Rev. Orlin Ray Fauss

Orlin Ray Fauss was born in Port Arthur, Texas, August 13, 1927, to Oliver and Jewel Fauss. He was the youngest of three children. At the time of his birth, his father, Oliver F. Fauss, was already a well-known and successful minister in the rapidly growing Oneness Apostolic movement.

Orlin was only one year old when his parents moved to Houston to begin Bethel Tabernacle. For the first five years, the Bethel Tabernacle Church did not have a home. Most of these years were spent worshiping under tents, brush arbors, in public parks and rented halls.

He grew up participating in the establishment and growth of Bethel Tabernacle. After graduating from Milby High School in Houston, he attended and graduated from Apostolic Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While at Apostolic Bible College, Brother Fauss traveled and did evangelistic ministry. During this time, he traveled with the Apostolic Quartet that consisted of James Kilgore, Roland Gardener, and John David Williams.

On August 8, 1945, Orlin married his childhood sweetheart from Houston, Lois Ivey. She joined him to finish his last year of Bible College. After the birth of their first son, Deryl, on December 26, 1946, he and his wife entered the full-time ministry as traveling evangelists.

Brother and Sister Fauss served as pastor in churches in Diboll, Texas, Nacogdoches, Texas and Jena, Louisiana, before moving to Houston. During this period of time, their other sons, David and Gary, were born.

Brother O. R. Fauss and his family moved to Houston in January 1961, to assist his late father, Oliver F. Fauss, at Bethel Tabernacle. Just shortly after moving to Houston, his father experienced serious health problems and Orlin took over the full responsibility of pastor.

Because of the growth experienced under his leadership, in 1976 a new sanctuary was built. For over fifty years Pastor and Mrs. O.R. Fauss served Bethel Tabernacle in pastoral ministry.

On September 12, 1964, tragedy struck the Fauss family when their oldest son, Deryl, was killed in an automobile accident at the age of seventeen. He had just received the Holy Ghost a few weeks before at a youth camp in Lufkin, Texas. This tragic event profoundly shaped the ministry of Brother Fauss with a new vision of eternity and desperation to reach men with this saving message of Jesus Christ.

In addition to serving in pastoral ministry and preaching large meetings, Brother Fauss also served as the first Youth President of the Texas District United Pentecostal Church. He served for many years as an instructor at Texas Bible College. He also served for seven years on the United Pentecostal Church International Sunday School Curriculum Committee and served many years on the first Historical Committee for the UPCI, helping to preserve our rich heritage.

He passed from this life on June 18, 2013.