About Rev. Paul W. Rupp

Reverend Paul W. Rupp led me to Christ when I was about 14 years old. He explained the gospel to me at church camp when I was attending his Oak Grove Evangelical Bible Church in Groveland, IL.

Rev. Rupp was a walking embodiment of the mind of Christ and he loved telling people about Jesus. Sincere, dedicated, jolly, he was a delight to be around and his gentle nature was soothing. He had many devout books and theological texts in his study, but his preaching stuck closely to the basic salvation message of John 3:16.

He felt if he could just talk to each person on Earth, he might be able to bring them all into the kingdom of heaven. His simplicity and peacefulness radiated in a very inspiring manner.

He was minister at Highland Bethel Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana before moving to the Peoria, IL area.

He then ministered at Groveland Evangelical Mennonite Church in Groveland, IL from 1945 to 1954.

He was founder and pastor at Oak Grove Evangelical Bible Church in East Peoria for 30 years from 1955 until retiring in 1985.

He was also involved in the Tazewell County Jail Ministry since 1957 and continued ministering at the Peoria Rescue Ministries (now Pathway Ministries) and was a visiting minister at local hospitals and also to shut-ins.

After retiring, Rev. Rupp was a minister at Ann Street United Mennonite Church in Peoria and associate pastor at Bethany Missionary Church in East Peoria, where he also conducted a weekly Bible study on Tuesdays.

This blog is intended to give Pastor Rupp (as he later preferred to be called) some presence on the internet.