Paul Spates has had a huge impact in the lives of students and staff at The King's Academy. This blog is a place for you, those who know Paul, to be able to thank him for the part that he played in your life and spiritual growth.
"It's all about kids!", Paul would say.
Take a few moments and let Paul know the impact he has had in your life.
If you have a video or photos to share go to: http://paulspates.phanfare.com
(click on the comments link below to leave a message)
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Paul - Natalie and Andrea and I are lifting you and your whole family up in prayers. Every time I see a picture of you I get a smile on my face, lots of fun times we had at TKA, great memories...and thank you thank you for making sports so much fun for us in the athletic office! We send our love...Anita Swanson (Little) - I'm now an old fart newlywed!
ReplyDeletePaul, I'll never forget the first time I even heard about you - way back when, from Jaime Burnett - "You've got to meet Paul - he's a dynamo for God, creative, funny, loves on people in his very unique way. I know you'll love him." And he was absolutely right - I have come to love you dearly - your care toward me and my family, your care for kids, your love of God, the way you model what God's man looks like. You are the real deal and I have a deep respect for you in how you've conducted your life. You are truly a man after God's own heart! May God's peace be with you and your family in a supernatural, personal way - each minute of each precious day ahead. Lovingly in Christ, your friend, Steve Belton
ReplyDeleteDear Brother Paul,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to let you know what a blessing you have been to me over these many years getting to know you through various events at Kings. Mexico, however has been #1 for me, and has had a dramatic impact on my life and certainly the lives of many Mexican families, not to mention the numerous Kings kids who now know the proper method for applying sun screen. While Kevin is doing great job trying to fill your shoes, he needs more sunscreen training.
I have always appreciated how the Lord has given you such spirit of JOY and how you exhude His joy to others!
I love you brother!
Mike Haff
Paul,
ReplyDeleteYou are a wonderful man that is willing to take the 3 year olds (Josiah and Joanna on the grass and crawl with them and make church special and sing funny songs and be Jesus to them. Your family has blessed us in many ways.We enjoyed the food drive with you. I love your relational attitude by including kids in sports.Thanks for your obvious love for the LORD.
Kathy Auer
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteOur children, Grace and Tucker have been blessed enormously by being members of the "TKA Family" and so have Jody and I. We all thank you very much for your love and dedication and your delightful (and very amusing!) sense of humor. I believe that I first met you along with many others at my very first Mexico Safari meeting 5 years ago and recognized your great leadership skills, infectious joy and love for kids at that time. Hearing all of the various "Paul" stories over the years has been a kick and I feel blessed to have served along with you, especially in your vision and outreach in Mexico... God bless you Paul,
Scott Kinder and Family
I'm going to write more later, but immediately:
ReplyDelete1. I will never forget Clif Davidson and Paul Spates, in makeshift football pads and other costume pieces and some kind of poles, rushing at one another across the floor of an assembly in my 8th grade year as they pantomimed jousting and a Knights' battle.
2. I will never forget being coached in basketball by Paul Spates and being told to be on the offensive player like a cheap coat. I will never forget his extraordinary three point shooting. I will never forget him shooting the basketball from his hot tub.
3. I will never forget trips to Mexico with Paul, from driving over the grapevine with no AC to listening to Keith Green as Paul worked to maintain a relationship with God in the midst of the chaos that is the TKA Home Building Trip to Mexico.
I will never forget, looking over what I consider to be my own exceedingly lucky life, that the only reason I've been able to achieve anything or be anything is because of the army of people who stood behind me, supported me, and made it possible. Paul stands prominently amongst that group.
Thank you Paul (and I thank God for you),
Erik Carlstone
Paul,
ReplyDeleteYou are in inspiration to the children (and young adults) of TKA. Your support of TKA has made it the school it is today. I thank God on a daily basis for the environment you have provided for my four children to learn and worship the Lord.
Your presence at every athletic event always brought a smile to my face; your dedication to the children is unsurpassed.
You are an amazing person, please know your impact on our family is significant. I pray for you and your family to find peace.
Laura Provenza
Mr. Spates,
ReplyDeleteWe have never met, but it is in part because of your vision, hard work, courage and obedience to God that my son has a safe, loving environment in which to learn that will write on the slate of who he is both now and for eternity. Thank you for hearing God's calling and for serving Him. My son, my family, we all have and will continue to benefit from your obedience. You are in our prayers.
Angela Jungck and Family
I never enjoyed a basketball game more than when I was sitting next to you. And believe me, I've been to more than my share of basketball games. I'll never forget the time I pointed out to you that one of the players on the opposing team had his shorts on backwards and you began chanting... "Shorts on backwards! Shorts on Backwards!" I was the one to notice the insignificant details but you always seemed to have your eyes on the bigger picture.
ReplyDeleteLast year when the team was struggling, you were always there with an encouraging word. You weren't so worried about wins and losses. Instead you asked, How is Coach doing? What can I do to help? And you always had positive things to say about Coach and the basketball program.
Coming to King's was a HUGE move for our family. If not for you, I think it may have overwhelmed us. Your encouragement and godly advice have been invaluable to us. You'll never know how much we love and appreciate you.
Mrs. Coach Petiti
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThank you for opening your home to me and all the other high schoolers that used to cram into your living room for YoungLife on Monday nights. Your humor and creativity made learning about Christ exciting, and I realized there were other adults who genuinely cared about me and what was going on in my life.
