Who are Bob and Edith Ely? 

Bob was born and raised in Anadarko, OK.  Edith was born and raised in Norman, OK.  Both came from divorced (broken) families.  Bob was raised Nazarene and Edith Pentecostal.  They met at the 1st Pentecostal Holiness Church in Norman, OK, where Edith was attending and Bob was saved, sanctified, baptized with the Holy Spirit and called to preach.  They were married in that church on March 27, 1965.  Edith worked as a medical transcriptionist/secretary so Bob could finish college.  He attended the University of Oklahoma for two years, graduating from Southwestern College (now Southwestern Christian University) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion in 1967. 

Out of their union two children, Steve and Stephanie and five grandchildren, Jessica, Talmadge, Jennifer, Devin and Jayden were born.  Edith has faithfully supported Bob  in all ministry endeavors for more than 44 years, especially in administrative/secretarial work and in her own singing ministry.  In March of 2010, they will celebrate 45 years of marriage and ministry together. 

What ministry experience does Bob Ely have? 

Bob brings wealth of ministry experience to the table. He has effectively ministered on local and national levels.

Pastor: Bob pastored two churches (University PH in Norman, Ok and First PH in Apache, OK)

Conference Church Education Ministries Director (Pioneered the CEM Dept. in the West Oklahoma Conference)

Conference Superintendent (Elected at 28 years of age, Bob served 12 years as Superintendent of West OK Conference)

General Church:  He has served on several denominational boards, including the General Board of Administration, The General Executive Board, Church Institutions Board, Evangelism USA Board, General Retirement Board (where he helped restructure the denominational program), several task force study committees, and President of the National Association of Pentecostal Holiness Evangelists. 

President of Southwestern Christian Univeristy (Bob recently ended an 11 year term. While serving in that capacity, he served on various civic and educational oriented boards.)

Full-time Evangelist (Bob has spent a total of 14 years traveling across the USA in local church revivals, camp meetings, etc. While serving in various administrative positions, he continued to minister in local church revivals, Bible Conferences, Retreats, camp meetings, etc.)

How many years of ministry does Bob Ely have? 

Bob preached his first sermon in May of 1964 and has spent the past 45 years in active ministry for Christ and His church.

How many weeks each year does Bob Ely travel and speak? 

Bob's goal is to spend 20-24 weeks per year in ministering, plus individual Sunday services as invited.

In what type of events/services does Bob speak? 

Though his main focus is on local church revivals, he ministers in Minister and Wives’ Advances, Bible Conferences, Ministers’ Conventions/Retreats, Men and Women Fellowships services, District Camp Meetings, Conference Camp Meetings, and Denominational Camp Meetings, as well.  Also, he does seminars and teaching sessions on a variety of subjects.

What is Bob Ely's philosophy of ministry? 

Bob believes the foundation of effective ministry is based on identity, intimacy, integrity and inspiration.  Therefore, his life goal is to know, develop and release God’s gifts in his life, maintain a passionate, personal relationship with Christ, walk in uprightness of heart before God and men and depend on God’s promise of Holy Spirit anointing to proclaim the Word.  Bob believes that the Word of God proclaimed in the power of the Spirit is God’s chosen instrument to save the lost and revive and nurture His church.