Kay Arthur

{{Short description|American Christian author and Bible teacher (1933–2025)}}

{{Infobox clergy

| image =

| name = Kay Arthur

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_name =Kay Lee

| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|11|11}}

| birth_place = Jackson, Michigan, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|05|20|1933|11|11}}

| death_place = Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.

| religion = Christian

| education = Tennessee Temple University

| occupation = {{hlist|Bible teacher|author}}{{force singular}}

| spouse = {{plainlist|

{{marriage|Frank Thomas Goetz, Jr.|1955|1961|reason=divorced}}
{{marriage|Jack Arthur|1965|2017|end=died}}

}}

| congregations =

| title = Co-founder − Precept Ministries

| children = 3

| offices_held =

| church = {{hlist|Interdenominational|evangelical}}

}}

Kay Lee Arthur (November 11, 1933 – May 20, 2025) was an American Christian author, Bible teacher and co-founder of Precept Ministries International. She was a four-time winner of the ECPA Christian Book Award.

Early life and education

Kay Lee Arthur was born on November 11, 1933, in Jackson, Michigan.{{Cite web |last=Beyer |first=Laurie |date=2022-02-04 |title=Beauty From Ashes |url=https://justbetweenus.org/api/content/3fae1bf0-578d-11e8-837a-12408cbff2b0/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Just Between Us |language=en-us}} She grew up in a religious household, which moved frequently.

Arthur graduated from nursing school in 1955 when she was 21 years old and married her first husband, Frank Thomas Goetz, Jr. The couple were divorced in 1961. Previously disconnected from her religion, Arthur became newly committed to Christianity in 1963.

Following Frank's death, Arthur moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to attend Tennessee Temple University, where she earned a Nursing diploma.{{Cite web |title=Beauty From Ashes |url=https://justbetweenus.org/everyday-faith/exclusive-interviews/beauty-from-ashes/}}{{Cite web |title=Died: Kay Arthur, Bible Study Teacher Who Equipped Millions |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/05/kay-arthur-bible-study-teacher-died/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=article}} There, she met Jack Arthur (b. March 14, 1926), who had graduated from TTU with a Graduate in Theology in 1956. The couple married on December 16, 1965, and served as missionaries in Mexico.{{Cite web |last=Arthur |first=Kay |date=2022-02-01 |title=Kay Arthur: Learning to Love the Bible |url=https://decisionmagazine.com/kay-arthur-learning-to-love-the-bible/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=Decision Magazine |language=en-US}} Medical issues forced them to leave Mexico and return to the US.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

Career

= Precept Ministries International =

After returning to Chattanooga, Arthur began teaching teenagers about the Bible in the couple's living room while Jack took over as manager of a local Christian radio station.

As the Bible study group expanded, a 32-acre (13-hectare) farm was bought in order to accommodate the growing ministry. It was originally given the name Reach Out Ranch, but later became Precept Ministries International (PMI). The radio station was sold in 1972, and Jack became a full-time administrator for the ranch.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

Arthur hosted a daily radio, television and online Bible study teaching program called Precepts for Life.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

In November 2009, Arthur signed an ecumenical statement known as the Manhattan Declaration with the aim of requesting evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox Christians not to comply with rules and laws permitting abortion, same-sex marriage and other matters that go against their religious consciences.[http://demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901171332/http://demossnews.com/manhattandeclaration/press_kit/manhattan_declaration_signers |date=2013-09-01 }}

In 2016, Arthur spoke at The Gathering, a religious rally promoting Donald Trump's presidential campaign.{{Cite web |last=Brockman |first=David R. |date=2016-10-19 |title=Backward Together: Evangelicals and Trump Want to Make America Christian Again |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/evangelical-trump-loyalty/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=The Texas Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gryboski |first=Michael |date=2017-04-21 |title=Gateway Church Confirms It Will Cut Staff by 10-15% for Future Expansion, Support Ministries |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/gateway-church-cut-staff-10-15-percent-future-expansion-support-ministries.html |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}

