Ellen Marie McAdams graduated from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. Her first ministry with her husband, F R McAdams was in Montreal, Quebec teaching in the Canadian French Bible School. They lived in Garden City from 1952 to 1955 where they were pastors of the First Assembly Of God Church. They then were Evangelists traveling for over 37 years conducting crusades in Mexico and in Chile and Guyana South America.

During their 50 years of ministry together, the McAdams also served as pastors in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico. Following her husband's death, Ellen moved back to Garden City where she was a member of the Assembly Of God Church.

Sister McAdams died Oct. 15, 2009; she was 85.