Miss Kay L. Patton: Called to Do the Lord’s Will
By Joseph Aven
November 1, 2004

As a child, Miss Kay Patton’s mother would always talk about the need for missionaries. Sitting in church, Miss Patton recalls the preacher’s sermons on mission work. She still remembers the words of an individual, "If you have a Biblical question, go to a member of the church of Christ." Of course, growing up in the church, she was beginning to gain a feeling of the responsibility of Christians to share their faith. Even nowadays, she points out the Great Commission, which is go out to the world and preach the Gospel. 

Stressing how much God has done for her, Miss Patton was quick to point out that as Christians, we should be concerned for the souls of all that we meet. She stresses that we should not be forceful with our ideas, but that we need to be precise and to the point. As Christians, she states, we may be persecuted, but the Lord is in control.

Miss Kay (Kathryn) Lucile Patton was born in Dallas, Texas, on December 7, 1922. She is quick to remember a fond childhood memory, when she and her sister pulled their baby brother in a little red wagon. Although she was only five years old at the time, she explains why they were out. Her sister and she were following their mother, who was going door to door to share her faith. She mentions how her mother "often spoke of the need of saving the souls of those next door, in other states, and other lands." Thus being encouraged by her mother and other fellow Christians at a young age, and knowing the Lord’s will, Miss Patton set out on door-to-door campaigns in Oregon, New York, and New Jersey, under the influence of professors at Abilene Christian College. This was only a start to her call to fulfill the Lord’s will.

It was one night as a senior in high school in which Miss Patton’s mother came into her room and asked her why she was crying. She explained that she wanted to go to college, but that they could not afford it. According to her, her family was still "depressed from the Depression". Although she worked, she still could not afford to go. It was not until W.R. Smith, then vice-president of Abilene Christian College, told Miss Patton that she could work on campus to pay her way through school. Since she had nine months before school started, she started keeping track of her expenses in a small black book. By September, she had saved enough money, along with a scholarship she had earned in high school for her high marks, to pay for the first semester. Miss Patton worked hard to earn a degree from the Bible department, and she graduated from the school with a one cent credit balance in her account!

It was 1947 when Miss Patton was given the opportunity that she had dreamed of as a child. Brother Otis Gatewood, a missionary headed to Germany, needed a secretary in Germany. Although she wanted to do direct mission work, she saw this as an opportunity to get a foot in the door. At first, General William Clay, who was the head of the American forces in Germany, would only allow Brother Gatewood and Brother Roy Palmer into the country, along with a Mormon and a Catholic Priest. They entered Frankfurt, because there was still much tension in Berlin after the end of second World War. Brother Sherrod, an Elder of the Broadway Church in Lubbock, wrote a letter to General Clay requesting permission to send more people over to assist Brother Gatewood and Brother Palmer. General Clay responded negatively to Brother Sherrod’s request. Around the same time in Germany, brother Gatewood sent a similar request to General Clay, but since General Clay was in England at the time, his subordinate responded positively, and Miss Patton and others were allowed to enter Germany. Miss Patton went directly to Frankfurt, where she was mainly doing work as a secretary. It was Miss Patton’s desire, though, that burned inside her and made her want to do work as a missionary. She was later allowed to work as a Bible teacher and have a ladies’ Bible classes along with her secretarial work.

The missionaries there gave out a lot of food and clothing, because Germany was severely damaged by the war. She recalls the words of one German lady with tears in her eyes: "How can you do this; you are our enemy?" This happened not long after she had entered Germany and her German was not so good. She struggled with the answer in German, but gave the glory to God with this short answer: "Because the Lord tells us to." The German people were a very big encouragement to Miss Patton, and she continued strong in her service with the Lord.

After nine years in Germany, Miss Patton returned to the United States. In 1957, she moved to San Antonio, where she chose to pursue something a little different from the mission field. She decided to work as an accountant with a CPA firm. Even though she was not working directly in the mission field, she continued to serve the Lord. In her time in San Antonio, she taught Bible classes for the fifth and sixth grade children, as well as Bible classes for the high school at Grove Avenue congregation. On top of teaching classes, she kept books for the church, visited delinquent members of the church, and also visited the black church in San Antonio, where she was asked to teach the ladies class one morning. She also reached out to join the several other ministries of that black congregation. 

There is one particular Sunday morning in which Miss Patton recalls making the difference in a young girl’s life. She and some of her friends were going to attend the black congregation in town. It happened to be a cold, rainy Sunday morning, and many of her friends called to say that they were not going to be able to make it after all. She decided that there was one girl in particular that she really wanted to go to church with her, a black girl. She drove over to her house, only to find the girl in bed. Miss Patton said that she understood how hard it could be to leave her bed on such a rainy, miserable morning, but proceeded to say she would be glad she did. She refused to leave until the girl got out of bed and got dressed. She was not about to take ‘no’ for an answer. Finally, the young girl got up and proceeded to go to church with her. On the way home from church, the young girl told Miss Patton that indeed she was glad that she had chosen to get up and go to church. Soon after this experience, along with Bible study, this young girl chose to become a Christian. This is one of just many examples of how Miss Patton was and continues to be a servant of God.

In 1966, Miss Patton served as a supervisor of a women’s dormitory at Lubbock Christian College. While in Lubbock, Miss Patton taught a Bible class at the Smithlawn Maternity Home. It was her experience teaching Bible at this home that was the basis for her Master’s thesis, "Personality Studies of Three Unwed Mothers from a Church-Related Maternity Home."

