Promoted to Glory: General (Dr.) Paul A. Rader
March 14, 1934 - January 18, 2025
Paul Alexander Rader was born to Lyell Mayes and Gladys Damon Rader on March 14, 1934, in the Bronx, New York. Paul was raised in a wholly committed legendary Salvation Army family. Rader spent his undergraduate years at Asbury University, then studied at Asbury Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating with BA, BD, and MTh degrees.
At Asbury, he met and married Kay Fuller, who graduated with a BA degree in education. Together, they entered The Salvation Army School for Officer Training in New York as members of the Soldiers of Christ session in September 1960. They were appointed as Cadet-Lieutenants to Newark, New Jersey in 1961, and were ordained and commissioned on June 14,1962 as officers in The Salvation Army.
Lieutenants Paul and Kay Rader felt called to be missionaries to South Korea, and upon their commissioning they were appointed to be on the faculty at The Salvation Army Officer Training College in the Korea Territory. In their early years there they studied the Korean language, becoming fluent enough to preach and teach in Korean. They served in a variety of capacities including education, evangelism, and administration before returning to America for two years in 1972 with their three children. Paul Rader, then a major, was assigned to the Southern California Divisional Headquarters World Services Department. While in California, Rader studied at Fuller Theological Seminary, earning his doctorate in Missiology.
In August 1973, the Raders returned to the Korea Territory, with Major Paul first serving as the training principal, then later as territorial education secretary. In October 1977, Major Rader was appointed chief secretary and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In February 1984, the Raders returned to the United States after 22 years of service in Korea, where Paul would serve as principal of the School for Officer Training in Suffern, New York. It was at that time that he was awarded a Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree from Asbury University.
In January 1989, Colonel Rader was appointed as chief secretary of the USA Eastern Territory, and in October 1989 he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner upon becoming leader of the USA Western Territory. In 1994, Rader was elected the first American-born General of The Salvation Army with an unprecedented unanimous vote and held this London-based role of international leadership until 1999. During those years, Commissioner (Dr.) Kay Rader was the world president of The Salvation Army’s women’s organizations. Together, they travelled to over 75 countries, bringing encouragement, inspiration, and growth to the work of The Salvation Army around the world.
Upon retirement, General (Dr.) Rader served as the 15th president of Asbury University from 2000 through 2006. As president, he was known to regularly attend events on campus, offering encouragement and support to undergraduate and graduate students alike. He retired from this position in 2006 and lived his remaining years in Lexington, Kentucky with his beloved wife Kay.
General (Dr.) Paul Rader was a godly man who lived in service to others and, most of all, to Christ. He was a lifelong learner with a deep commitment to education, the power of prayer, and Holiness. He was the most devoted of husbands to his wife of 68 years, Kay, and her strongest supporter as they shared in ministry side-by-side. He was also the most devoted of fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, leaving a legacy of love, integrity, humility, and conviction. Through all his years, he maintained a sense of humor and a stalwart belief that we all hold the capacity to overcome.
He is survived by his wife, Commissioner Kay; three children: Edie (Jack) Moon, JP (Helen) Rader, Jennie (Ray) Purvis; 7 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren along with countless extended family members, friends, and colleagues.
A celebration of life will be held February 1, 2025 at 1:00 pm in Asbury University’s Hughes Auditorium, One Macklem Drive, Wilmore, KY. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.
The service will also be live streamed: Dr. Paul Rader Memorial Service – Asbury University.