Paul A. Rader was born on March 14, 1934 to Lt. Colonels Lyell and Gladys Rader, revered Salvation Army officers (pastors).

After committing to Christ at a young age, Paul prepared for ministry by studying at Asbury University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Fuller Seminary.

While attending Asbury University, Paul met and married Kay Fuller, who graduated with a degree in education. They entered the School for Officer Training in New York as members of the Soldiers of Christ session and were ordained and commissioned as Salvation Army officers in June 1962.

Appointed to the training college in Seoul, Korea, the Raders devoted themselves to learning the Korean language and became fluent enough to preach in Korean. In 1977, Paul became chief secretary in Korea. The Raders returned to the United States in 1984, when Paul became principal of the School for Officer Training in Suffern, NY, followed by divisional leadership at the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware divisional headquarters.

In January 1989, General Eva Burrows appointed then-Colonel Paul Rader as chief secretary of the USA Eastern Territory, and later that year, appointed him as territorial commander of the USA Western Territory with the rank of commissioner. In 1994, the High Council elected Paul Rader as General, where he served until his retirement in 1999. In retirement, General Rader became the 15th president of Asbury University, serving from 2000 to 2006.

One of General Rader’s most enduring messages to leaders — and especially to young people — was that integrity matters. He believed that faith ought to be revealed through everyday actions, not just through words, uniforms, or public recognition. He consistently taught that Christian leaders should live lives that echo the message they preach. In a world where leaders sometimes do not fulfill their responsibilities or meet expectations, General Rader challenged Salvationists to be trustworthy, humble, and faithful.

General Paul Rader’s life embodies a fundamental lesson for young people. You do not need to be famous or lead thousands of people to have an influence on others. True spiritual leadership begins with honesty, humility, and faithfulness in the small things — at school, at church, online, at work, and in your relationships with others. When you choose to live with integrity each day, you become the type of leader who earns the trust and respect of others.

So What?

How are you living your life with honesty, humility, and faithfulness? Does your daily life echo the message you preach, teach, and profess to believe in?

Illustration by Paul Ryding.