Onley retires after 52 years of Baptist ministry

For Ernest Edward “Ed” Onley, 52 years in ministry was only possible because God taught him how to do ministry and love people “the right way.” 

Pastor of Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Webb, Onley retired for the “third or fourth time” in his career July 27.

Before he finished high school Onley was called to serve in the United States Marines during the Korean War. He finished his military service and returned home to Virginia.

At age 30, Onley surrendered to God’s call on his life, resigned from his position as director of an insurance company, packed up his wife and four children and enrolled at William Carey College (now William Carey University) in Hattiesburg, Miss., to study Bible and sociology. 

After earning his master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Onley served with the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board) from 1972 to 1991 in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Georgia.

He also served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Midland City, and in several interim positions for about 12 years as well as student pastor positions for churches in Mississippi and Louisiana while in college and seminary.

Throughout his years of ministry Onley survived prostate cancer, several heart surgeries and a flare up of Multiple Sclerosis that later went into remission.

He and his wife, Elaine, were both widowed and in 1983 they met while serving with the Georgia Baptist Convention. Between them they have nine children, 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Reflecting back on his time in ministry, Onley said, “I never pastored a church that I did not love. I never had a problem with a church ever, anywhere. My deal was serving people and loving people and somehow God worked it out to let me do that.”