Revs. John '51 and Paula Bowman '53 Sandford

Ever since leaving Drury in 1951, John and Paula Sandford have lived lives dedicated fully to God and to each other. They have traveled all around the world, preaching God's word. They co-founded a successful ministry called Elijah House and have co-authored many books. They believe they have answered God's calling and have done the very best with the abilities they were given.

John says the most important lessons he learned at Drury came from Rabbi Ernst and Joanna Jacob. The Jacobs had escaped Nazi Germany and had both become professors at Drury. Most of the background for John’s books on Old Testament prophecies came from Rabbi Jacob. The other important lesson John took away from Drury is the ability to see the value of humor. John and Paula met at Drury when they were both waiters in the Commons. John graduated from Drury in 1951, and he and Paula were married that same year. John received his master’s of divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. In 1958 he was ordained to the ministry of the United Church of Christ. For 21 years he pastored churches in Illinois, Idaho, and Kansas. Paula was active in these churches in music and Christian education. She also taught English, Spanish and history in Idaho high schools. She was ordained to the ministry in 1995.

In 1974, John and Paula co-founded Elijah House in response to a biblical calling "to inspire and educate individuals and churches to confess their sins, forgive, and equip one another to maturity in ministry to effect positive social and community changes." Over the years Elijah House has become an impressive international ministry. John and Paula travel often to conduct seminars on inner healing and transformation, marriage and the family, the gifts of the Spirit, and other related subjects. They have made numerous appearances in the U.S., Canada, the South Pacific, and New Zealand. Elijah House has offices in many other countries, including Australia, Austria, Finland, and New Zealand. John and Paula have written several books, including Wounded Warriors, Restoring the Christian Family, and their newest, Prophets, Healers and the Emerging Church. Some of their books are required reading in divinity schools across the nation.

Elijah House's main office is in Post Falls, Idaho, where John and Paula now live. They have been married for 52 years; they have six children, 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Many members of the Sandford family have become a part of the Elijah House ministry.

For taking the step of faith, hand in hand, to answer God’s call to serve and to minister to those in pain and those in need of inner healing, for teaching others how to strive for positive social and community changes, and for creating a global community of ministries that will perpetuate their mission for the years to come, the Drury University Alumni Association is proud to present the Reverend John L. Sandford and the Reverend Paula Bowman Sandford with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Career Achievement.