Rev. Timothy A. Dugas

Timothy A. Dugas was born in Downey, California, on March 22, 1949, to Paul and Donna Dugas. His paternal grandmother (late in her life) married Andrew D. Urshan. Timothy’s father moved to Stockton, California, where he attended and then taught at Western Apostolic Bible College (WABC; now Christian Life College). As a result, Tim grew up around the college and church. Clyde Haney modeled hard work for Tim, and Kenneth Haney showed him how to cast vision.

Tim began his college education at WABC but just before his senior year, he transferred to a brand-new college in St. Louis, Gateway College of Evangelism. While there, he met Mary Bridger and the summer after graduation from Gateway, in 1970, they married and began a life together in ministry. Next, Tim was invited to assist W. C. Parkey in Kansas City, Missouri. His years there shaped much of his thinking about pastoring, and W. C. Parkey remained his lifelong mentor. Tim became a sectional youth leader, then youth secretary, then youth president of the Missouri District, and he organized the first March for Missions walkathon for Sheaves for Christ. He was invited to move to St Louis, Missouri, to promote the March across North America. Over the past forty-five years, this fundraiser has raised millions. In 1974 he joined the General Youth Division as director of promotions and publications.

In 1977 after their first child, Matthew, was born, the Dugas family moved to Walla Walla, Washington, to pastor. Tim returned to Stockton, California, in 1979 to become business manager and faculty member of Christian Life Church. In 1981 he became general secretary of the General Home Missions Division (now North American Missions).

In 1985 Florissant Valley Apostolic Church in Florissant, Missouri elected him as pastor. Pastor Dugas also became president of Gateway College of Evangelism. His leadership helped the college turn the corner after a decade of difficult times. He was the catalyst behind the formation of Urshan Graduate School of Theology, and during his presidency the college began its journey toward accreditation.

In 1995 the Dugas family added Christina (12) and Christopher (10) to make their family complete.

He also served as a Missouri district presbyter and as executive presbyter of the UPCI’s north central region. Brother Dugas is a natural teacher and mentor. While pastoring he spearheaded The Jonathan Project, a mentoring ministry for young pastors and ministers which affected more than 140 ministry families over eleven years.

In 2003, he invited Scott Graham to become co-pastor of Florissant Valley Apostolic Church and they shared the senior leadership role for fifteen years. When the church relocated to Hazelwood, Missouri, Brother Dugas, as is typical of him, thought outside the box and led the church in purchasing a commercial building and retrofitting it as The Sanctuary. He served as general contractor, completing the $5.5 million renovation on time and within budget.

After the first service in the new church in January 2007, Mary, his wife of thirty-seven years, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and lost her battle eleven months later. In 2009 Deanna Sullivan became his second wife. She had come to the Lord under Pastor Dugas’s leadership in 1994, and lost her first husband to cancer in 2006. She has become a great asset to the pastoral team at The Sanctuary. Their families have blended together adding Deanna’s three children, Rachael, Michael, and Daniel. Together they have six children and eight grandchildren.

Dates and ministry positions cannot adequately capture the essence of a person. It is his character, compassion, and deep spirituality that made Pastor Dugas not only a successful pastor, but also a great Christian. His great leadership has impacted the UPCI on multiple levels. Timothy A. Dugas passed from this life on September 3, 2018.