wfn.org | ABCUSA: David Paddlety, Pastor and Indian Leader, Dies

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 11/12/03)--The Rev. David
Paddlety, a pastor and leader of Indian ministries within American Baptist
Churches USA, died Oct. 30.
 
A member of the Kiowa tribe, Paddlety originally served as a chaplain's
assistant in the United States Army and then worked for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs.  When he retired he moved to Arizona to serve as the first Native
American pastor of Sunlight Mission at Second Mesa, Ariz. 

Sunlight Mission was founded in the early 1900s by the Kiowa Women's
Missionary Society in Oklahoma, which raised funds to send a missionary to
the Hopi Indian tribe in Arizona. 

Paddlety later served as pastor of First Apache Indian American Baptist
Church at Fort Cobb, Okla., and Wichita Community Church near Anadarko,
Okla.  At the time of his death he was serving as co-pastor of Red Stone
Baptist Church, Anadarko.

"The Rev. David Paddlety had a very deep love for his Indian people and
wanted them to follow the Jesus Road," said the Rev. Wilfred Brown, who
coordinates Indian Ministries for National Ministries.	Brown added: "A
person of vision and leader to his people, he was very dedicated to his
wife, his family and his church, but most of all to Jesus Christ.  He will
be missed by the Native American community and the American Baptist family."

A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at Red Stone Baptist Church in Anadarko,
Okla.  Paddlety is survived by his wife, Louise, two sons, three daughters,
16 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Condolences may be sent to
Mrs. Louise Paddlety, 507 W. Louisiana Ave., Anadarko, OK  73005-4832.

K/2003ABNS/03ABN137

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org