Samuel Joshua Grimes

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

1884~1967

Bishop Sameul J. Grimes was born on January 3, 1884, on the Island in the Caribbean Sea called Barbados, in the British West Indies. He was the son of Louretta Tate and Samuel Joshua Grimes. He received his early training in the schools of his Island home.

His first religious awakening was also expressed there when at about the age of seven. He was so strongly impressed with a service he for the Sunday School that he felt that he wanted to preach. When he returned home he told his brother, and tried his preaching out on him, although he was not favorably impressed. The Sunday school teacher who taught his class in the little Wesleyan Methodist Church made a lasting impression on his life.

Samuel came to the United States of America in 1903. He remained here about six weeks, then, as a seaman, visited Japan and Australia where he wanted to remain, but was not permitted because of his race and Cardiff in Wales, where he lived a short while. Samuel returned to America in 1905. In 1911 while livig in Philadelphia, PA. he had a further spiritual awakening at St. Johns A.M.E. church under the ministry of Rev. Bradley.

At this time he had a very definate call to the ministry. His hunger for God was so intense that he gave up secular work, and enrolled as the fourth student in the national Bible Institute of Pennsylvania, which held classes in a store front with Brother W.W. Rugh as its teacher and founder. At this school Rev. Rugh who was known as the "Bible Man" became interested in him, and did more to help him to know God's word, and to make it known to His people than any other man.

While studying in the school on the "Personality of the Holy Spirit" he attended a service conducted by a capable servant of God to a most exclusive and wealthy group. At the close of the service a fashionably dressed lady met him in the corridor, greeted him and inquired, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" Samuel was flabbergasted, but answered, "Yes, I think I have." She replied, "No you haven't, but if you go to sevententh and Lombard Streets, God will baptize you with the Holy Ghost. He is pouring out His Spirit there."

After three weeks, he visited the store-front church that she described. When the altar call was given he got up as soon as he could and went forward. While kneeling, the Holy Ghost quickened him from head to foot. The pastor, Elder Prentiss placed his hands on Samuel's head, and he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave utterence.

Samuel continued to worship in the Methodist church, and to attend the Philadelphia Bible School until God directed him to New York City, where he enrolled as a full time student in the National Bible Institute of New York. During his last year in school, and for a year after graduation, he did evangelistic work for the school with demands for their services coming from various denominations. While on an extensive evangelistic tour, which started from boston, Massachusetts and extended to New Westminister, British Columbia. The ministry of Bible teaching and preaching was shared with Sister grimes. On this tour while in Cleveland, Ohio, they heard Bishop G.T. Haywood preach and were baptized in Jesus' name.

In 1927 Elder Grimes was nominated for the bishopric at Indianapois, Indiana but declined. However, after the demise of Bishop Haywood he reconsidered, and thus agreed to the request made by the Eastern District Council, and some of the leaders of the Midwest to accept the nomination of bishops. At this time he was defeated.

There was a General Assembly which was being held in Detroit in 1931 that laid the foundation for another rift, which would try the faith of many in the PAW.  At this convention there was not much visible to inspire organizational confidence. The Assembly was visited by representatives of the groups that had left the PAW in Chicago, who were giving them conditions for their return. These conditions were acceptable to the majority of PAW leaders, but were eventually rejected by the electorate. Later, the PAW leaders with the exception of Bishop A. William Lewis and Bishop F.I. Douglas were deceived by the desire for unity into an attemted merger. This was a great test for Bishop Grimes. After several days and much prayer, Bishop Grimes was confident that a mistake had been made, and promised the saints of the East and Midwest that he would remain, and contend for the survival pf the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.

Bishop Grime's decision and that of others proved to be a wise one for those who remained, as well as for the others. As a reward for his churchmanship and former faithfulness he was unanimously elected to the bishopric in February, 1932, and served as the Presiding Bishop of the PAW for 35 years.

Bishop Grime's entire life story is wrapped up in the history of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and the forming of councils at home and in foreign fields. Afte the passing of Sister Kathleen in 1960, he was married to Miss Carolyn Andrew in September 1963.

On Tuesday morning, June 13, 1967 Bishop Samuel Grimes passed from this life at his New York City home. For several months he was beset with illness which began with three strokes of minor nature. His recovery seemed well on the way and he resumed teaching Bible classes, and doing the work he loved so well when the end came.

Bishop Grime's last wish was revealed at his eulogy by Bishop Paddock, "Don't let anybody separate us; contend for the unity of the brethren as well as the unity of the faith." Bishop Grimes was inducted into the Apostolic Ministerial Hall of Fame in 2000.

Robert F. Tobin

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

1894 ~ 1947

According to his ancestral records, Robert F. Tobin was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. His father was an Irishman from County Tipperary, Ireland. Mr. Tobin's first wife was also from Ireland. Together, they had seven children. In 1859, the Tobin's immigrated to the United States, and settled in Marion Township, Putnam County, Indiana. In October, 1869, Mrs. Tobin passed away.

On February 2, 1871 (in Putnam County) Mr. Tobin married a former slave girl. They moved to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and soon began a family of their own. On April 4, 1894, the first of five children born to this union was Robert Franklin Tobin. On February 8, 1899 Robert's father passed away, leaving his mother to raise her children by herself. Robert was only five years old at the time. The task of raising five children by herself was overwhelming for Robert's mother. At the age of six, Robert's grandmother was granted custody of him, and he was promptly moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where his grandmother continued to raise him. On December 20, 1919, Robert's mother died at the age of 78. Robert's parents are both buried in Green Castle, Indiana.

