Happy 90th Birthday                        Paul Johansson 

Dear Paul,
Happy Birthday! I can’t believe that my nephew is now the same age as me! Calling you my nephew is strange. You and your siblings were Joy and my best friends, our camping buddies, and our church friends. We spent most of our youth together, and I joined you at Elim and worked for your brother for years afterward. It is amazing how God has led us all the way!! Thank God for our great parents who poured into us, His Life, God’s Life! We have a wonderful heritage!

I am doing well here in Tennessee. I am so grateful for Colleen and this awesome home. Trust you and your beautiful family are well.

Love,
“Aunt” Jenette Williams

Dear Paul,
Happy Birthday and God’s blessing on your 90th birthday. You have been a blessing to me over the years through your wise counsel. Several times throughout my life I needed Godly wisdom to get me through the crisis I was in, and you were the voice of God speaking that Wisdom, once in Florida and once in Virginia. I really appreciate the times you and Gloria have visited with me, and the Godly example you both have set for us “youngsters”. I remember being at your mom and dad’s house when I was in early grade school, and you were showing slides of your work in Africa. The long earlobes and lips with large plates were forerunners of the kid’s fashion today! Thank you for your Inspiring life and your willingness to help those who need encouragement. May God bless you, and your lovely wife, as you continue to point people to Jesus and Heaven.
Colleen Vaughan

Thank you for being such a godly example of the love, kindness, gentleness, grace and faithfulness of God. You have encouraged me in ways that have strengthened my faith and helped me to see that God loves me, and I am cherished by Him. You truly have shown me the grace of God. You have helped bring stability, faith, hope, and love in my life. Truly, you are my spiritual father, and I am so grateful for you. May God richly pour out all his blessings on you, precious Gloria, your children and grandchildren and all your future generations. I will forever love you, precious Gloria and your loving brother, Rob. ❤️❤️❤️

Paul,

Happy Birthday! May the Lord continue to guide you, give you health, fun times, and above all, may His presence surround you in a greater way this coming year!

I have wonderful and precious memories ministering with you and Gloria at NYSUM! It was such a great, exciting,and growing season for me! I will never forget those years!!
You and Gloria's love and confidence in me, was one of the greatest blessings I have ever experienced and enabled me to do ALL those ministry schedules!!

Remember the day, Bruce played a joke on me and asked you to tell me a ministry team was coming in a day or two!! Ha!!! I think I wanted to cry!! Ha!!

Thank you for all you imparted into my life!! I will be forever grateful!

All my love!!

Judy Ebersole

Happy 90th birthday to my Papa, the man who said YES to Jesus, and was mightily used by Him to touch many lives globally, including mine. You are the best💐🌻💐
I celebrate you Papa. May The LORD strengthen and keep you in excellent health the rest of your pilgrimage here🎸🎂🎸🎷🍇🍦🥰
Love you loads.
Bette

Happy 90th Birthday, Brother Paul! I am so thankful for how both you and Sister Gloria have been faithful to the call of God on your lives. Your faithfulness to saying "yes" to the Lord no matter what has been a great blessing to so many people. I was really impacted as a student at Elim in your Romans class. One thing in particular stands out. It was the requirement to memorize Romans 8:1-15 in your class, and to write it out in full on a sheet of paper during the exam. This passage of Scripture that I memorized at that time has been a blessing to me for so many years. Thank you !

Happy Birthday Brother Paul on your 90th. Your life has been a life laid down as a witness to the many many many servants of God He has prepared through your life of obedience. It has been a priviage to have know you and to serve with you. You are the real deal. Thank you and blessings to you on this special day.

Dear Brother Paul, we're so thankful the Lord brought our paths to cross. You're a treasured friend, mentor and brother. Abundant blessings into the new decade to you,,and to your bride. Our love, Jerry and Ann

Our beloved Brother Jo!
We send our love and appreciation for your wonderful ministry over so many years!! We both attended your Missionary Principles and Practice class at Elim- never forget that! Great to hear your messages, latest at the Elim 100 meetings.
You are such an encouragement!
Thanks for your kind Christmas letter!
Blessings!

Happy, happy, happy birthday!! I hope you have a wonderful day and feel the love from everyone! May the Lord bless you this coming year. What a blessing you have been to so many and continue to be! The best is yet to come! Blessings,
Emily Block

Dear Brother,
I hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration with family and friends. It has been a privledge to have worked with you and able to spend time with you and Gloria while I was at Elim. Thank you for so many fond memories. I love you guys.