Arthur spoke at several colleges, including Liberty University in 2015{{Cite press release |title=Presidential Candidates Set to Speak at Liberty University's Convocation This Fall |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/presidential_candidates_set_to_speak_at_liberty_university_s_convocation_this_fall/prweb12890981.htm |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=PRWeb}} and Union University in 2017.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Brittney L. |title=Bible teacher Kay Arthur speaks at Union University |url=https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/2017/09/13/bible-teacher-kay-arthur-speaks-union-university/663729001/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=The Jackson Sun |language=en-US}}

Personal life and death

She had three sons (two from her first marriage, one from her second) and nine grandchildren.

Her husband, Jack, died from Alzheimer's disease in Chattanooga on January 9, 2017, at age 90.{{cite web |date= |title=Precept Ministries International |url=http://nrb.org/membership/member_voices/precept-ministries-international/ |accessdate=2012-02-29 |publisher=NRB |archive-date=2016-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320200300/http://nrb.org/membership/member_voices/precept-ministries-international/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |date=2017-01-10 |title=Jack Arthur, Co-Founder Of Precept Ministries, Dies At 90 |url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2017/1/9/339420/Jack-Arthur-Co-Founder-Of-Precept.aspx |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=www.chattanoogan.com |language=en}}

Arthur died on May 20, 2025, at the age of 91.{{Cite web |last=Jaenchen |first=Lillie |date=2025-05-20 |title=Christian TV Icon Kay Arthur Dies After Life Spent Sharing Gospel with Millions |url=https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/christian-tv-icon-kay-arthur-dies-after-bringing-gospel-to-millions.html |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Movieguide {{!}} The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment |language=en-US}}

Publishing

Arthur won Gold Medallion Book Awards for her books A Marriage Without Regrets,{{cite web |date= |title=2001 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners |url=http://www.christianbookexpo.com/christianbookawards/gm2001.php |accessdate=2012-02-29 |publisher=Christian Book Expo}} The New Inductive Study Bible,{{cite web |date= |title=Gold, Platinum & Diamond Sales Awards presented in 2010 |url=http://www.christianbookexpo.com/salesawards/ |accessdate=2012-02-29 |publisher=Christian Book Expo}} His Imprint My Expression,{{Cite web |title=Christian Book Expo: 1994 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners |url=https://christianbookexpo.com/christianbookawards/gm1994.php |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=christianbookexpo.com}} and Lord, I Need Grace to Make It Today.{{cite web |date= |title=1991 Gold Medallion Book Awards Winners |url=http://www.christianbookexpo.com/christianbookawards/gm1991.php |accessdate=2012-02-29 |publisher=Christian Book Expo}}

= Selected works =

Lord, Teach Me to Pray, video teaching series {{ISBN|978-1-4158-3212-7}}
Lord, I Need Grace to Make It Today, (1991) {{ISBN|1-57856-441-7}}
As Silver Refined (1997){{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Charles |date=2017-10-19 |title=Love that Lingers: Interview with Kay Arthur |url=https://journeyonline.org/love-lingers-interview-kay-arthur/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=JourneyOnline |language=en-US}}
A Marriage Without Regrets (2001) {{ISBN|0-7369-2075-7}}
The New Inductive Study Bible, (2010) {{ISBN|0-7369-0016-0}}
His Imprint My Expression {{ISBN|1-56507-399-1}}
How To Study Your Bible, {{ISBN|0-7369-0544-8}}

Awards

She was awarded the NRB Hall of Fame Award at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Convention and Exposition in 2011.

Arthur received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga in 2007.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2013 |title=Carey V. Brown Awarded Honorary Doctorate by Tennessee Temple University |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/CareyVBrown/TTU130605/prweb10700882.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101221612/https://www.prweb.com/releases/careyvbrown/ttu130605/prweb10700882.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=PRWeb}}