YL, Woodleaf, and your off the wall skits hold a very dear place in my heart. Thank you for making Mondays my favorite day of the week.
Kelly McGowan Pelot
For Paul, Sylvia, Spates family and friends;
ReplyDeleteI could write for hours of all the fond memories, but a few stand out that represent Paul to me. The Paul who spoke the gospel to a group and reached me. The Paul who challenged me. The Paul who was more fun than anyone. His S.A.Q. (inside reference) is off the charts!
In 1970, my friend Kelly Walker invited me to this thing called Young Life. At the meeting this big wild man with translucent blonde hair and a droopy moustache leapt to the front of the room and started leading songs with an enthusiasm no self-conscious teenager would ever attempt. Soon his enthusiasm had swept over the young men and women; macho football studs were singing and clapping along. Paul broke down barriers.
Paul gave the talk. It was about Samson. He painted Samson as a biker dude, rumbling into town on his Harley. This guy was fun, infectious and into God.
I had grown up in the Episcopal Church, and as I continued to attend Young Life, I was captured by the one thing I heard over and over again. “God loves you and wants to have a personal relationship with you.” I’d never heard that before. I privately accepted Jesus as my savior and began to hang out with Paul more and more. First in a mentoring relationship, but with time, as friends.
My parents loved Paul and would say, “Young Life changed Jim’s life.” They saw it. But Paul would always say, No, Mrs. Barnes, “Jesus changed Jim’s life.” Sadly, they never got it.
Paul did stuff that would probably get him booted right out of Young Life today. Or thrown in jail. For example, driving his baby blue VW in front of Los Altos High, two tires on the street, two on the sidewalk. His timing was impeccable, as a Los Altos cop was cruising down Almond Avenue at the time of the incident.
Or the time we were playing football at Lincoln Park and Paul, spotting a woman pushing a baby in a stroller, jokingly said, “Watch me kick this ball and hit that baby.” He punted the ball, and with unintended precision, it was headed for a direct hit. Imagine Paul with a horrified look on his face, fingers clutching his hair, screaming a warning at the top of his lungs. The woman, hearing the screams, spotted the ball and threw herself over the stroller like a secret serviceman taking a bullet for the President. The ball hit inches (probably feet, but inches sounds more dramatic) from the stroller. Paul ran over to her and apologized profusely. We had a great, but uncomfortable laugh, and continued our game.
While at college at Davis, when I would come home for a weekend or the summer, Paul was always the first one I’d call, and it was right back into fun and fellowship. Softball and tackle football at Almond School, and perhaps our greatest athletic endeavor, Speedball at Santa Rita. Wiltjer, Chay, Summers, Dolby, Krolpfieffer, the Fthenakises, Paul, I, and others would play this football/soccer/rugby hybrid (with one of those cheap pool balls in the bins at the drug store) with reckless abandon. Then off to someone’s pool for Chataball which was nothing more than everyone doing anything to wrench the pool ball out of the hands of the one guy who was trying to hang on to it. When the next guy secured the ball, he would yell, “Chata!” and the process would begin again.
The fun was stupidly fun. But the brotherhood we felt as a group as we started and continued our journeys with Jesus was undeniable. I think we were a lot like the apostles in that way. A group of guys deciding to follow Jesus at about the same time, growing together, falling, fighting, and flailing away at our lives and our faith. Paul was our leader, our rabbi and our friend.
Paul was God’s light to Los Altos High School. That is not hyperbole. He brought Jesus to life. He brought Jesus to me and so many others. And he got us going on our faith journeys. He wasn’t perfect, but he was passionate. He was the right man-child for the job.
I thank Paul for introducing me to Jesus. I thank God for introducing me to Paul.
Jim (Barnes)
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteFirst I would like to thank you for everything you have ever done for King's Academy. King's has truly been the greatest blessing of my life. It has helped transform me into the man I am today for which I thank you. I will never forget my first trip with A-Team to Mexico my sophomore year, and how I got to ride with the seniors in you van. I'm not sure I could ever again have as much fun as I did those couple days. But aside from all the laughs, I will always remember your constant presence and support. It was always a great feeling to have you on the sideline and in the dugout. I will not forget all the great encouragement that you have given to me on and off the playing field. One time in my sophomore year I had to make an apology for a mistake I had made, and after I did, you and Joe came up to me and just embraced me and just showed me God's incredible grace. Thank you for being a blessing in my life and so many of the lives at King's Academy. You are in my prayers.
Austin Ghiossi
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteI met you in 1982 when I was a sophomore at Los Altos High School and got invited to YoungLife. You were one of the leaders, doing goofy skits up front and driving kids who needed a ride. I remember some of the crazy things you'd take us to do. Once, back when Shoreline Park was just mud flats, you took us 4-wheeling (at night, because we weren't supposed to be there). Of course, we got stuck, but that was part of the fun. Another time, on the way to Disneyland one hot summer day, I was riding in your Bronco with about a dozen other kids. You declared "sweatbox!", rolled up the windows, and cranked the heater until we were all dripping with sweat. Then you skidded into an empty dirt lot, opened the windows, and let the cloud of dust drift through the windows, caking us all. This may sound disgusting to anyone reading this, but to a car-full of teens, this was the clearest way to understand that the God who wants to know each of us is a God of joy and laughter.
Thanks to you and YoungLife I met the Lord at Woodleaf camp in the summer of 1983, and have been walking with Him ever since. Thanks for being a part of my story, Paul. Blessings on you and your family in the months ahead.