Dear brother Paul: I thank you for praying faithfully with my husband John, at Elim Bible Institute, in the early 1980's, that God would lead you both to move back to New York City to minister. Also, thanks to you and Gloria for caring for our teenage, Joy,, as we spent time in NYC searching for housing. God bless you Paul with good health and a sound mind. My 94 year old husband is waiting for you in heaven.

Dear Brother Paul, we belatedly bless you on the occasion of your 90th birthday – – such an extraordinary event to celebrate. We thank God for you and all the ways you have blessed us personally in the body of Christ here and around the world. Your love for Jesus and commitment to his church, inspire us to continue to advance the gospel in word and deed. Your faithfulness over decades is a testimony of a loving God, who is always reaching out. Thank you for sharing your wisdom in God‘s heart with us whenever we’re together.

Happiest birthday, our dear brother! And may this coming year be one of Health, Renewal, and great Joy. With our love and prayers, Doug and Diane Chandler.

Dear Paul (and Gloria), you both greatly influenced our lives. We appreciate your friendship and counsel over many years. God bless your future days.

In recollection of brother Joe one thing that stood out in my mind, is the many times when my dad ( Pastor Philip K. Miess). was pastoring the small church in Town Of Perinton, Bushnell Basin, NY, Bushnell’s Basin Community Church, would receive a call on Sunday from Brother Joe asking if someone from Africa could come and speak at the Sunday evening service. Reluctantly dad would concede despite having to scrap his own sermon that he had already prepared sometimes days ahead of time. God Bless you Brother Joe and many more!

Praying that you have a wonderful birthday! I want you to know how a grateful I am for all of the areas where you have poured into my life. You've always shown me such great respect and your love for the word and for the lost is an inspiration. May the Lord bless you and encourage you and give you good health. Happy birthday brother.

Wishing you a happy 90th birthday! You have inspired me over the years to become a better mom, thankful to have you in our life and to be part of our family.
We love you!

Hermano Pablo,

Feliz cumpleaños! Thank you both for pouring your life to expand His kingdom! Both of your lives are an example of radical surrender.

While at EBI I always looked forward to the President's chapel as I loved listening to what God had to say through you. I recall one day you brought a wooden/antique plow to the stage and told us to plow the land to get ready for His harvest. Such teachings impacted me and still echo in my spirit and what I do as a pastor. But the most impactful moments have been one on one moments with you. You always have embraced me with a father's hug and you always tell me "it's about people". That phrase has stuck with me and has been a driving force in my ministry.

Thank you for loving God and loving people!

It is an honor to be able to call you a spiritual father.

Juan

Dear Brother Paul,

Cindy and I could not put into words the love, respect & appreciation we have for you. We are eternally grateful for your counsel, encouragement and influence in our lives. Wishing you a wonderful 90th birthday.

Dear Brother Paul Johanson,

Happy 90th Birthday! I thank God for you, your wife, and the EBI leaders who reached out to help me—a Vietnamese refugee—50 years ago. Your loving acceptance of me became a strong stepping stone that helped me grow into the person I am today.

During my time at EBI, I learned to trust the Lord wholeheartedly and to submit myself to His lordship. Those lessons shaped me to become a better servant of Christ. I also learned to trust in His loving care and faithful provision for all my needs.

Your encouragement, prayers, and godly example left a lasting impact on my life and ministry. I am deeply grateful for the role you played in God’s work in my journey. May the Lord continue to bless you with His peace, joy, and presence as you celebrate this remarkable milestone.

With heartfelt gratitude and love,
Thanh Le

Happy birthday to you! May the Lord continue to Bless you and keep you, make His face to shine upon you with His Peace, and gift you with His Love, Grace, Mercy, Joy, and Long Life! You have blessed many around the world, and I love and appreciate you and Gloria so much! Sending Love and Blessings your way!🎊🌟💫✨

Dear Bro. Paul:
A very Happy 90th Birthday to you.
May the Lord continue to bless you with His longevity, great grace, wisdom and strength.
You & Gloria have blessed my life beyond words. At a time when I was very broken the door to your hearts & Elim were opened wide and I was greatly loved & restored. Thank you for that and all the years of your precious friendship. I am forever grateful.
I pray you have more years to share the wisdom of the Lord, that He has imparted to you.
In His love,
Helen

Happy birthday Brother Paul! I’m so thankful and blessed to have known you and Gloria my whole life. I pray you have the best and most blessed year ever.
Love,
Esther

Happy birthday brother Paul, you have always been an inspiration to me and my family. May Hod bless you.

Brother Paul, Psalm 90!

