Biography of Paul R. Gregory 1985

PAUL    R.    GREGORY

Paul was born and raised in Pennsylvania and was graduated from Lehigh University at the early age of 18. He worked as a chemical engineer at Bethlehem Steel before making his decision to attend Lancaster Seminary  and  enter  the  ministry.

He met and married Kit while serving at his first church at Montville, Pennsylvania. Soon after this he was challenged by the Mission Board to take an assignment in China. In preparation for this call, they and their daughter spent time at Yale and Cornell pursuing intensive study of Chinese. Paul then ministered in Yuanling City, Hunan Provence for almost two years before having to depart due to the Communist  take  over.

In 1947, now with two little daughters, he and Kit were reassigned to Morioka, Japan, a very depressed area. The winters were so cold- that the rice in the fields would freeze before maturing, and there was much starvation. Over 8 1/2 years Paul taught the farmers to plant Ladumo clover supplied by CROP and Church World Service. Cattle were brought in and crossbred to produce a high quality strain of beef. With increasing herds of cattle, pigs and goats a very dramatic economic  change  thus  was  brought  about  in  the  whole  northern  area.

In 1957 Paul returned to the United States to be Secretary of the Division of Missions, Board for World Ministries. He and his family, now with three daughters, located in Philadelphia and Boston until this post was established in New York City in 1963. At this time the Gregorys moved to Montclair and joined First Congregational Church. While his position has necessitated much time for travel, Paul has served in numerous capacities as a Deacon, Chairman of the Membership Committee at First Congregational Church and on many other Ecumenical Boards. He and Kit will retire to Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the end of this year, following 40 years of service to the Board of World Ministries.