Robert had a fairly light complection with a spray of freckles across his face, probably due to his Irish heritage. He grew up on the east-side of Indianapolis, where he attended school. He didn't have the opportunity to graduate from high school, as he was  called on to go to work at an early age in order to help support his family. As a young man he did janitorial work. Robert's maximum height was a mere five feet two inches tall.

As a young boy, Robert fell in love with baseball. He seemed to have a natural talent to play the game. Between 1913 and 1918 Robert pitched for the Negro National Leauge. Later on, after he was called to preach, he incorporated some of his baseball techniques into his preaching mechanics. The older saints at Christ Temple, who had the priviledge of sitting under his ministry are quoted as saying, "He would rare back on one leg, and wind up as though he was going to throw a baseball. Then, he would follow through as if he were releasing something! Of course it was the Word of God that he was so timely delivering."

As he grew into man-hood, Robert found solace in his love for a young lady from Indianapolis, whose name was Lenina B. Smith. They were married in 1916. No children were born to this union. Shortly after their wedding, Robert was called on to serve his country in World War I. He entered into the Army as a Corporal, serving with the 809th Pioneer Infantry, which was an all black unit.

While Robert was serving his time in France, Lenina began attending the Apostolic Faith Assembly, located at 11th and Senate Avenue in Indianapolis, pastored by Elder G.T. Haywood. In 1917, Lenina was baptized in Jesus' name, and received the Holy Ghost. After his return home, Robert discovered that his wife had been saved. At the age of 24, Robert accepted the apostolic message, was baptized in Jesus' name, and filled with the Holy Ghost. His experience so illuminated him until it was not long afterward that he accepted his call into the ministry.

All of Elder Tobin's ministerial development came from the late Bishop G.T. Haywood. In 1925, he became pastor of the Apostolic Faith Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and held this position for five and one half years. On April 7, 1931, Bishop Haywood passed away. Afterward, the deacon board of Christ Temple requested that Elder Tobin accept the pastorate of the church. On November 4, 1931, Elder Tobin left Grand Rapids, and returned to Indianapolis, and continued Bishop Haywood's legacy.

 Elder Tobin served the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World for 12 years as General Secretary. On April 22, 1945, his wife (Lenina) passed away. On March 11, 1946, Elder Tobin married Sister Lillie Harper. Their marriage lasted only thirteen months when Elder Tobin became very ill. On April 7, 1947, after a short illness, Elder Tobin fell on sleep.

Elder Tobin set the bar very high for those who came after him. He was often emulated, but never duplicated. He had a unique personality, which featured his fixed "gray steel" eyes, and slight frown. He was highly respected, and has been sorely missed by his peers. Elder Robert F. Tobin was inducted into the Apostolic Ministerial Hall of Fame in 2000.

Rev. Guy Edward Roam

United Pentecostal Church International

1918 ~ 1994

Rev. Guy Roam was born on March 16, 1918 in Swedeborg, Missouri. He was married to Lillie Davis, and they had four children, Lillie Mae Presson, Rev. Jim Roam, Rev. Robert Roam, and Diana Gourley. He was a minister of the United Pentecostal Church International for 48 years.

In 1948, with total dedication, and sacrafice, Guy and Lillie Roam started a church in their 3 room shotgun home at 6440 Suburban, Wellston, Missouri. They quickly outgrew their home and moved to a small white framed church at Sutter and Etzel in University City. They soon outgrew that church and built a brick church next door. The church quickly outgrew those facilities and they had to eventually have 2 Sunday Schools in order to accomodate everyone.

In 1969, Brother roam and the church stepped out by faith and built a beautiful worship center in Bridgeton, Missouri, (St. Louis County) known as New Life Center. Their theme was, "It Took a Miracle." Under his direction as pastor with a visionaryb spirit, in November, 1971, New Life Preschool was established, and in September, 1974, New Life Christian School was founded.

Through the years, thousands of people have heard Pstor Guy Roam preach at New Life Pentecostal Church, and thousands have knelt at the altars and found God. The power of his preaching made the Word come alive for those who heard him. Not only have those who were privileged to be a part of New Life Church been blessed, but whole new congregations have begun because of his unselfish burden and under his direction and have gone out to root and grow in other cities around the area.

Brother Roam was a highly respected leader among his ministerial peers and contributed greatly to the cause of the Kingdom of God in the following positions within the United Pentecostal Church International:

     * He served over 29 years as District Secretary of the Missouri District, UPCI.

     * 11 years as District Superintendent

     * Served 11 years as Presbyter on the General Board of the UPCI, as well as two

       years as Executive Presbyter of the UPCI.

     * He also served as Honorary member of both the Missouri District Board and the

       general Board of the UPCI.

Brother Roam was President of Gateway College of Evangelism in Florissant, Missouri for 3 years. He was instrumental in the development of many young ministers and also assisting and establishing numerous churches throughout the Missouri District. His hard work, selfless sacrafice and gritty determination, mixed with kindness and compassion for all people is the example he has passed on to othewrs. His influence has reached across the United States and around the world, as both home and foreign missionary works have been founded by ministers under his leadership.

On Friday, April 1, 1994, Brother Roam left this life to be with the Lord. On August 31, 2003, his precious wife, Lillie, went home to be with the Lord. Brother Guy Edward Roam was inducted into the Apostolic Ministerial Hall of Fame in 2000. Audio recordings of Brother Roam are available in the audio library of the Apostolic Archives International.