Happy 90th Birthday Gp!! You are an example in every way. Thank you for always taking the time to connect with and pray for us. We really hope to see you soon. Hope you’ve had an amazing birthday. Love you very much!

Hi, Brother Paul. Happy 90th Birthday!

On this special milestone, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your life, leadership, and faithfulness. Thank you for the profound impartation you gave, not only through your teaching and preaching at Elim Bible College (EBI), but through the time, wisdom, and encouragement you so generously shared with me outside the classroom.

You will always be remembered by me as a true pioneer and a strong, unwavering voice of faith. Your legacy continues to shape lives, including mine, and I am deeply thankful for the privilege of having learned and been mentored by you.

With honor, gratitude, and warmest birthday blessings.

Tariq Shah
“Rick”
Class of ‘02
Ph. 1:21, Ro. 8:28

Happy 90th, Uncle Paul! I am so happy for the ways God has used you to impact the lives of thousands, but especially my life.

Around 1970 you came to Suna-Migori for a leaders meeting and found 16 year old Mary Beth sick with malaria. When you walked into my room to pray for me, the love and presence of God walked in. At that point I determined that that was what I wanted to be like. After you finished grad school I heard that you never wanted to be so busy again that you didn't have time to love people.
In your office at EBI when I hit bottom, recognising that this Miss Goody 2 Shoes was actually a terribke mess, unable to be of benefit on the mission field, you actually laughed in delight knowing that now I was ready to let the Lord take over. Your wisdom from your walk with God, knowledge of the Word, experience on the field, your theme song, "Plod on, plod on , plod on', and so much more had a great impact on me during those formative years. So has your input at my ordination, and your example since.

How I love you and Gloria! How I honour all God has made you 2 to be. And I pray for great joy in the time you have left on this earth.

Happy 90th birthday Bro. Paul!!!

Thinking of you today on this special day! Thank you for your constant faithfulness, courage, example, wisdom, and all that you have invested and poured into our family throughout generations and to this today. We do not take it lightly and value it immensely. We all love you, we celebrate you today and always. - Kelly Spyker

Hi Paul,
You are my hero in so many ways, Now I have a new goal that fits in that quadrant that I have set for myself, and that is to make it to 90 with full health and a clear mind like you. (-;
As I've taught seminary classes around the world through the years, many times I've said, "Like Paul Jo told me back in Elim ..." The things you taught me and the life that you showed me have been a pattern I've set for myself since those days.
May this birthday be happy and may you be surrounded by all your loved ones as you celebrate it.
Love
Robin and Susie Steen

Bro. Paul,
Like so many people will say, you have impacted our lives in incredible ways. We are thankful for your life, your ministry, your love of God and His people. We have many fond memories, but we remember well as we were packing up to leave Elim and head into ministry -how you and Sis. Gloria came to our little apartment and for the next hour shared your hearts, encouraged us and gave us 40 years worth of advice. We actually have used some of it, hahaha.
We love you and wish you a very Happy Birthday!!!
Love, Frank and Jodi Vernol

Uncle Paul,

Happy 90th birthday! What an incredible life lived thus far. I feel so blessed to have you in my life. Your storytelling, wisdom, humor, love, and encouragement are just a few of the qualities that make you the wonderful person that you are. Thank you for praying for me and always reminding me that through the lord anything is possible. He has a plan for us all.

I love you and I hope you have an amazing day.

Nicholas

Happy 90th Birthday to my dear pastor and mentor.

As I recall all of these years walking together I think of your availability to encourage me. I was only a few years old when you would sit with me and tell me stories of Timorru and Timorey. I think those were their names.

When I was at Elim you were the one who taught me to learn faith beyond just calling my dad for money. That was a true turning point in my life. It was just a conversation in the hallway. But that conversation started a faith journey that today has helped us build the work in Mexico, planting churches and beyond!

As a husband, father, man, pastor, you have always counseled me and encouraged me. I always say: “my pastor says”. I have so many life teachings and principles that I have received from you all these years.

One way to honor you today on your 90th is to remind you that your life has truly mattered. Your life has been used by God to plant powerful seeds of wisdom and faith that will continue to bear fruit in the future.

Kelly and I hope to continue to follow your example and that of Sister Gloria. To honor Jesus above all and to live a life of faith and love.

I hope you have an amazing day of celebration and a wonderful year of God’s favor.

Andrés and Kelly Spyker

PS. I’ll
Find more
Pictures when I get back home.

