With more than 50 years of missionary work and pastoral ministry, Patti and Dale Downs (Life Bible College ‘69) were honored on June 1, 2022 with the Lifetime of Service Award. The award was presented to Patti and members of her family during the LPU Alumni and Friends Celebration in Orlando, Florida during Foursquare Connection.
Dale’s salvation experience occurred at age 18 while visiting the Oxnard Foursquare Church. Responding to an invitation at the end of the message, Dale went forward to the altar. In his own words, “it was if the world was in black and white when I knelt down and had been turned into living color when I got up!”
At the age of five, Patti heard the story of Ugee, a little African boy who gave his heart to Jesus. Realizing she also needed Jesus, Patti received Him in her life and returned to her mother saying, “Jesus put a song in my heart, and it won’t go away.” Patti then spent her childhood under great pastors and teaching at the Des Moines, IA Foursquare Church.
Each knowing they were called to ministry after their conversions, Life Bible College became the training ground for what would be a lifetime of service. After marriage in June 1968 and graduation from LBC the following year, the Downs began their ministry tenure in the Northwest. The following years, the Downs ministered as Youth, Associate, and Lead Pastors in Decatur, IL and in numerous locations throughout California.
A transition into mission work eventually opened doors for Patti and Dale to spend 18 years serving as teachers, speakers, Supervisors, and offering Pastoral Care in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. Returning from South America in 1991, the Downs then continued pastoral ministry in the United States. A notable highlight of their ministry was the initiation and oversight of translating “Foundations of Pentecostal Theology” by Guy P. Duffield and Nathaniel M. Van Cleave into Portuguese while in Brazil.
In December 2021, Dale went to be with the Lord while still serving with Patti as onsite pastors and managers at a Transitional Living Community sponsored by The River Community Church (Ventura Foursquare Church). Patti continues to serve in this assignment.
Patti and Dale’s lifetime of service in mission work and pastoral ministry leave a rich legacy for their family: Dawn and Ray Houk, Daniel and Rene Downs, Deborah Downs and Todd Cook, Denise and Matt Streit, and grandchildren Quinn, Quincy, Naomi, and Declan.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit and guided by the Word, both Dale and Patti held onto life verses throughout their years of ministry.
Dale- Isaiah 58:11-12 “The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
Patti- Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
