Paul Henderson McFate was a Christian missionary who set up schools in Africa and also worked for 25 years at Camp Pinnacle in the Helderbergs. He was “welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven” on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, his family wrote in a tribute. Mr. McFate, known as Jamie to his family and Henderson to the community, was 82.

“Paul’s example of sacrificial service taught us what it looked like to serve the Lord with humility,” his family wrote. “His legacy is carried on in his four children, 16 grandchildren, and future generations. Joshua 24:15 was his focus: ‘Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve but, as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’”

The youngest of six children, Mr. McFate was born in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania on Aug. 16, 1934 to Ira Paul and Myrtle McFate. He graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1953 where he was president of Future Farmers of America.

He worked on the family farm and enjoyed raising horses. In 1960, he graduated from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

Mr. McFate served six years in the Naval Reserves. He spent 16 months in active duty traveling around the world, which included the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He began working at Camp Pinnacle, a Christian retreat and conference center in the Helderbergs, where he met and married Jean Carol Hogan on June 5, 1965. He worked a total of 25 years at Camp Pinnacle as a “jack of all trades.”

Mr. and Mrs. McFate served on the mission field for 17 years, establishing Discipleship Schools in six countries of east and central Africa with International Accelerated Missions. After retiring in late 2011, he volunteered at Camp Pinnacle and International Accelerated Missions.

As a member of Delmar Full Gospel (Legacy Church) Mr. McFate served on the Missions Task Force. He spent his latter years at Cross Road Retirement Community in Asheboro, North Carolina with his wife. They were also members of Sunset Avenue Church of God in Asheboro. At the Cross Road Retirement community, his family wrote, “He was surrounded by loving and supportive friends.”

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Paul Henderson McFate is survived by his wife, Jean Carol McFate, of Asheboro, North Carolina; by four children, Darren McFate, and his wife, Rebecca, of Silver Spring, Maryland, Melissa Randall and her husband, Paul, of Byram, New Jersey, Tracey Jackson and her husband, Mark, of East Berne, and Jodi Guilzon and husband, Mark, of the Rukwa Valley, Tanzania, East Africa; and by 16 grandchildren.

He is also survived by two sisters, Bernice Balsbaugh and Joella Hogan; a brother, Robert McFate; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held Friday, Jan. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. followed by a funeral service on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. Both will be held at Rock Road Chapel, 96 Rock Rd., Berne, NY 12023. A private burial will be held at Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York.

Arrangements are by Pugh Funeral Home of Asheboro, North Carolina and Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.