-Peter Monaco
Paul and family, Like so many others I find it hard to narrow my thoughts to just a few memories--there are so many great Paul stories! You were the most fun and most generous person I had ever met! I always knew that if you were present at a meeting, it would be fun, and anything could happen. You made me laugh so hard that it hurt. The late night Monday Young Life meetings at Dennys, where we laughed and joked and tried to plan our next event, were worth every minute of lost sleep! You made it fun Paul, and showed me how to lighten up and let God worry about the details. The trips we took were always an adventure--Woodleaf, Mexico, basketball games, Disneyland after Mexico. Do you remember telling the TKA kids that the birds at Disneyland were mechanical, and that their tickets would get them half-price meals? Do you remember you and the guys dressing up in dresses and make up so that you could come to Maile's bridal shower?
ReplyDeleteAnd your generosity was amazing--you were always willing to pay for a meal, loan your car, share your house or give money to someone in need. You loaned me your Suburban for a crazy scavenger hunt at Stanford, and you didn't blame me when I called you and told you it had to be towed in the middle of the night because it "threw a rod". You and Liza generously gave us money to pay for Gregg's chemistry class one summer--that was a beginning step for the career that he has now. You showed us all how to live life fully for God. Gregg and I learned so much about life and marriage and family from just observing you and your family. You were wise and silly at the same time. 12 years ago we moved away from the bay area to begin our medical school journey. We've missed you Paul. There is no one else quite like you. Thanks for loving us, teaching us and believing in us. We love you!
Jamie Raab
Paul,
ReplyDeleteIt evident to all when a person is in the right spot, when they have the freedom to express their gifts in an environment where the impact is life changing. You are one of those special people. Your passion for TKA and all that it embodies through sports, mission and spiritual growth is awsome. You truly see the best in and hope the most for everyone. You are a great example of a man transform by God and driven by divine purpose.
Thanks for the care, friendship and endless times of laughter.
Blessings,
Jeff Mcdonald
Paul,
ReplyDeleteHow can one single person consume so many Slurpees? How can one single person be such a bad swimmer yet sink free throw after free throw so effortlessly? How can one single person have such a profound impact on so many lives? By the grace (and humor) of God you have been able to do all these things...and so much more. As many others have expressed, from the moment we first met my life was changed...forever. I cannot fully and justly describe the many thoughts and memories that flood my mind when thinking of you. In no specific, or rational order, here are some of them...the man with absolutely the highest SAQ (Screw Around Quotient)...our many trips with Juan Ibarra to "Three Brothers" in East Palo Alto for tacos...a group of completely ugly guys (Paul, Sam Moore, Mike Cabot, Greg Mitchell, Steve Vaughn, myself and others) cross dressing and crashing Maile's bridal shower complete with gifts (Talking Myna Bird Robot) and the Hostess Snack plate...stuffing a whole pack of cigarettes in our mouths and attempting to smoke them all at once (in the name of Young Life of course)...driving thru puddle after puddle and mud hole after mud hole in your Suburban, Young Life Van or any other vehicle we happened to be in...our many "meetings" in the King's Academy gym looking more like a pick-up basketball game than a meeting...trying to figue out how to actually line a soccer field with chalk...early morning animal hunting on the King's athletic fields only to discover the protected ground owls...the look on your face when the King's class of '97 toilet papered the quad (amongst other things)...the very first "A" team trip to Mexico and you and I pulling back to back Mexico weeks with King's and Young Life...late night at Denny's flicking toothpicks to get stuck on the ceiling...did I mention Slurpees?...listening to KNBR while driving who knows where for no real reason at all...trampoline dunk hoops at the Spates house...the many, many, many road trips for King's sporting events...your love for Christ and for sharing that love with kids (and me)...teaching me to lighten up and to not take myself so seriously...the Chinese buffet lunch "meetings"...the early King's basketball practices in the Mtn View warehouse...your willingness to offer your home, your cars, your money with no questions asked...your passion for life...how red your face can get when you get real fired up...your family...your advice...your friendship for many years...your love for my wife and I and your willingness to fly all the way across the country to attend our wedding in Virginia...your crazy Fu Man Chu that you felt obligated to grow from time to time just to show us how it's done...and so much more. Paul, you hold a special place in my heart and in my life. The angels in heaven will be ready for one mean game of hoops when you arrive, and one day I will glady join in. The post-game Slurpees will be on me. You are greatly loved.
Gregg Raab
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThe mentioning of your name just makes me smile & brings a flood of awesome memories of you, your family, Los Altos YL, and watching how you lived life full for Christ.
The Monday YL adventures at your home - from moving around the furniture each week & rolling up the carpet in your living room to prep for club to the planning discussions that made me, too, laugh so much it hurt! The way that you & Liza showed your love towards each other & your children & the amazing way you opened up your home each week for club, has been such a blessing to me to role model as a spouse & parent.
Yes – your amazing 3-pointers and non-stop free-throws always had my jaw dropped when I would attempt to compete in the action in your backyard court…. and the way you pulled together the guys from club (Sam, Gregg, Mike , etc.) to crash Maile’s bridal shower just showed me again that how you lived out your life to the fullest and that life is a whole lot more meaningful when laughter and sheer fun are involved! My 1st trip to Mexico was with you and the YL crew…I can still remember you leading a devotion while we all sat with our little cereal boxes eating breakfast huddled around listening to you. Mexico ALWAYS makes me think of you, the other leaders, the YL kids, and the look in the eyes of the family when we handed the keys over to for the front door of the house we all made for them (complete with a loft and carpet that you let us buy to deck out the place for the kids!).