🎂 Happy 90th, Paul! Thank you for being you! Thanks for being a great father-in-law to my sister! Thank you for your wisdom and encouragement over the years!
I remember the day Tim graduated from Elim! As I struggled w my camera, you shook Tim’s hand a little longer than you had those before him, enabling me to get the photo! You told me afterward, “I wanted you to get the picture!” Thanks! Tim said later, “I wondered what was doing!”
God bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy 90th birthday Paul. What a privilege and blessing to know you and Gloria! May God grant you many more healthy years so that many more people may be blessed by your life and ministry. Thank you for your faithfulness in following God's calling on your life.

Hongera Mchungaji !
Mungu Akubariki Kumbuka Africa Milele
Asante sana
Char

Hey Brother Jo...You have been in my life since camp meeting days and as a student at Elim. Both you and Sister Jo have always been a blessing to our family The Freeman's for so many years. We love you both dearly! We so appreciate the love you both have always shown these Canadians! May God bless you on your Birthday and the days to come!! Happy Birthday from Canada!! With much love, The Freeman's

Happy 90th Birthday Bro Paul, I pray you are blessed beyond measure. You and Gloria will always have a special place in my heart. My life is blessed from knowing you both. You have touched many lives in your 90 years including mine. My life is richer from knowing you.

A big HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY Paul. Hope you enjoy all your greetings. This truly is a special day for you (other than the day you married my sister.). It has been such a blessing to have you as my brother. Your example of a Godly man and receiver of Godly wisdom has been a blessing to me. Remember when we were younger, on our birthday, we would get a spank for every year of our life? I think you should skip that tradition this year. Hope your day is fun and filled with laughter. All my love, Carolyn

Dear Paul,
Blessings on your 90th Birthday-a very significant day not often
achieved and a gift from our Lord. In two years I hope to share that
gift! He has something ahead for you to do. That is exciting.
Enjoy this milestone , you are blessed to share it with Gloria!
My love to you both, Lynn X0
P.S. Pictured below with my youngest daughter's daughters.

Happy 90th birthday, Brother Paul!!

Hi Brother Paul! Beth and I would like to wish a very happy birthday! You have been an absolutely incredible blessing in our lives from the time that we attend ELIM until now. Our lives and our Ministry would be nowhere near what they are had you not been involved through your mentoring, teaching, and encouragement. One of my privileges in life is to see all the courses that we filmed with you going into multiple languages and dozens of countries to impact tens of thousands of lives. It's been amazing to receive testimonies from pastors from some church groups who after watching your Romans course testify to getting saved for the first time, as they put their faith in Christ alone, and not in their church membership. Your advocacy for us and our ministry together with your sage advice, advocacy, and encouragement have made much more difference than you would imagine. We think of you and pray for you regularly. We love you! Brick and Beth Cliff

Happy Super Blessed 90th Birthday Brother Paul!! Your life has covered a whole lot of ground and endless lives for Christ! I continue to share your messages and life stories that I have been honored to hear throughout all these years: When faced with danger, death, and adversity you faced it with God's living Word & Faith that God will consist as he said he would! Therefore, we eternally thank you for challenging us to always press into God for His best and expect God to complete what He started! We love you forever and are all forever grateful for You ! Happy Birthday 🎂 🎉 🎈 🎁 🥳 ♥️ Nicki Lynne Mas-Bugbee

Happy 90th birthday, Paul. I bless you from my heart on this special occasion, and will forever be grateful for all you did to bring me through the rough places as a young believer at Elim. I may not be able to adequately express my thankfulness for the healing you brought to my heart, the strength and wisdom you shared and the exhortation you gave to be always yielded to the Lord. May God grant you great peace and even more fruitfulness in the days ahead.
With great affection, Michelle

Happy 90th birthday Brother Paul. I first met you when I came to Elim in 1970. You and Gloria were so gracious. At that time I never realized that our friendship would last for over 50 years!
You have been a mentor and a spiritual father to me. I remember telling others that Brother Paul could get a verse from the Bible that no one else would preach on and that sermon would be so anointed. Also it was a Word that stayed with you and caused you to mature in the Lord.
So I want thank you for that and for your words of encouragement, your wisdom and counsel in my life. Also for listening, especially when I desired to see the EF building turned into an Elim Library.
When I was working in College Hall on the second floor, there were so many books in that one room that when I would walk into the room the floor would shake. I just had the thought that the floor would cave in I would be buried with all those books on top of me.
90 years is a milestone, but may the Lord continue to give you more years filled with God's blessings and good health.
You are a gift to all of us and we are thankful to God for you.

