to see this dream materialize before his eyes. Glendale Pate, after 40 years as a pastor's wife spent some time ministering in music to several surrounding churches, spanning Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches. Presently, as the elder Pate is in poor health, her time is spent caring for him. She also came out of retirement and joined the nursing staff at Rusk State Hospital.

These people are known for their immense contribution to this community, not only spiritually, but also socially and morally. Bro. Pate, as he is lovingly referred to, has ministered in every way possible for some forty years along with his wife. She has ministered in her own right to many people in the area of medicine. She has user her training often, even to the point of delivering babies and assisting in adoptions of parentless children. She also has bee instrumental in the county capacity of "Children First", a class required by all residents of Cherokee County who are in the process of divorce.

Over all, they have left an impact upon their work that will last forever. They already have mayn stars in their crown in this life and are beloved by so many. Thank God for Bro. and Sister Pate, Sr.