I am so blessed to have been involved in ministry with you for a brief period of time & during those years watch how you loved those around you like no other. One question you would often have for me was…”how is your soul today?...for some reason that question has stuck with me the last 10+ years and often it pops up and makes me take a step back and view the big picture & think about where my priorities have been recently. Thanks for filling a part of my life with a great deal of laughter, great experience of giving to others in need & in our community of life, and showing how love and passion for Jesus is the most important gift to share with others! Diane Prins
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a part of the foundation of TKA. Thank you for loving the students enough to take them out of their comfort zones and into the dust of Mexico. All of our children had life-changing experiences on their trips to Tecate, as did hundreds of others. One of my favorite Mexico memories is hearing your laughter when comparing the stories of the day with the other men. You guys were hilarious trying to outdo each other!
I know sometimes you feel like a square peg in a round hole, but you expressed confidence that Jesus made you the way He did for a reason. You took that confidence and went out and loved kids, pointed to the way of salvation, became a fool for Christ doing wild and crazy things in YL and at Woodleaf, and expressed grace to the outcast, hurting and the misunderstood.
Thank you for mentoring the next generation.
I know you don't want to be held up as an example of a Godly man...oops! Too late...you are!
You are loved and admired,
Geralyn Giese
Mr. Spates,
ReplyDeleteYou are a great man, you are a great influence. You always had the best advice, and always had a calm demeanor. I enjoyed being in your home group and talking about sports and life in general. I will never forget the image of walking down the stairs after graduating, shaking your hand, and exchanging a few words.
Thank You!
Zac Rouleau
Brother Paul,
ReplyDeleteThank you for being the faithful and transparent man God created you to be! Your wild and wacky humor provoked my interest in spending more time with you at YL events, but it is your authentic lifestyle and selfless love for others that pointed me to your target, Jesus Christ.
You have been modeling the servant’s life for me since we met in 1972 my freshman year at Los Altos High. First impression: you used to drive me home from YL meetings in your 2door Audi and pull up to within inches of my parent’s mailbox forcing me to exit through the sunroof. You & Liza opened your home to me, Frawley, the Mongillo’s, and Lowe for games of hoops in the driveway, breakfast Campaigners @ 6am, countless meals, and movie nights - - whatever - - it really didn’t matter. We just wanted to be with you.
We would all visit you during college breaks and you would routinely ask me “Are you still a Christian?” BAM! Right between the eyes - - let’s get real with our walk with Jesus. Honest and deep from the heart - - you never gave up on me!
God’s mega-blessings were on me when he let Brenda & I work with you in YL with Grimmie, Clif D, and others. Many trips to Woodleaf, Disneyland, and four-wheelin’ down Hwy 101 before construction was completed at Morgan Hill. (has statute of limitations expired on that yet?). You demonstrated the Christian life - - in case we weren’t listening we certainly could see it! My prayers for my children have been that they would have a Paul Spates in their life to walk with them like you did with me. Blessings like YOU don’t happen to us by coincidence.
For unknown reasons, you saved me from moving to AZ for a job and hired me to “work” with you and Jeff and PTB! Of all the people in your life you could have chosen, I have always considered that to be one of my greatest honors in life to get to watch you in action in the real world. We had so much fun - - and probably even got some work done too!
It’s no secret you have given yourself to God’s mission to spread His truth by living it every day. And live it you did - - with gusto! You’ve taught me to be a teenager, a man, a husband, a father, a friend, a colleague, a boss, a leader, a servant, and a brother! And I thought we were just gonna have some fun together in Young Life!
Thank you, my brother for loving me. If God has fingerprints, they must match yours - - ‘cuz His work in my life has your fingerprints all over it! You are the face I see when I hear the Russ Taff song “Thank You for Giving to the Lord”. Thank you PAUL SPATES for giving to the Lord!
I love you brother! You and your family our in our prayers. Be at peace and know you are all loved by the Lawlers.
Mark (and Brenda) Lawler
Dear Paul--We want to say thank you for these gifts. First of all for five wonderful grandchildren. Second for the wit and fun you have brought to so many family gatherings. Lastly, for modeling in your life a godly and discerning man. You have blessed our lives.Mom and Dad
ReplyDeleteDear Paul,
ReplyDeleteThinking back over the years some memories come to mind of both fun times we've had, and why they happened.
Remember slugging the crud out of each other in 1st Class (in our suits) until the Flight Attendant became worried enough to call in reinforcements to calm us down?
Remember the department store in Dallas and you pretending to be the "impaired" shoe salesman trying to fit the samples on my feet? As you dragged me and the 6 (attached) chairs across the carpeted room to a table of shoes so I could get a closer look, you suddenly realized the whole load was about 350 pounds. You wouldn't stop as a large crowd of customers and employees had gathered for the show by then, even though your face looked like it was going to pop. Later you went to the men's room to check yourself for a hernia.
Remember the four-wheeling; the mud field behind Bob's Big Boy with you flying over jumps in the Bronco, just to spin around to see a club kid in his Dad's new BMW a foot off the ground? Kid's would follow you anywhere... and in anyone's car. Local body shops loved you too.
