About

A Preacher’s Life is hosted by Doug and Jonathan Ellingsworth.

Doug Ellingsworth became a licensed minister in 1978, and has served churches in just about every role possible — from preaching and leading to set-up and cleaning. For 24 years, he served the Finley United Pentecostal Church as Senior Pastor. (Finley is a farming community in northwest Tennessee). He is currently serving as District Superintendent of the Tennessee District (UPCI).

Jonathan, a fourth generation preacher, was born while his parents were working at a children’s home in Tupelo, Mississippi. He is a media and marketing consultant, and serves on his church’s ministry team.

You’ll eventually meet the whole family in various podcasts, but we’ll give you a quick rundown on the whole bunch.

Doug’s wife, Anita, keeps everything together and everybody on track. Kayla is a graphic artist and guides the worship team at Finley United. 

Clay and Jana Jackson serve as pastor of Arlington United – a church started in 2019 as a team effort with Finley United. The Jackson’s more significant role, however, is that they take care of Doug’s and Anita’s twin grandsons, Jude and Bennett, and their little sister, Ellie.

Preaching has been part of our family since Doug’s grandfather, O. A. Ellingsworth, started preaching in brush arbors and tents in the Ozark mountains. He preached all over the United States, and pastored churches in Missouri, Nevada, and California. Jonathan’s grandfather, L. D. Ellingsworth, pastored churches in Missouri and Oklahoma. Among the uncles and cousins, there are another dozen who are preachers.

Anita also comes from a family of preachers. Her mother’s family (the Royers) produced many preachers and missionaries. From Anita’s brothers and sisters and their children, you can add at least seven more preachers to that number.

I suppose it’s obvious why a preacher’s life, work, and family is important to us. We hope that we can add some value to yours.