Originally a Michigander, Paul was raised in the Dutch culture of Grand Rapids near a family farm still operated by the extended family. His Baptist missionary parents were sent to Assam, India after pastoring churches in lower Michigan and Alaska. Paul attended Woodstock School(in India) for high school and Greenville College (Illinois) for his undergraduate studies. He and Joy married in 1970 when she completed college.

Paul pursued an M.Div. degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago while Joy taught school. While in seminary, they participated with the movement that evolved into Sojourners Magazine. For nine years, Paul and Joy lived in the Upper Peninsula as charter members of the Menominee River Fellowship, an intentional Christian community. During that time, they had contact with various Christian communities including Reba Place Fellowship near Chicago.

After leaving the community, Paul accepted a call to a small Mennonite congregation in rural western Pennsylvania. Paul and Joy embraced the Anabaptist heritage that seemed to match their own journey and commitment to discipleship, community, simplicity, peace and service. Paul combined his part-time pastoring with the trades of carpentry, painting and plumbing. These skills proved to be valuable as they rebuilt a 150-year old house nestled amongst Amish and English farms. Paul also completed a D. Min. degree with an emphasis in Spiritual Direction and Family Systems from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. After nine years at the Maple Grove Church, Paul then pastored a church-planting congregation in Erie, PA for three years.

In August 1995, the seven-member Versluis family moved to Corvallis, OR where Paul pastored the Prince of Peace Mennonite Church. At present, Anna (25) is a grad student in geo-sciences at Oregon State University; Bethany (22) graduated from Eastern Mennonite University this spring and currently works in VA; Sara (18) will attend Eastern Mennonite University after combining on a grass seed farm for her summer job; Rachel (nearly 15) anticipates high school and Paul IV (12), a better person for all those sisters, will handle seventh grade just fine. For the past four years, Joy taught high school English part-time at a Christian school near their home. She likes reading, writing, walking, gardening, music, and having everyone pick up their rooms. Paul and Joy will celebrate 31 years of marriage in August.

Paul’s claim to fame is that he once made a touchdown for the Detroit Lions back in the 70’s. Unfortunately it was only in his dreams. While he excitedly sleep-talked, "I did it! I did it," Joy offered her congratulations only to have Paul humbly say, "I could not have done it without the team."

Last updated: August 11, 2001
This page maintained by Curtis Weaverdyck cweave@umich.edu