Remember how I would bring Katie to work and you would drop anything you were doing and treat her like a princess? You would put her on your lap and let her drive the forklift around. Who else could take a little girl into a large metal manufacturing facility, with the overwhelming odor of oil and grease and turn it into Cinderella's castle?
Remember me distracting you at the airport to get you to go into the Lady's Room? After a few seconds you blew out of there faster than I've ever seen you move with your face red in terror. That's the only time I saw Larry laugh. You weren't trying to be funny, but it's a bit inevitable isn't it.
Remember you calling me during my radio show saying you had used some kind of industrial adhesive to glue a piece of carpet on your head, to hide your bald spot and couldn't get it off? When I suggested you apply heat to it you said did had but had caught it on fire, and now it smells pretty bad and no longer matches the color of the remaining hair on your head. That's why you were trying to take it off.
Remember at Black Bart when you jumped off the bridge and 7 club kids followed you? When I asked you why you said "it just seemed to make sense at the time...". You later told me to be sure to keep my legs closed if I ever try that.
Remember when we stood back to back at Wells Fargo and were the last guys standing until the girls came? I never worried with you covering my back.
You are the go-to guy to "stir-it-up".
Club with you was frenzied chaos, and once the fervor was at it's peak you would "goose" it along in the direction you wanted it to go. Our leaders meetings were the same way; three hours to plan 4 clubs... if we were lucky. But we were more than lucky, we were the object of God's love. He let us be with you.
I remember how you once said "there's a reason for the madness". I'm not sure how many people understand what humor and fun really is to you. It's a tool to break down barriers, personal defenses and bring folks into a more teachable condition. You are built for it.
What a privilege to have known you and call you my friend. What a blessing to have been with you in ministry, work and family times.
Thanks for having believed in me, bringing me into your life and all the adventures we had.
I remember these vignettes and many more because they wouldn't have happened without you.
I wish you could have known my son Paul better; he's sooooo much like you in being "no respecter of persons" and bringing humor, joy and fun to others. His "wackiness" is infectious, permeating to those around, and he befriends those usually ignored by others.
That's why many folks feel they can share openly with him, allowing him to love them and share Jesus with them.
That's what I was hoping for.
That's why I named him after you.
Love,
Jeff (and Nancy) Katie, David and Paul
Paul:
ReplyDeleteIn the early days of Kings one of the main reasons I wanted Erik to come to Kings was to have the opportunity to get to know you and spend time with you. Thank you for spending time with him and helping him to develop as a young man and a leader. Even more significant are the many young men that you have challenged to be mentors. Erik has benefitted from mentors like Eric Peterson, Mark Mitchell and more. Your commitment to young people continues to bear fruit. Thank you again
Ed Carlstone
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteI want to add my thanks to you along with all of these others for the impact you have had in my life. Thank you for showing me as a brand new believer that Christians could love Jesus and have a blast. Thank you for showing me as a young man what it meant to be a Christian husband. Thank you for letting me knock the snot out of a few guys playing tackle football. Thank you for showing me what team ministry looked like as we served at LAHS in 1975. Thank you for coming to my wedding and supporting me. Thank you for bringing us a beautiful meal right after out first daughter was born in 1981. Thank you for starting TKA and loving each on of my kids who have gone there. Thank you for creating a sports program there that is quality. Thank you for letting me "vent" about some of my frustrations.
I love you, Paul, and whatever God has in store for you I KNOW it is good and I know we will see each other again.
Your brother, Mark Mitchell
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteI specifically do not remember any memories with you. You most likely can't remember any with me. But you were and still are a huge example in my life. Your attitude around campus, whether it be with the students, faculty, or parents, was always humble. It was as if you walked into every interaction with people with the mindset of being a Light with a purpose. Whether it be encouraging, entertaining, teaching, listening or whatever the case, you made sure you had a purpose in all you did. That is what I remember most about you and it has taught me a lesson that I still work on today.
Where you most likely would have interacted with me would have been on the baseball diamond, where I could see you paying periodical visits. For a man like yourself, with all your accomplished goals and achievements in life, to come out, lean on the fence and watch us practice or stand in the dugout during games with us Knights.. it meant a lot and was a great example for myself to follow.
Thank you, Paul, for being a Light and an example I can follow and share with others as well. My prayers are with you.
Through Him, Garrett Blackburn
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteI had so much fun growing up with you around! Your energy and enthusiasm and humor made up some of my best junior high and high school memories! It was so fun for me to see a happy Christian who lived with joy and your authenticity was (and always is) so inspiring.
Then, I got to come work for you! Wow - what an experience... I think you are one of the only people I have ever seen truly lead by example. Your patience and generosity were so evident to me every day. I am inspired still by the way you always put the heart and well-being of a person before any other objective. Your dealings with even the most difficult individuals were always fair and loving.
And, you believed in me so much! I could write pages about how that touched me and helped me grow professionally and personally. But I will just say that was one of the best gifts ever. Thank you so much.
I love you,
Rebecca Mayer
I knew I liked you Paul when I heard about your dedication with the school from my wife Tracy. Then I liked you more when i saw how you encouraged my daughter, Ali when she went to work at TKA. I continued to appreciate you when I coached football at TKA and when I heard great things about you from my Son in law, Jeff Schoch. BUT, the clencher for me, that caused me to go from liking you to loving you was when I saw you dance in a tutu at a club! You are so insanely in love with impacting kid's lives for God that you put on a tutu and had your tummy hanging out. I thought "MAN I LOVE THIS GUY!!!" Paul, your life and story has been a tremendous influence for good in my life, my wife, and my kids. Many times I wanted to come by to hang out with you but didn't want to bug you. But, if you ever need me for anything, call on me. Please know that I love you and appreciate you. Stan Freitas
ReplyDeletePaul Spates,
ReplyDeleteI think about you all the time. I've watched you from the day I've met you. I copied you and you became a mentor to me from far away. You've blessed me directly and indirectly through my father.
