Missionary, Educator Dr. James Beaty Turns 100
Cleveland, TN—One of the Church of God’s most prolific missionary educators celebrates his 100th birthday today, January 30, 2025.
Saved and filled with Holy Spirit on April 14, 1940, in Smithfield, N.C., James Beaty looks back to that day when he was just 16 and “delivered from the power that had held me in bondage.” From that day forward his life would be dedicated to serving his Lord and the Church of God.
His first missionary assignment was to Haiti in 1946, a country to which he would return to later in his ministry. The trip followed his studies at Atlantic Christian College and beginning at Vanderbilt University School of Religion. In 1948 he married Virginia Green, who would be his faithful partner in ministry for 67 years until her passing in 2015.
After earning the M.Div. from Vanderbilt, the newlyweds left in 1949 to serve as missionaries to the Dominican Republic for three years where the young James located and supervised the purchase of property that later became the campus of the Bible School there.
In 1952, the Beatys returned to Haiti as missionaries where James was the country’s overseer, educational director, supervised 100 day schools, and coordinated the purchase of seventeen acres and building of the Seminaire Biblique campus. In years to follow, he would serve as superintendent of South America (1959-67) and represented the Pentecostal movement on the Board of the Communidad Teologica, a cooperative effort among evangelical and Pentecostal churches, serving as vice president and interim president.
In 1963, he earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Vanderbilt and from then on carried the prestigious title of Dr. James Beaty. He would begin a seven-year career at Lee College (University) in 1967 where has a member of the faculty member involved in teaching and assisting with accreditation. In the days when not many possessed a doctoral degree, Dr. Beaty was the first teacher of religion in the Humanities Department before the Bible College was merged with the Liberal Arts College in 1968.
General Overseer Gary Lewis, left, interviews Dr. James Beaty earlier this month (click photo to enlarge)
In other areas, Dr. Beaty served as a charter member and secretary on the General Board of Education (1968-74) and assisted in the development and implementation of the Ministerial Enrichment Institutes, the Spanish Institute of Ministry (president, 1974-80), and what would become the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Joining PTS in 1980, Dr. Beaty was the third full-time faculty member, Academic Dean (1980-96), director of the extension program in Puerto Rico, and director of the Special Training Program in Haiti. He remains a member of the PTS faculty today.
Earlier this month, Dr. Beaty attended a luncheon in his honor. In attendance were all five members of the Church of God Executive Committee, their spouses, and other special guests.
“Dr. Beaty is one of those rare individuals who is gifted in multiple areas of ministry,” stated General Overseer Gary Lewis. “His inspiration has influenced thousands called to the mission field, and his academic credentials have made him a legend at both Lee University and Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Now, as a centenarian, he has solidified his legacy even greater in Church of God history. Happy Birthday, Dr. Beaty!”
