GOD & TEXAS: Old Texas Ranger

Peter was respectfully known as the Old Texas Ranger. Not that he had ever been a member of Texas’ famous frontier law enforcement agency, but that he had ranged all over the state preaching the Gospel.

Born in Kentucky in 1797, Peter H. Fullenwider came from a modest Christian family. He completed his secondary education in old field schools, which were built on worn-out farm fields and taught by volunteers. After graduating from Centre College in Kentucky, he completed three years of post-graduate studies at Princeton University in 1830.

This superb education provided Peter with the opportunity for a lucrative salary in education. However, he felt a call to missions work in frontier America. The Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church commissioned Peter to serve in the developing state of Mississippi and paid him $100 annually. This would equal $3,500 in today’s money.

The commissioning statement to Peter by the Board read in part: “Endeavor, by all Scriptural means, to win souls for Christ; avoid all unprofitable controversy; abstain from unfriendly reflections upon other denominations of Christians and never become a political partizan."

After a season of fruitful ministry in Mississippi, Peter felt called to Texas. On March 18, 1834, Peter married Belinda McNoir, and they soon moved to San Felipe de Austin. Because the Mexican government viewed any religion other than Roman Catholic as illegal, Fullenwider was limited to teaching school. But he did participate in several camp meetings that were held in the surrounding countryside.

Peter and Belinda welcomed their first child in 1835. But living on the frontier was challenging, and their precious daughter died within months of birth. She was buried in an unmarked grave with the hope that her body would not be desecrated by animals or roaming tribes of Indians. This loss was overwhelming for Belinda, but Peter and the Lord comforted her.

In 1836, General Sam Houston commissioned Fullenwider to provide safe passage to eastern Texas for the families living near him in what is now known as the Runaway Scrape. Texas residents were in sudden panic as the advancing Mexican army under the command of General Santa Anna threatened their very lives. After the Battle of San Jacinto, the families returned to a more normal life.

Fullenwider died with yellow fever in Huntsville in 1867. By then he had traveled much of Texas preaching and teaching the Good News. He wore out countless horses and often slept on the ground after a cold meal. Peter fulfilled the call and founded many churches to the glory of God.

It has been reported that Fullenwider’s final words were: “Farewell, Brother C, it is sweet to go from the toils of our pilgrimage to the home of rest. Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His (Numbers 23:10). Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.” (Psalm 37:37)

The Old Texas Ranger is a good example for us.

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