I love you.
Your friend,
Daniel La Point
Paul, There is no question of your tremendous influence on my life and the life of countless others! I cannot think of you without smiling and laughing, remembering our great times together at YL club from ’90-95. Now that I’m in my forties with children (Eliza and Abigail) – the age you were during our club days – I am even more amazed at how you and Liza opened your home and gave of yourself so that kids might know Jesus! You taught me that relationship was more important than orderly meetings, when you would constantly be balancing JoJo on your shoulders or joking with Luke! I cannot forget all of our times together: cross dressing to crash a bridal shower, pretending to smoke by blowing dry ice at a YL club, all of my brick basketball shooting, camps, Dennys, incredible four-wheeling wherever and whenever, Black Bart. I learned about mentoring from you, about being a husband and a dad, and about one of life’s greatest secrets that you shared with me at winter camp one year, “Make sure that you always vacuum the carpet on both sides of a bed, that’s where all of the dried boogers are dropped.”
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you, Paul, and I know that you are clinging closely to Jesus. I love you and praise God for how he has used you in my life!
Sam Moore
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThis is Jim Catlin. Although it's been 30 years since we co-labored together to get YL going at Los Altos High, I still marvel at how our brief time together was used by God to prepare me for what I have done since then, tasks that I had no clue were in my future.
Back then, I was a newly married, new-hire at Hewlett-Packard. Jeff and I had been roomies at Davis and through that friendship I found myself back in front of kids at club alongside of both you guys. It was odd, I thought, because God had led me into engineering and away from youth ministry.
I remember being in the "rotation" for giving the weekly talks and I remember studying your talks carefully. I felt way out of my element but you seemed so in the center of yours. But the "technique" of the talks was not the key, I finally learned. The "key" was that you genuinely loved these kids. I saw you eat a live snail for their benefit with great fanfare and I realized that the kids would listen to anybody who would be willing to "take a snail" for them.
There was always an "over the top" playfulness about you. Any kid who sees an adult loving life to the degree you loved it would listen when you would say, "Let me tell you where real life can be found." That's authentic and kids can smell it.
Well, God makes inexplicable investments in our lives and His wisdom to thrust us together for those few brief years in the late 70's did not become apparent until much later.
I left HP after 17 years of research and went into ministry fulltime, youth ministry, and I started seeing pieces of Paul Spates reincarnating in me! It was weird! I never went as far as eating live snails but, well, let's just say it was living large for Jesus!
I now pastor a small mission church in Utah but I continue to give talks to thousands of youth from all across the country through Group Workcamps. You were at the beginning of this road for me and God used you powerfully to equip me.
One discouraging night in '79 we had only about six kids show for club. I had prepared the talk for that night and I said to you, "Let's just cancel tonight. We can't get enough momentum for a club with only 6 kids." You countered, "Then let's not do club in this house. Let's do it out of my van!" So we overloaded your van (the springs sagged so much that the rubber tires were burning in the top of the wheel wells) and drove to different places around Los Altos. We'd pile out on one corner and sing. We'd fall out onto another corner and do skits. Finally, we poured out and sat on a curb under a residential streetlight to listen to my talk from the street. Afterward, we went home and I thought we had bombed that night. Then about a few years later a HS gal from Los Altos was called upon to speak at the YL fundraising dinner. I didn't recognize her at first but when she started recounting the life changing moment that started her on her road to Jesus she talked about sitting under the streetlight that night. She recounted my entire talk. She had listened! I had wanted to cancel the whole thing beforehand. But I never forgot your insistence, just like Jesus, that six is more than enough. In fact, one kid would have been enough for Jesus. After that, numbers meant nothing to me. Individuals meant everything.
Thanks Paul. You have been a blessing and God has multiplied your "planting" a hundred-fold! Probably much much more. He gives the increase and not us.
God bless,
Jim Catlin
Paul,
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiration and blessing you have been on my life. As I look back 5years ago I just remember receiving a phone call from you asking me if I would consider praying about coaching basketball at King's. I never thought with the schedule I hold that it would be possible but couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a direct impact on these athlete's lives. Your words, "It's all about the kids" guided me to say God make a way for me to do this and he did. Thank you for entrusting me to make a difference through basketball, ministry, and relationships. You are an awesome man and God's continuous blessings on you and your family.
Mike Allen
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteAh...the memories, more than 15 years worth! Los Altos Little League as competing coaches followed by years of chasing "Little Knights" and bigger Knights, including our sons around the baseball diamonds in both town leagues and at King's.
I remember the council and friendship you gave Carolyn, Chad and me as we agonized and prayed over the decision to enroll Chad at a "new school," The King's Academy. the only one that knew where he belonged was Chad; Mom and Dad had to go through the screening and interview process before reaching the same decision Chad had made. I guess what convinced him immediately was the chat the 3 of us had in the parking lot after a Little League game, eating hot dogs, and you giving Chad a TKA baseball hat. He seemed convinced as we drove home and I'm not sure it has come off yet. (I still believe that hat was a recruiting violation but....it worked!)