It was 1968 when Miss Patton chose to pursue a degree in the graduate field of psychology. Unfortunately for her, she ran into some financial problems and was forced to go to work before she could finish her thesis. In 1970, she found a job in Nashville working as an accountant for Aladdin Industries, Inc. 

Even through her work, Miss Patton showed what being a Christian was to other people. She can recall on two times at work in which her boss asked her to lie about where he was in order to avoid people, but Miss Patton refused to on the principles of her faith. One day she confronted her boss, telling him that she could not lie for him. His response to her was, "Everyone does it." She responded with a resounding, "No, not everyone." Despite this, Miss Patton was still given a promotion, and was never asked to lie again. One day she even told her boss that she prayed every morning to God asking that she would do a good job for him. Upon hearing this, her boss was quite shocked, but touched by her act of kindness. She also recalls many social business events in which alcohol was heavily present. Miss Patton refused to drink, many a times passing up on alcoholic beverages, choosing a Sprite instead. Many people were impressed by her actions, and once again she was a light by following God’s word.

While in Nashville, Miss Patton was also actively involved in and around church. She lived near a state home for neglected and dependent children. Knowing that these children were in need of God’s love, she decided to get involved. Every Sunday morning, she would go there to teach Bible classes. On Sunday evenings, she had received permission to take some of the children to church so they could attend Bible class there in the evenings. Afterwards, she had them over for dinner at her apartment. Some summers, she would take some of the children to a Bible camp. Even after her fourteen years in Nashville, Miss Patton still kept up with some of the children.

While in Nashville, Miss Patton also wrote to some men that were in jail. One man, Mr. Van Allen Beaver, had his life changed through his eighteen years of correspondence with her. Through Bible study and his eventual commitment to Christianity, Miss Patton helped change his life. Because of his behavior, Mr. Beaver was transferred from death row to a prison for first time offenders, and eventually was appointed to be a counselor for young men that were put in that prison. It was through God that she was allowed to help change this man’s life.

After fourteen years in Nashville, Miss Patton decided to return to Abilene to take care of Mrs. Witt, with whom she lived while a student at ACC. She stayed with Mrs. Witt, who was an invalid, in the morning, and then in the afternoons working as a learning specialist for Abilene Christian University’s Learning Assistance Center. While in Abilene, she also taught Bible class for retired ladies at the University Inn, and occasionally taught Bible class for fifth grade at University Church of Christ.

Miss Patton has always loved to write about her experiences, as an encouragement to others and to show God’s love. In the past, she has had many of her articles, poetry, and other works published, including: Firm Foundation, Vol. 98, No. 28, 7- 14-81, "Alone" and various other articles, Christian Chronicle, 6-16-52, " [I] Was in Zurich on the Lord’s Day," and various other articles, Christian Family, Sept., 1980, pp. 18, 19, Power for Today, various selections since July 1988, Contact; helped publish in early years of publication, Christian Woman, Aug., 1962, Vol. 30, No. 8, pp. 13-16, "A Challenge from 8 to 5," "Currents" page, 1987 issues, July-August, 1996, p. 9, Poem, Because of Me, [i.e., The Crucifixion], Christian Journal, Nov. 1987, "I Made Myself Do It," Dec. 1987, "Choices", Turney Press (Prison newspaper, Only, TN), August 1974, "I Made Myself Do It," "Choices.", Das Feste Fundament (German Firm Foundation), "Handle With Prayer,"," Death A Glorious Thing," ‘When God Said "No" to Jesus," "Growing Up Spiritually." 1969, World Radio News, quoted from her annual missions newsletter, Bulletin Digest, "It Really Happened. . ." Dec. 1982, p. 19, her annual newsletter of worldwide church news: A complete set is filed in the ACU Library Archives; Years 1992-2004 on Internet address: http://www.bible101.org/wmr, Into All the World: When and How, 1960, ‘Women’s Work In Teaching," pp. 57, 58, Heartland Anthology of Poetry, 1989, ‘The Crucifixion," p. 101, and World Treasury of Great Poems, Vol. II, 1989, "I’m So Sorry, Dear Jesus," p. 542. As you can see, her work has been seen and read by many who have not even come into contact with her. Along with these publications, there are over twenty different books, magazine articles, television interviews, and other publications in which she has been featured in, too numerous to list.

Miss Patton now resides at the Christian Village home, which is located on the opposite side of Campus Court from the Abilene Christian University campus. Although she is no longer able to travel as much, she still continues to make an impact on the lives of many. As of 1992, Miss Patton has had the mission work come to her. She has had Bible lessons with students from Africa, China, and today teaches students from Nigeria. These students have been blessed by Miss Patton and visit her often, even if there is no scheduled Bible study involved. They even bring their personal problems to Miss Patton, because they know she is a Godly woman who they can trust and whom they know will respect each problem they have. 

Following the example of her mother, the words of preachers, and most importantly, through God’s will, Miss Patton has been allowed to touch the lives of many people, leading them to a life in Christ. Never once in her life has she doubted God’s plan for her, and never once has He failed to provide for her. She has taken the gift of teaching and caring that God has given to her, gone out into the world and made a difference. Never does Miss Patton take credit for her work, but instead always giving credit to God, the One who deserves it all. It is her hope that through her actions, the Kingdom of God can expand on this earth so that He may be glorified by all that come into contact with Him.