“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” 
                                                                                 Psalm 116: 15

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” 
                                                                                 Psalm 73: 20

Palmer Long, the Founder of Keys Ministries, went home to his LORD and Savior on June 5, 2010 after an intense 7 month battle with lung cancer.  By God’s grace and many prayers, Palmer finished well as a faithful and loving servant, with an indescribable peace and praise from his heart. 

​

As recognized at his funeral service, the LORD blessed Palmer not only to build buildings and trouble-shoot problems for Bell Telephone as an engineer, but more importantly to build a life founded on Christ and build relationships by serving and helping others to further His Kingdom. 

​

Now he is at Jesus’ feet, worshiping, serving and praising the One who saved him at age 11, blessed him with a loving wife and marriage, stirred his heart for missions and gave him a vision and servant's heart to found and lead Keys Ministries.  Since then, Palmer worked tirelessly to provide resources for training nationals to reach the dark Islamic world within Eurasia with the love of Jesus and to help the persecuted church from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Despite his cancer, Palmer continued working diligently for Keys in these last months.  Numbering his days to gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90: 12), he prepared the Board to carry on his responsibilities and the ministry's’ activities while recruiting a new Director.

​

Palmer’s wife, Joan, with a Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology, retired as Professor of Neural and Behavioral Sciences at The Penn State College of Medicine.  She continues to devote herself to advancing the love of Christ in Central Asia.