Later, it was special, having the privilege of coaching Little League, JV and Varsity teams at King's together along with Tom Gordon and later Jim Rodrigues. I remember our first CCS win over Palma and getting the early vision of the enormous heart of Danny Carter and a bunch of young men that didn't know they weren't supposed to win that game.
I remember the rides to the games, the Modesto trips, the work on the ball field and talks in your office. Through your easy smile and fun loving approach to life, I realized very quickly how great a love you had for the kids. How you cared for each and everyone and did so many little things that let them each know they were special. As you said many times, you felt sports were a great tool to help build young boys and girls into strong young men and women. I give thanks for the opportunity to work with you, laugh with you and "talk kids" with you.
Thank you my friend, you are special. May God bless you and give you his peace.
Love,
Mark Z.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteIn thinking back on the incredible legacy that you have left in the South Peninsula community - at Los Altos High and at King's Academy - I am grateful that you have remained faithful to the cause of serving high schoolers and sharing the incredible love of Jesus Christ with them.
I especially remember our joint trips to Disneyland and Summer Campaigners. You opened your home and the home of your in-laws to so many kids. I remember laughing as you would go off roading with the boys as we would get on the freeway after having stopped for food.
I am also grateful for the role that you played in my kids' lives. To see the Savior modeled in your life has left a lasting impression on them.
I pray for you and your family.
Love,
Scotty Clarke
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful we were able to talk for a bit a few weeks ago. I have been thinking about you and your family and what great times we've had watching God work in Mexico. 1996 somehow I got hoodwinked into driving a 16 ft. box truck down to Mexico with the A-team. I remember being with you and just being shocked at the poverty all around and asking you how you dealt with it. You said that the way you dealt with it was knowing that we were making a difference by making things better. That made a lot of sense to me and helped me to deal with the overwhelming poverty.
I have so many Mexico memories, but here are a few I want to share:
- Tina's place and having all the tents packed in that compound with the broken glass on the top of the wall
- Chuckwagon breakdown, Derby, dragging it to Stockton, then the truck wouldn't start and those God-sent mechanics who took care of us and got us on our way.
- Checking out possible sites for camp and meeting the pig farmer with who had about 3 teeth
- Plunging toilets at 2 a.m. at camp Ebenezer
- Seeing the "flying Suburban" accidentally bump Sergio's truck
- Sitting in the back of one of the trucks laughing with CT Hoes and some other A-team guys
- Singing "Take it Easy" in the kitchen at the ranch while it's pouring outside
- Asking Jim Wheeler for the weather report every 5 minutes, and having Jim patiently give it in his perfect "weatherman" voice
- Driving around in "King Kong" and talking about life
- Giving soccer balls to the kids working at the gas station
- Fellowship at the taco stands
- Working together on the Mexico committee for all those years and being able to disagree without being disagreeable.
Paul, we've been through so many challenges on the Mexico trips, yet I never saw you ever panic or even get concerned. I know now that is the peace of God beyond understanding that you have and you showed me. You taught me how to trust God in all situations and for that I'll be forever grateful.
You've been a great brother in Christ and I love you a lot.
God bless you and your family.
Kevin
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePaul: I think Jimbo said it best. Thank you for modeling the acceptance and love of Christ at a season in our lives when we desperately needed it. Thank you for pointing us towards Jesus. Thank you for all you did to help create a place where thirty-five years later our kids could catch a glimpse of life as the body of Christ. Thank you for your steadfast witness all those years. I thank God or all that he has done through you, and I look forward to our soon coming great reunion.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you.
Basil
Dear Paul, You have allowed God to use you in a way that has had an impact on my life through my husband's life and into the next generation for countless people. I am so thankful that you were there for Basil as his high school Young Life leader to model a man committed to Christ. He has served that Christ all these years because you lead him to that place. Our children gave their lives to that Christ at a young age and have shared their love for Him with many others. God has been glorified "from generation to generation" because you were faithful to the calling He had for you. I have been blessed, too, by Sylvia and the love she has known through you and the testimony she carries of God's faithfulness to her because you heard His voice concerning her. What a blessing you have been to so many. Thank you, Paul. -Debbie Fthenakis
ReplyDeleteDear Paul,
ReplyDeleteWhile it's been over ten years since I saw you last, it just feels like yesterday that I was sitting in the van with you headed down to Mexico on TKA’s Servant Safari. It is very important to me that you have some idea of the incredible impact that you have had on my life. About a year ago my wife Abigail asked me, who are three of the most influential people in your life besides your parents. As I thought through my list I realized that you made the top three. During a formative time when my heart was choosing hardness or humility you modeled for me a relaxed, grace-filled and attractive Christ-likeness that God used to point me in the right direction.
You are on my mind constantly in these difficult days before you see our Jesus our King face to face. I love and deeply respect you Paul. May you know God’s presence as you walk through the valley (Psalm 23). I am looking SO forward to that day where we will see each other again in the presence of the King. I am not sure how the basketball is going to be up there but we are certainly going to have to play a game or two!
Much love to you Paul. Isaac Voss
Paul & Sylvia and Family!
