ABOUT DR. SPENCE

MR. PAUL SPENCE grew up in the State of North Carolina. His Father was the Founder and first President of Foundations Bible College located in Dunn, North Carolina. In Fact, his Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather were all Preachers. At sixteen years old, on a LORD'S Day Evening in the Fall of 1981, Mr. Spence confessed his sins to THE LORD in Prayer and took JESUS CHRIST as his personal SAVIOUR. He thought he had been saved before. However, it was clear to him that Evening that he had not. THE LORD had often moved on his heart in conviction, but this was the first time that he really came to repentance and faith. His change of life was immediate and obvious. This influence overshadowed the subsequent years of his life. Some weeks after his Conversion, Mr. Spence began the Society of the Biblicists. This Society consisted of six to ten young men who met every week for the reading of Scripture and Prayer. They held Street Services, donated Bibles to foreign Countries, wrote and encouraged Ministers, and often held all-night Prayer Meetings that began Friday Evenings at 10:00 p.m. While he was still sixteen years old, Mr. Spence was convinced in his conscience that his life’s calling was to preach the Word. He was moved by that “necessity” spoken of in I Corinthians 9.16. Therefore he began to devote himself to Prayer and the Study of the Word.

In the Spring of 1983, Mr. Spence graduated from Foundations Christian Academy. In the Spring of 1984, he was ordained to the Ministry. In those days, he was the youngest man in the Fellowship who had ever been ordained. In the Spring of 1985, he graduated with honors from Foundations Bible College. Immediately after Graduation, Rev. Spence served as the first Chaplain of Foundations Bible College. In 1987, Rev. Spence married Miss Janine Keith. They homeschooled their two Children. In 1989, Rev. Spence accepted the call of a little Independent Mission located in Clarksville, Pennsylvania. Here, his labors consisted of preaching the Sunday and Thursday Evening Sermons, daily distributing Tracts, daily door-to-door Visitations, weekly Children’s Catechism Classes, weekly Home Bible Studies, helping the poor, and conducting many Special Events at the Church. In the Fall of 1996, while still serving as Pastor in Clarksville, Rev. Spence began his services as Chaplain in Care Facilities located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. In those first days, he visited twelve Homes weekly. Rev. Spence's Father continually encouraged him in this Work at that time. In the Spring of 2000, Rev. Spence received his Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from the International School of Missions (ISOM) located in the Philippines in recognition of his extensive work in the Care Facilities. This is the highest honor that ISOM bestows. In the Spring of 2001, the Mission relocated to Monongahela, which was more centrally located at the heart of its outreach. In 2017, because of GOD'S further Blessing, Dr. Spence resigned his Pastorate and commenced entirely giving himself to the important Work in the Care Facilities. By this time, Dr. Spence was serving over 20 Care Facilities weekly. However, on Friday, March 13th 2020, the Care Facilities went through a fiery trial. The horrific scare of the virus stormed through. The government imposed cruel lockdowns. Some of Dr. Spence's dear Friends called him and poured out their hearts relating to what they were going through. In a few Care Facilities, almost all of the souls of the Residents departed this life in a few months. In the rest of the Care Facilities, many of Dr. Spence's Friends passed away, not because of the virus, but because of the turmoil and isolation. Shortly thereafter, many Care Facilities began permanently closing their doors. In Dr. Spence's County, the number of Care Facilities dropped from the 70s to the 20s. Among the Care Facilities Dr. Spence visited, only three to four of them requested him to continue to serve their Residents. Their admirable thinking was that if Chaplain Services were ever needed, it was then. Dr. Spence cheerfully complied. From week to week, Dr. Spence was snuck in through back doors. He preached in outdoor Assemblies. He walked around Care Facilities speaking with the Residents through their raised windows. In one place, he was with the National Guard when they came into a Care Facility. Those were sorrowful days. Many burdens were borne. Many tears were shed. Yet THE LORD did not forsake the Work. These fewer Assemblies were the largest Dr. Spence ever conducted. Not a few seemed to press in to learn how to be saved. In the height of this trial, THE LORD met Dr. Spence's financial needs. One Care Facility in particular sent him Home weekly not only with a check, but with a carload of delicious foods. Due to these Care Facilities firmly desiring Dr. Spence to continue his services among them, he thought he should keep at the Work and do what what he could to enlarge it. In four years, he went to more than 4,000 Care Facilities he did not serve in Pennsylvania (up to Erie), Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia. All in all, he was given 13 or 14 new Care Facilities through these attempts. For awhile, it looked like the Care Facility Work would return. But when the lockdowns continued, more Care Facilities closed, and many Care Facilities were sold to bigger brand names—in 2024, Dr. Spence saw that his work in these parts was finished. The worst thing of all was the new spirit among Owners, Administrators, and Activity Directors. When Dr. Spence began his work among the Care Facilities, many in leadership positions were happy to pay for Chaplain Services. Not a few said they were looking for such services. But now, the majority adopted the frigid view that spiritual services are no longer needed among the Residents. The change was dramatic. Like day and night. Therefore at the end of 2024, after much Prayer and Study, Dr. Spence purchased a house in the more free State of North Dakota, moved up with his Family, and restarted the Care Facility Work. GOD be praised for opening new doors! Some said they've been looking for Chaplain Services. It is the earnest Prayer that this new Care Facility Work in North Dakota will be blessed and be a Blessing to the Sick and the Elderly.

Some of the old Divines who have profoundly influenced Dr. Spence’s life are— 1. Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne (1813-1843). With a desire to drink up this man’s spirit, Dr. Spence in his early years read Rev. McCheyne’s Life, Letters, Poems, and Works more than forty times. 2. Rev. Dr. John Calvin (1509-1564). Dr. Spence has been richly blessed by reading Dr. Calvin’s Institutes more than six times. He looks at this set of books as a great, high, and classic statement of Pure Protestantism. 3. The Works of Rev. Dr. John Owen (1616-1683). Dr. Owen is Dr. Spence’s favorite Divine. He has had the pleasure of reading Dr. Owen’s Complete Works two times. Dr. Spence most admires Dr. Owen’s presentation of Historic Independency and his precious blend of Grace and Holiness. It was under the shadow of this Teacher that Dr. Spence acquired his Convictions relating to Historic Independency. Some other Divines Dr. Spence has carefully read are Governor William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, Dr. Cotton Mather’s Great Works Of Christ In America, the Complete Works of Dr. Richard Sibbes, the Selected Works of Dr. John Calvin, the Complete Works of Dr. John Bradford, the Complete Works of Rev. Augustus Toplady, the Complete Works of Dr. Thomas Boston, many of the Works of Dr. John Cotton, and almost all of the Works of Dr. Thomas Shepherd. To GOD be the Glory!

Dr. Spence preaching in the Summer during the lockdowns. All throughout those days, he remained full time in his work as Chaplain.