I owe so much to you. One day we will be with all the precious saints again in the Kingdom and I won't even need to interpret for you! So many memories. So many lessons. So much harvest. I love and honor you deeply as you celebrate the start of your tenth decade of service to the King of kings.

Happy 90th Birthday, Paul.
As I reflect on our 45 years of friendship, my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank you for the countless classes, the training, the teaching, and especially the hours we spent together—hours that shaped my faith, my thinking, and my life.
The Apostle Paul once said that we may have many teachers, but not many fathers. I have always thought of you in that way. You have not only been a teacher and mentor to me, but truly a spiritual father—and the same can be said for so many others whose lives you have touched.
Thank you for your life, your example, and your love. Your faithfulness has left a lasting legacy, and I am deeply thankful to be part of it.
Steve

“True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the Lord Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
Happy Birthday Brother Paul!

Happy birthday brother Jo. You are a gift to the body of Christ and your influence literally is seen throughout the world. I am thankful for your part in my life, spanning nearly 50 years now. May your birthday be abundantly blessed!

Happy Happy Birthday, Brother Paul! I pray your special day is full of blessings and joy as you receive love and greetings from across the world from so many of us whose lives you have touched, inspired, impacted, influenced and empowered. Thank you for the investment you have made in my life and countless others. Thank you for loving and leading well.

I love you and Gloria so much! Lisa

Dear Paul, so thankful for your life and friendship over more than 5 decades. From Dean of Students when we first met and your role in our marriage the day after Mercy, (Marcia) and I graduated Elim, to the role you played in connecting us to pastoral ministry in Chicago and, more recently, as you have served on our Great Commission Coalition Board from 1999 to the present . . . what a gift you have been - and continue to be! Wow! I agree with Gloria. The best is yet to come! (Ephesians 3:20-21) May this be your best year ever!

It was 1973. Your brother snuck into your desk and I came thinking it was you, and Bob proceeded to tell the wrong things but had me totally fooled! Then you walked in and from then you were a great mentor and friend thru the years, and pastored nearly 50 years! Thank you Paul!
Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful, wise, truly Godly man. May our Lord continue to bless you in abundance!
🎈🎉🎂🎈

Happy 90th Birthday Brother Paul. I thank God for you and your brother you have help direct the course of my life many times to help me fulfill God's plan for me. I can't thank you enough. May God bless you and give many more wonderful years.

Brother Jo,
Fifty-three years ago, in January 1973 you welcomed me to Elim. I had no idea what Elim was like apart from knowing that I had to go through Elim to get to Kenya to work with my special friend Carolyn Jones (Farag). In Idaho while I was driving truck for my father in the potato and sugar beet harvests, God spoke to me that I was to go to Kenya to join Carolyn. Although I arrived at Elim with lots of questions, the week of prayer changed everything when the Holy Spirit met me. I knew then that I was at home at Elim.
Thanks for spending time with me explaining what life was like in Kenya. Your course Missionary Principles and Practices was challenging and thought-provoking. Over the years, what you said in that class has been food for thought for me.
You said, “Success is being faithful, even when it looks like you are failing.” You also said, “Success can be described in a poem:
Plod on, Plod on, Plod on,
Plod on, Plod on, Plod on.
Plod on. Plod on. Plod on. Plod on.
Plod on, Plod on, Plod on.
and the second verse is the same as the first.”
In the many years I worked in the field, I did a lot of plodding and wondering if I was achieving any success in God’s eyes. Thanks for giving me some principles and practices to hang on to and for being such a great example to us “younger” ones.
Happy 90th! May God multiply the seeds you have sown to impact even more lives in the nations.

Happy and Blessed Birthday Brother Paul! You are truly a gift from God to the body of Christ! Thank you for being a shining example of a man who walks with God!

Happy birthday! We are so thankful for the wisdom you have spoken into our lives over the years. You have been very influential and encouraging. We pray for you to have many more years of good health and blessings. Thank you for being our friend.
We love you!
Anna and Johnny

Happy Birthday 🥳!
Thank you for teaching the precious word of God! I enjoyed listening to you while I was at Elim. May God's grace be with you for as long as you are with us and may his wisdom be imparted through you.
Love,
Debbie Lawler

Happy Birthday! Thank you for pouring into my life. Your gift of faith and words of encouragement have been a part of the building blocks God has used in my life. I loved teaching your Roman’s class over the years. You have lived “if He is for us, who can be against us.” I am so thankful for our season together at Elim.
1996-2003. I graduated in 1999.
I love you Bro Paul and will always be thankful for you!