Paul Burleson

If I were to name one pastor and who’s had the biggest impact on my life, I would immediately say, “Paul Burleson.” I’ve known him since I was 19-years-old (he married us)…but he was my pastor for only eight months. Paul went to heaven yesterday. Let me tell you how he made such an incredible impact on my life in such a short amount of time. 

My husband, Andy, was a college student when Paul & Mary Burleson came to his home church in Borger, TX. Andy would come home on weekends to hear his teaching. Then about twelve years later, Bro. Paul (as we called him), asked Andy to consider coming on staff with him in Broken Arrow (BA), Oklahoma. I’ll never forget the interview process.  We were coming from a church we loved and the Spirit was clearly showing me there were issues in this church. I was struggling, so I asked Bro. Paul why they had come to BA. He replied, “That’s a good question. I was teaching principles in Southcliff Baptist Church in Ft. Worth to seminary students and God asked me to come practice them here.” So we packed everything up and moved to BA to learn from Bro. Paul & Mary.   

I can look back on my life and see how God prepared me to be a pastor’s wife by putting special pastors and wives in my life. But I was about to get a crash course from Bro. Paul & Mary. Paul took a staff of 8 (mostly) younger men and trained them. Staff meetings were about equity, respect, unity, listening, sharing information, and empowerment. Once a month, each couple took a turn hosting a staff fellowship where we built solid relationships—which have endured the test of time. Once a week, staff wives met for lunch and discussed a myriad of topics. Even though each pastor’s wife took a turn leading, Mary taught us so much during those lunches. She was not your typical pastor’s wife and caused us to constantly search for truth. We shared, we cried together, and we learned from one another. Those eight months were a crash course, indeed. In BA, God defined our ministry and launched us into our own identity as leaders—having been trained by the best. The tools we were given by Bro. Paul & Mary have been invaluable to us through the years. 

As good leaders do, Bro. Paul & Mary have stayed invested in our lives. They’ve watched us grow. I remember telling them I was so glad they were a few steps ahead of us so we could learn from them. We watched them parent and copied many things we learned from them.  I think the most impactful thing I’ve learned from them through the years is they’ve not been afraid to admit failures and to ask for forgiveness. They’ve also admitted principles they held to early in their lives were wrong and they no longer believed that way. Early on, Bro. Paul especially saw things very black and white and was a very strong (and vocal) individual.  I saw him change; conceding that relationship was better than being right. He never quit growing or changing. 

If you don’t know Paul Burleson, his greatest contribution to the kingdom of God (besides his family and mentoring pastors) was his teaching on the tabernacle.  He wrote a book a year ago compiling all he’d learned—which you can find on Amazon. It’s called, “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness: a Tale Told in Types.” This teaching transformed my life and I apply it in so many ways today. I encourage you to read it!

I’m jealous today of what and who Bro. Paul is seeing. I can imagine his delight, his loud voice as he sings in praise (wishing he had keys to jingle in rhythm), and his big laugh as he hugs people he’s missed.  But most of all, he’s all smiles as he sees the One he’s loved most. 

I’ve already asked God to thank him for all he taught me and the huge impact he’s had on my life.