Who's Who-A

Bishop William Charles Abney Jr.

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

1927 ~ 2007

Bishop William C. Abney was born September 9, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan to Mr. and Mrs. William Charles Abney Sr. William graduated frm Northern High School after returning home from serving a tour of duty in the United States Armed Forces. He also graduated from the Detroit Barber College in 1946, and soon after opened his first business as a successful tonsoriallist (Barber).

He received his call to the ministry in 1950, and later attended the Detroit Bible Institute. William obtained an Associate Degree from Bethel Practical School of Theology, and was ordained by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, (PAW) in 1960. He received as Honorary Doctorate Degree from Aenon Bible College in August, 1984.

Bishop Abney served faithfully in the service of the Master from his youth. Saved as a teenager, he was a great inspirational leader both to the young and the old. He was director of the church choir and youth auxiliary at the Bethel Apostolic Church in Detroit under the pastorate of the late Dr. Benjamin J. Goode, where he grew up. Bishop Abney was also a renown gospel singer with some recording experience to his credit.

Bishop Abney was elected pastor of the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in June 1961. He served as a great humanitarian as well as a spiritual leader to the Grand Rapids area. Bishop Abney married the former Lorraine Elaine Ross in 1948. To this union was born four children. After serving the PAW as a District Elder, he was elevated to office of Suffragan Bishop.

Tuesday morning, January 23, 2007, was his coronation day in glory as he looked upon the face of Christ. His memory will forever be cherished by all who loved him. The story continues, the legacy never ends!

Rev. Bryan Arthur Adkins

United Pentecostal Church International

1962 ~ Present

Bro. Bryan Adkins was born August 1, 1962. He is the fifth of ten children born to Charles and Vergie Adkins. Bryan received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in 1974, at the age of twelve. He began his ministry at the age of sixteen.

Bryan and Rebecca Lynn Bowman were married on November 22, 1980, in Archdale, North Carolina. From this union was born two sons. He assisted his father-in -law (the late elder Bill Bowman) becoming the pastor of the church after elder Bowman's untimely death in 1981.

Brother Adkins is a composer of songs and a skilled musician. He has recorded several CD's, including his two very talented sons. He has blessed Apostolic churches all across North America with his preaching and singing.

Rev. Calvin Albert

United Pentecostal Church International

1913 ~ ?

Calvin Albert was born January 15, 1913, at Reber Place in St. Louis, Missouri, to John David and Margaret Ellen Post Albert. There were four other children in the family: Ethel, Lela, Ruth and Roy. His parents were in the Christian Church.

Albert was introduced to Pentecost by his Aunt Sarah when he was about eight years old. Aunt Sarah took his mother to a Pentecostal mission on Cardinal Street. It was that night that Mother Albert received the Holy Ghost with a glorious experience, speaking in other tongues. Later they attended the Pentecostal Church at 1414 North Grand Avenue, where they met Brother B.H. Hite. Brother Albert considered this man a great influence in his life. It was there on Grand Avenue in February 1921 that Brother Albert was baptized in Jesus' Name. He received the Holy Ghost in 1925. He grew up in this church.

The congregation witnessed great outpourings of God's Spirit. Hundreds came to God. During this time Brother Hite felt led to build a new church. They moved into the new building at 3105 Cass Avenue about 1926. Brother Albert served in various capacities in the local church. He also served as sectional youth director and was the one who started the Labor Day youth rallies. As a youth he gave sermonettes in the local church and in churches in the surrounding area.

Calvin married on June 30, 1935. There were two children born to this union. Brother and Sister Albert pastored a church in Roadhouse, Illinois, in about 1943 for a short time. They moved to Hannibal in July 1945. Through the years Brother Albert was active in district work. When Brother Hite passed away, he served as District Secretary to Brother Harry Branding (about 1948 to 1952). He became presbyter in 1945.

Brother Albert had the privilege of preaching on some of the mission fields: London, England; Bangkok, Thailand; Kyoto, Japan; Semarang, Java; Manila, Phi;ippianes; Honolula, Hawaii; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; and Mexico City, Mexico. He preached revivals and speaking engagements in several cities of the United States. He made one trip around the world and two trips to Jerusalem. He stated that he was looking for that New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven.

Only heaven will show the extent of the ministry of Brother Calvin Albert.

Rev. Luis Antonio Alvear

Apostolic Churches of Brazil

1901 ~ 1979

Luis A. Alvear was born August 5, 1901, in the city of Los Andres, Chile. On May 18, 1928 he and Maria Susana Maturana were married. Not long after their marriage, they were both converted from Catholicism and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost during the outpouring of the Spirit in the early past of the 20th Century. Thirty seven of their fifty years of married life were spent preaching the gospel in Chile, and later in Brazil.

