Paul Rees Maffin

Paul Rees Maffin, 82, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, went to be with the Lord on July 31, 2026 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS. Paul was born in Washington, D.C. on December 11, 1944 to Dorothy and Clyde Maffin. Paul attended Canandaigua Academy in New York before studying mechanical and electrical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for two years. He has always enjoyed all things technological, though he had many other hobbies. After leaving RPI, he embarked on a quest for truth which took him from New York to India. In India he spent time in a Buddhist study group, but left after several months. He made his way to Switzerland to attend L'Abri, a Christian study center. The goal of L'Abri is "to provide the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God...." Paul dedicated his life to following Jesus as a result of his studies at L'Abri under the teaching of Francis Schaeffer.

While at L'Abri Paul met and married Margaret McKenzie Maffin. After graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Paul began his working life as a pastor in New England, first in Boston. Paul and Margaret had two children, Christopher and Elizabeth. In the mid 1990s, Paul moved with his family to Cameroon, West Africa, where he taught at Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary for two years. He loved it! He then returned to New England, where he was a pastor at Christ Memorial Church in Vermont. He was called by this church to plant a daughter church, Redeeming Grace Church, which he founded and pastored for many years before retiring. Most recently he served as an Elder of Harvest Church, in Ridgeland, Mississippi. The church of God, near and far, loved him well to the end.

Paul had a tender heart toward people and deeply loved his family and the family of God. He was a brilliant Greek and Hebrew scholar, a seminary professor, and a preacher, but above all these, he was a humble and gentle shepherd of his flock. His life verse was, "I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls" (2nd Corinthians 12:15a ESV), and he lived it every day. He was forgiving and kind, and always endeavored to bring the healing words of the Gospel to those who were in need. He was not perfect, but he was a man of intentional integrity, whose public and private interactions were consistent with what he preached. He was a remarkable servant.

Everything in Paul's life changed when he met and surrendered to the Lord Jesus. You can read the incredible story of his journey to faith in his own words here: https://msmaffins.com/?m=202007

Paul is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Margaret; son, Christopher with his wife Kim and their children Sam and Katie; and daughter, Elizabeth with her husband Mark and their children Andrew and Edie.

Funeral service will be held at Harvest Church, 820 Wilson Drive in Ridgeland, Mississippi, on August 17, 2026 at 10am. Memorial donations may be made in Paul's name to Harvest Church, "Missions Giving".

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’" (Matthew 25:23 ESV)