Paul Leland Prestridge Sr.

Paul Leland Prestridge, Sr., 82, of Houston, TX, passed away on June 9, 2020 in Bastrop, TX.

Paul was born in Houston, TX to Aubry & Blondina (Tillie) Prestridge on August 11, 1937. He married Linda S. Henderson on August 7, 1963 in Houston, TX. He graduated from Concordia Lutheran College in Austin, TX, and then earned his Bachelor of Arts at Houston Baptist College May 19, 1973 in Houston, TX. He also has a doctorate in Theology & Christian Education.

He was Lee Prestridge until the age of 33, when he had an encounter with Jesus Christ and took his given name of Paul because he was a “new man” in Christ and wanted to disassociate with the “old man” as Lee. Paul was first ordained a Southern Baptist Minister from the First Baptist Church at Angleton, TX on March 4, 1973. Although warned to stay away from the Full Gospel movement, he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit on March 15, 1973. He would later receive ordinations from multiple full gospel ministries both in the United States and from Latin America. He pastored and started many churches in the United States and in other countries.

God called him to the world to “reach the unreached and tell the untold”. He and his wife together had a fantastic voyage preaching the Gospel of Jesus in over 14 countries. In Paul’s own words from his book, “Perfect Peace” is his testimony below:

Chapter 1

My Testimony

I thank God that Jesus came into my heart 36 years ago from the printing date of this book. The devil had a hold of my life, and because of his influence I started smoking and drinking heavily, running from nite-spot to nite-spot. THIS WAS LIVING as far as I was concerned, this was what life was all about – UNTIL ONE DAY, I was struck by fire.

THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT UNTO MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH (Prov. 16:25).

I just knew I was going to die. Fear came over me and I started recalling the past, wondering where my life was headed. I knew that things were not right. The burns that I received from the fire covered a great portion of my body, and the pains were too great to describe. The first thought that crossed my mind was the thought of HELL.
AND HE CRIED AND SAID, FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS, THAT HE MAY DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE; FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME (Luke 16:24).

However, after three months, I recovered and all was back to normal – SO I THOUGHT! The next thing I knew, I was at it again. This time God used my FAMILY to bring me to the place of change. People were praying, including my wife – praying for me. I became so obsessed with the lust of the flesh and lust of the world, however, that I wanted nothing to do with my wife and children. They kept praying, and for months my wife and kids went through HELL themselves.

AND NOT MANY DAYS AFTER THE YOUNGER SON GATHERED TOGETHER, AND TOOK HIS JOURNEY INTO A FAR COUNTRY, AND THERE WAS WASTED HIS SUBSTANCE WITH RIOTOUS LIVING (Luke 15:13).

I left them but it was not over yet. Except for His grace and Mercy, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. One day however, on January 7, 1970, a deep conviction came over me that I was a sinner and needed help. As God’s love began to flow through me, I REPENTED (turned away) from my sins and CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD in a phone booth. It was a beautiful experience and the greatest of all miracles. My Heavenly Father cleaned me up.

FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED (Romans 10:13).

He put me on the path of righteousness, and I returned home to my family with Jesus in my heart. What a happy day!

THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW (2 Cor. 5:17).

It was in the telephone booth that I experienced the call of God on my heart to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the fall of 1970, I attended Houston Baptist College (now a university) to study for the ministry.

One year later, I accepted a call to pastor a Baptist mission in Arcola, Texas. For two years, while attending college, I ministered to this small group of people not knowing that there was another experience called the “Baptism in the Holy Ghost” with the evidence of speaking in other tongues (1 Cor. 14:22).

I began to hunger for more of God and I could see my ministry was limited. Jesus said, in Mark 16:15-17, “to preach the Gospel to every creature” AND “these signs shall follow them that believe; they SHALL cast out devils in my name, they SHALL speak in new tongues, they SHALL tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; and they SHALL lay hands on the sick and they SHALL recover.” I began to see, these were all COMMANDS from my Lord Jesus Christ to ALL believers to meet the needs of ALL people – including myself. On March 15, 1973, I was invited to the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Convention in Houston, Texas, and that night JESUS FILLED ME WITH THE HOLY GHOST and I began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave me utterance (Acts 2:4). The following night my wife received, and we’ve not been the same since. HALLELUJAH!

DO YOU WANT JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOUR?

Then, BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31) – as the jailer at Philippi. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, the BIBLE says, YOU SHALL BE SAVED (Romans 10:9). Furthermore, John writes, “…as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). PRAISE GOD! He’s not far from any of us (Acts 17:27). My prayer is that TODAY, as you read this book, you will receive the PEACE of God through Jesus Christ, and the POWER to walk in His Spirit.

THIS IS PERFECT PEACE

PRAY THIS PRAYER FROM YOUR HEART, AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST MIRACLE OF YOUR LIFE:
Jesus, I believe you’re the Son of the living God. I believe you died on the cross for my sins – arose from the dead – and are alive today. I repent of my sins and invite you into my heart to be my Saviour and the Lord of my life. Teach me how to live daily for you. Thank you saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Paul is survived by his wife of 57 years, Linda Sharon Prestridge; his children, Paul Leland Prestridge, Jr. and his wife Cynthia Baltazar Prestridge; Kathryn Marie Evers and her husband Darrell Evers; sister-in-law Marceil Prestridge; brother-in-law William McArthur, Jr.; grandchildren, Jordan Wesley Gregory, Seth Robineau-Prestridge, Ezekiel Lynn Evers; nieces Carolyn Petrus, Linda Cannon, Patricia Stokley; and many cousins.

His parents Aubry Prestridge and Tillie Prestridge; and his brother Elton Neal Prestridge precede Paul in death.

Paul was a husband, father, family & friend to many, pastor, reverend, missionary & evangelist.