After their conversion to Pentecost, they became active members of the Methodist Pentecostal Church of Chile, and some years later, Brother Alvear was ordained to the ministry by the same organization. He was then assigned to evangelize and pioneer churches in the Southern part of Chile, living entirely by faith. His ministry in this area involved tremendous hardships and sacrafices while serving his master. Brother Alvear thought it nothing to walk whole days at a time in order to reach towns and villages to preach the gospel. Oftentimes he encountered great opposition and persecution along the way.

Many times he would arrive at his destination soaking wet from the incessant rains in that part of the country, and without getting completely dried out, he would go on to preach in the next place. Poverty and hunger were quite familiar to the Alvear family as their children came along.

On October 31, 1979 at the age of 78, Brother Luis A. Alvear passed on to his eternal home from Curitaba, Parana in the country of Brazil.

Dr. Marvin M. Arnold

Independent Apostolic Ministry

1921~2001

Dr. Arnold was born on March 24, 1921, in Neodesha, Kansas. He was saved as per Acts 2:38 in May, 1938, at Buchanan, Michigan, and he resided in Holland, Michigan. He entered formal theological training, in time obtaining his Bachelor and Master degrees. He received his Doctor of Divinity degree from the Pioneer College, Beebe, Arkansas. The Parkerburg Bible College, Parkerburg, West Virginia presented him with a Dctor of Theology degree.

Dr. Arnold was a recognized historian. Religious history was his main field of expertise. Eighty-eight Oneness Apostolic Christian organizations accepted him as their historian. He was the founder and Chairman of the Biblical Apostolic Organization.

Dr. Arnold spent the last thirty-three years of his life relentlessly researching and compiling Oneness Apostolic history. His literary works also include, Apostolic History Outline, The Origin and Spread of Man, Pentecost Before Azusa, The Bible, Trinity and Matthew 28:19, Nicaea and The Nicene Council of AD 325. He incessantly taught that the Upper Room Church of Saint Matthew 16:18 and Acts 2:1-38, had eternal longevity. He emphasized that the Church of Pentecost has been alive, extant, doctrinally intact throughout each day unto this moment. It never died; it never ceased to function; it never digressed to become something else. It's Apostolic doctrinal structure never fell; it needed no so-called restoration. It did not suffer a torturous step-by-step restoration by inept European gentile reformers. Also, he documented that between ca. 1670 and 1901-1909, in America, there were many Jesus' name people. He affirmed that Oneness Apostolic doctrine did not evolve from out of Topeka or Azusa teachings, nor from 1916 phenomena. Instead, the doctrine of Acts 2:38 has always been available to those who wanted it. Always, someone, somewhere, preached this biblical doctrine.

Dr. Arnold has traveled in Hawaii, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. In Taiwan at a conference he met with the leading officials of the True Jesus Church of China. His travels also included England, Canada, Newfoundland, the Azores, Africa, and many nations of Europe. He also traveled in Iraq, and has seen the ruins of Babylon. He visited the archaeological ruins of the Tower of Babel in the Shinarian Plains. He researched the bagdad Museum, the British Museum, and the University Museum of Philadelphia. He traveled in Israel, and visited Qumran. He saw Jordan and Syria. He traveled Greece and saw Mars Hill and Corinth.

With an Iraqi government guide Dr. Arnold traveled to the city-state ruins of Uruk (Warka) near the Euphrates River. He investigated the preflood citystate ruins of Lagash, Erida, and Ur. He has researched in many major libraries in the United States, and has had researchers work for him in great European libraries at Cologne, Paris, Oxford, Upsala, Berli, and othersw for information concerning ancient religious history.

In Turkey he researched at Nicaea, where the Nicene Council of AD 325 was held. He visited the interesting sites of Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Laodicea, and Aphrodisias. He traveled along the Kizilirmak, Ceyhan, and Seyhan Rivers. He visited the Ancient Hittite capitol, Kayseri. He saw the unique Goreme Valley, almost a fairy-tale land of exotic pyramids of stone. Also, located there are 360 solid stone cave churches and complete underground cities.

Dr. Arnold went through the afore mentioned efforts to obtain detailed information pertaining to Apostolic history that transpired during past centuries. His literary works have greatly impacted the Oneness movement, and his legacy has become greatly realized among Jesus' name people world-wide. After an exceptional ministry, Dr. Marvin M. Arnold went home to be with the Lord on November 24, 2001.