W. Paul Ferrin, one of Christian music’s notable innovators, passed away at his Colorado Springs home on Feb. 23, 2018, at the age of 83. The second-born child of Baptist minister William Eugene and Alma (Steffy) Ferrin, he was born in Denver, Colo., on June 1, 1934.
After graduating from Lakewood High School in 1952 and studying one year at Northwestern College (Minneapolis), he began his music ministry. He began his ministry at an Assembly of God church in Colorado Springs, during which time he married Marjorie Daniel, whom he had met at Denver Youth for Christ playing piano and organ together at age 14. They continued to play duets for nearly seven decades.
Other Assemblies of God churches he ministered in included Grand Junction, Colo.; Wichita, Kans.; Memphis, Tenn.; San Jose, Calif.; and Sacramento, Calif. Eventually his denomination named him National Music Director.
In addition to his church responsibilities, he served at various times in the meetings of evangelists Ira Stanphill and Kathryn Kuhlman and was Music Director for the PTL Television Network. As a writer and arranger, he published over 300 songs.
When he and his wife returned to their native state in later years, they created a new format for Christian music: the all-community “Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing.” Attendance immediately began to swell, and in time these evenings of congregational singing under Paul’s leadership spread across the United States.
He is survived by three siblings: Alma Jean Spykstra, Claudia Muniz, and John Ferrin, four children: Kathryn (Louie) Salazar of Carlinville, Ill.; Diane Ferrin of Colorado Springs; Kent (Kathy) Ferrin of Rocklin, Calif.; and Kevin (Debra) Ferrin of Nashville, Tenn., nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, March 2, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs. Pastor Charles Crabtree will preach.
Memorial gifts may be sent in the form of flowers or monetary gifts to the following two ministries:
Assist International, which cares for orphans through building family style villages in the developing world. P.O. Box 66396, Scotts Valley, CA 95067 or The Paul Ferrin Memorial Scholarship, Evangel University-Music Department, 1111 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, MO 65802.
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