“But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” II Corinthians 8:7 NIV
Many of the people around us often falter in the attempt to live a life that is to be modeled and duplicated; however, every once in a while, you find someone that lives well. John and Anna Mae Strain were such people. They lived lives of faithful servanthood that impacted not only the lives surrounding them, but countless unknown others around the world.
John spent his early years growing up in Sullivan, Missouri until his family moved to Kirkwood, Missouri. He was always a hard worker and worked various jobs until he met his match in a young woman named Anna Mae Kutz. They married on January 22, 1955.
Anna Mae was the oldest surviving child of six kids. The most important event of her life happened when she was just six years old attending a Sunday School service. That's where she first gave her heart to the Lord, was baptized in His name, and filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Even though she was the only one in her family that was saved at the time, her father encouraged her to continue attending Sunday School and grow her love of God's word. This practice that started at an early age would remain steadfast throughout her life. She would even eventually graduate college with a bachelor’s degree in Theology.
Throughout their marriage, John and Anna Mae had a passion and purpose to teach God's word and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John was often involved in hosting tent revivals and helped with preaching and teaching in Sunday School. Anna Mae was involved in everything from running the bookstore to teaching Sunday School at the Midwestern District Council with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Everything they did was rooted in their love and desire to help train young boys and girls to become strong men and women of God.
They encouraged everyone around them to rise to a higher standard and develop a deeper level of conviction and character. Not only did they know how to teach the word of God, but they taught those around them how to LIVE it out. They were faithful in the stewardship of their time, talents, and treasures. When it came to giving, they strongly believed in the biblical teaching of tithes and offering, and it was displayed in their faithful giving throughout the years. They had a passion for missions and were constantly giving to organizations that helped share the Gospel because as they put it, “We are all the family of God.”
Even in their retirement years they continued to bless the kingdom of God. They heard about the Stewardship Group of the United Pentecostal Church International and immediately wanted to be involved. They began investments with the United Pentecostal Church Loan Fund and used their interest earnings to give to many of the ministries of the UPCI, like Global Missions, North American Missions, etc.
After Anna Mae passed in November 2017, John continued their investments with the Church Loan Fund. But as he was growing older and Anna Mae was gone, he allowed the Church Loan Fund to choose and rotate the recipients of the interest earnings each quarter. From the first quarter of 2018 until John passed in January 2021, over $5,600 was given to SeedSprings (formerly Wells of Life – a global clean water initiative endowment), Mission Possible (fundraising program for UPCI youth and young adult missions trips), Urshan College, New Beginnings Adoptions, and Lighthouse Ranch for Boys.
As you can see, they didn’t only give monetarily, but they gave in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in love. One of the very last things that both John and Anna Mae said to their families before passing, and something that they would often say to them, is "Love the Lord above all else." To tell their story is to tell of Jesus. That is their story; their life; their legacy. *
*Many thanks to the Strain’s daughter, Bonnie Nash, for her assistance with this article.
Kent Russell
Kent Russell is the Director of Planned Giving for the UPCI Stewardship Group.