V. Alex Bills

PASTOR V. ALEX BILLS went to be with his Lord on May 14, 2002. He is survived by Betty, his wife of 55 years; his children Kathleen Harder, Becca Upham, Verlen Bills, Guy Bills, and Brian Bills; nine grandchildren, one great grandchild and eight brothers and sisters. Pastor V. Alex Bills was born in 1921 and began preaching at the age of fifteen. He served with the Assemblies of God Service Men's Dept. during World War II as a chaplain. He attended Ozark Bible College, Midwest Christian College and Moody Bible Institute. In 1946 he met and married Betty Fay Blair. They were called to the mission field in Japan and Korea and spent many years establishing churches, producing Christian radio programs, teaching in seminaries and Bible colleges and founding Christian Radio Mission. This mission provided Bible correspondence courses to seventeen European countries through Radio Luxembourg in the 1950s. Upon their return to the United States in 1961, Pastor Alex accepted an invitation to enter pastoral ministry and ministered in four churches in three states from 1961 to 1976. At that time he helped establish a conference of charismatic Christian Churches and continued speaking, writing and teaching until his call from Pastor John Haydel to move to Houston and help open a new Bible college. Since the founding of South Texas Bible Institute, he has been the principal Bible teacher. He has also researched, written and published in the area of Pentecostal history. His significant collection of books and papers, known as the Charles F. Parham Center for Pentecostal/Charismatic Studies is recognized as one of the top four collections of its kind in the United States. Pastor Alex recently celebrated over 65 years of full time service to the Lord in ministry, missions and education. His dedication to the kingdom of God, the spread of the Gospel and the preparation of Christian workers is well known. He is well loved and remembered with great affection by all of his family, friends, students, and co-workers. "Blessed in the eyes of the Lord is the death of one of His saints". Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, May 17, 2002 at Trinity Church, 12330 Perry Road. Burial will follow at Klein Memorial Park-Tomball.