ReplyDeleteEach of you are in our prayers and in our thoughts all day long. That phrase "all day long" was one our boys used that Paul taught them about defensive Basketball. We learned about more then basketball in our family from you Paul. Those early days of doing life together and starting a school. Board meetings, planning, working together with committed people. Those days have left large imprints on our family. We love you Paul and family! You are each with us continually jeanette voss
Paul, you are an amazing man with an eternal place in my heart. Starting back in Little League when Hank and I were on the indtermediate all-star team, through World-Wide Adhesives and high school ball at TKA, our families had quite a journey on the field an off.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your constant support and guidance, thanks for all the trips to 7-11 or Taco Bell after basketball and baseball games, thank you for being a constant smile for me over the years.
On a drive home from a baseball game my senior year in high-school, I asked if you had any input for me as I moved on to the college level and you replied "Remember to always incorporate God in your game." I've kept that with me every step of the way and think about it still as I pursue every endevor. It was such a simple statement, one that I already knew well but somehow it resonated with me very deeply when you said it.
I will never forget your sense of humor and how you and my dad would laugh like crazy after ball games for usually a solid 45 min. I knew that when Hank and I would get together to play- at either house- that when one of you came to pick up thier son, Hank and I would still have a good hour to play because of the conversation that would ensue.
I hope to one day handle a suburban with the grace and finesse that you would demonstrate every day; even with a chuck wagon attached it seemed like we were riding in an 8 passanger Porche. True poetry in motion. I will have countless stories to share with Kade (my son) as he grows up. If we ever get a suburban I'm sure I'll have the chance to pass on some of your techniques.
When I think of you or talk about you, I can't help but have a huge smile on my face. Thank you for you and always making whatever situation we were in better and full of more laughter.
Chad, Jessica and Kade Ziemendorf
Love you!!! I know you're in heaven enjoying Jesus. See you there in a game of hoops with Gregg and the rest!
ReplyDeletePaul was first my Young Life leader in high school where I remember driving down to Mexico several times in the front seat of his suburban, belting out Christian songs and laughing like crazy. The ride was always an adventure because Paul always made it that way...driving on an occasional sidewalk, finding the biggest mud hole to zoom through, etc. One ride home I'll never forget because we were sitting in the back of the suburban and Paul was eating an apple. I'm not sure what prompted it, but all of a sudden apple bits came flying out of Paul's mouth, spraying the car and all of us. It was a classic "Paul" move. When I graduated from high school, my parents had all the important people in my life write something...this is what Paul wrote to me: "Remember the Mexico chats and the suburban talks and just hanging around, talking and laughing. God's got a great plan for your life. You are special. You are his. If you ever need somebody other than your mom and dad to talk to, give me a call 24 hrs. a day." Then he taped 5 quarters to the page. This was Paul. He always believed in us as teenagers and took the time to let us know that we mattered. When I started working at TKA, he became my boss and was the same way...always trusted me and believed in me to get the job done. He was such a great man to work under. Thank you Paul for loving so many kids and dedicating your life to showing us who Jesus is.
ReplyDelete"Well done, good and faithful servant, well done..."
ReplyDeleteThomas, Wendy, Kristofer,
Josiah, Zackary and Natali Smiley
Dear Paul,
ReplyDeleteYou were an awesome person from the very first day I met you as a new 6th grader at King's back in 1996. My first day of school entailed going to chapel with you standing up there welcoming us and making us do some wacky skit which involved taking off our shoes and throwing them into the middle of the gym, making a huge pile. I first thought you were one weird and crazy guy, but really wanted to get to know you. I went up to you after chapel that day and from then on I remember we'd always talk whenever running into each other about the most random things.
I will never forget 7th and 8th grade when I was in your family group. You are the awesomest (if that's even a word) leader when it comes to eating donuts and bringing food for us EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Though I was not always the most tactful in what I said and did, you would always encourage and challenge me, as well as correct me and point me in thinking the right way. I really enjoyed your sharing and will never forget the funny stories. On a more serious note, you shared your testimony in coming to know Christ and that has always stuck with me. Although I didn't think that much of it in the past, I am extremely encouraged as I think back to all that(and as I came to know Christ while in college).
As the years passed, I regretfully had not kept in touch with you until perhaps around 2006 when I found out you had brain tumor. I remember writing you a letter and made a note to myself that I would try to catch up with you sometime and share my own testimony of how I came to know Christ while at UCLA. However, things got busy and I never got around to it.
After just finding out about your passing a few days ago, I was sad. That's really an understatement; I regret that I never called you back as promised after you emailed me your #. I could not believe this happened; at the same time, I am really excited for you because I know at this moment you are no longer in pain. You are not dead at all, but in fact alive and in the presence of Jesus Christ, having passed through the momentary sufferings and afflictions of this life. You are in a place called heaven, where there's no more suffering or pain but only praise and worship to the Savior. Praise God, because your new life began Nov. 5th, 2009. All that he you've lived your life for has come to fruition and faith has become sight. How marvelous is that, to be in the presence of all the saints and martyrs that Scripture talks about. Praise God for the hope that Believers have in Christ! I will miss you now, but do look forward to seeing you in that day. I praise God because this is only the beginning. You haven't eaten in a while, yet you hunger and thirst no more. Praise God for your new life!
Paul~ I can remember cramming into your Suburban driving to games & Monday night Youth group. Thank you for opening your home to all of us at the TKA. Although it has been several years since I have last seen you and your family I will never forget your amazing spirit. Your passing brought me to tears and although my heart aches for your children I am happy you are no longer in pain. You are living the life in Heaven. Look around for my Dad up there and tell him I how much I miss him.
ReplyDeleteWith Love,
Paula Sanchez Mierzejewski