Bishop John Caldwell Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Deceased ~ 1972 Bishop John Caldwell was born in Columbia, Missouri. He was one of thirteen children born to Mary and Lafayette Caldwell. Orphaned at an early age, he attended school in Columbia and later drifted out on his own, taking himself a wife while quite young. In 1918, through the ministry of Elder Oscar Meyers, he received the Holy Ghost in Piqua, Ohio. There, God called him to the ministry and he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where he studied under the late Bishop G.T. Haywood.   Later, from his Chicago job as a foundry worker, John was directed by God to go to San Diego. Not even cognizant such a place existed, he searched a map and found the city located on California's southern border. This was in 1922. Two years had passed befor he finally reached his new field of labor, and as he journeyed there, many inquired whether God really directed him because the cross-country trip took him so very long. He was sure about it, though, and through the years, his work in San Diego spoke clearly that God had indeed directed him. On the last day of the year 1924, Bishop Caldwell and his wife, Margaret, (who lived at that time) arrived in San Diego. Without any saints, they held street meetings and prayed that God would provide them a place of worship. Through natural labor they finally opened a little mission where people of several nationalities began to come and be saved. The number of followers grew and they began to seek a place of their own for worship. God provided, and a place on the corner of Hensley and "L" streets was secured. As the work in San Diego prospered, it was possible for Pastor Caldwell to visit the national conventions of the P.A.W. After he was appointed District Elder of Southern California, he labored helping to build up churches in neighborig locations of California and Arizona. In 1937 when the California State Council was formed and he was elected chairman, there were few churches in this section of the country. In 1952 he was elevated to the bishopric and presided over the 16th Episcopal District (Nevada/California).  Only two churches represented the Apostolic doctrine when Bishop Caldwell first went west. In 1934, after years of faithful labor, Sister Margaret Caldwell was called to be with the Lord. Two years later, Bishop Caldwell married Sister Willie Stewart. After her demise, Bishop Caldwell married Sister Vanilla Caldwell. Bishop Caldwell lived to be over 100 years of age. He went home to be with the Lord in 1972.

Rev. Stanley Warren Chambers United Pentecostal Church International 1915 ~ 2004  Reverend Stanley Chambers was born in 1915 in the State of Ohio.  He was 6'2" tall, was dignified, had a vibrant voice, and loved people, but was a bit shy in the social arena. He found God at the Apostolic Gospel Church in Columbus, Ohio at the age of (15). His pastor and mentor was Brother W.T. Witherspoon, and his youth pastor was Stuart G. Norris. Stanley received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost on February 6, 1930 during a revival preached by L.R. Ooton. Charles Pennington and Martin Whalen were praying with him when he was filled with theSpirit. Brother Whalen gave Stanley his first job, working with him in his radiator repair shop. His training however, was in office work and his goal was to become an accountant. He accepted a job as a bookkeeper in Springfield, Ohio, but the dreadful depression caused him to lose his job. Afterward he moved to New York, and was hired as an office manager. Immediately he became part of the church in Manhattan that was pastored by Andrew D. Urshan. There Stanley developed a friendship with another young man that would also become a lifelong associate. The pastor's son, Nathaniel, would later become a minister of the Gospel. Over the years, their lives would interwine again and again. Stanley would eventually meet a young girl named Catherine at a youth fellowship in Brooklyn. She was the daughter of immigrant Ukranian parents. Stanley was immediately attracted to her. They were married on September 7th, 1940. In 1943 Stanley was ordained, and asked to accept the pastorate of the church in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Brother Chambers belonged to the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. He was elected to be the secretary of the Eastern District. On September 24th, the PAJC and the PCI voted in favor of a merger. On September 25th, 1945 another resolution was presented. The two bodies then voted together and by a large majority, they accepted the resolution. The merger was official. Both groups voted to call the newly merged organization The United Pentecostal Church. Brother Chambers became the first general secretary of the United Pentecostal Church in 1955, a position he held until he was elected general superintendent. He also served as the superintendent of the Missouri District of the UPC and as President of Gateway College of Evangelism in St. Louis. In 2004 Brother Chambers went home to be with the Lord. Audio Recordings of Brother Stanley Chambers are available in our Audio Library.

 

Bishop Fred L. Clark Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1886 ~ 1955 Bishop Fred L. Clark was born on August 14, 1886, at Little Captene, Ohio. His father was a coal miner, and died when Fred was quite young, causing him to spend some time in Belmont County Children's Home. Since his father was a soldier, Fred was later transferred to the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home at Xenia, Ohio. Fred had his first experience with God at the age of thirteen, and was converted in a special meeting at Xenia. He was told to go and do the best he could, and without the power of God in his life, the best he did was very bad. Fred left the home at the age of sixteen, and went to Barnesville, Ohio where he got in with a group of older boys, and was taught to drink, smoke, and gamble, until finally, he hit rock bottom. Afterward, he went to Columbus, Ohio to work, and later years he met and married Oneita Paynther. After two years of marriage, the Clark's joined the Methodist church, where the Lord convinced Fred of His mighty power through the means of an accident. After a few years in the Methodist church, his soul became hungry for more of God, and he asked his pastor if God didn't have more for a man than he had. The pastor told him that all God expected of him was the best that he could do. It was than that brother Clark heard about holiness. He fought against it at first, but being convinced that it was necessary, on February 11, 1923, he was baptized in Jesus' Name, and on February 13, the same year, he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. It wasn't long before the Lord made him to know what his life's work was to be. He then yeilded and was ordained by Elder Karl F. Smith, and Elder Clifton Fulton. Elder Clark's first little work was at Sabina, Ohio. On January 7, 1927, the Lord led him to go to Warren, Ohio. Shortly afterward, the church began to increase, and they remodled the building. On August 4, 1933, Elder Clark was made District Elder, and was very faithful, and efficient in this office. On August 26, 1936 he was made full Bishop over the Ohip, Diocese. Eventually, God's time for Bishop Clark came full circle. On September 18, 1955 Bishop Fred L. Clark fell on sleep, as the Angles of heaven carried his spirit home to be with the Lord. He now awaits the resurrection. Bishop Clark's legacy and dedication, stand as a lasting monument to the great work that he did for the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.

 

Rev. Ralph G. Cook United Pentecostal Church International 1899 ~ 1981 Reverend Ralph G. Cook was born September 1, 1899 in Bostaon, Massachusetts. His first memories of God were in the Methodist Church, but he states that he never found any satisfaction there, though he was sprinkled twice, once when he was a baby, and again when he was twelve years old. He did have a hunger for God, and attended services in the Nazarene Church, the Holiness Church, and the Salvation Army. When Ralph Cook was sixteen, he heard the true Gospel for the first time. God's messenger was the boy's uncle, who had been an alcoholic, but had been marvelously saved in California. This uncle took him to the Pentecostal Church in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he attended for about a month, and was brought under deep conviction. He went to the altar in this church. Brother Cook gives this inspiring account of being filled with the Spirit: "Two nights after I first went to the altar, I was sitting in a boarding house with two young men. They were instructing me in the way of the Lord, when suddenly the power of God fell on me, and I began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. It was about 9:00 o'clock at night, and I really stirred that boarding house. The land-lady came down, and requested that I be taken out of there. They took me over to the church, and I was there until 3:00 o'clock. It was a wonderful experience! "The church that I had been attending believed in three works of grace, and the pastor could not understand how I had received the Holy Ghost without first being sanctified. He stood over me for two hours, rebuking the Devil, but finally he reconciled himself to the fact that I had the genuine experience. Those were days of heaven on earth." In 1917 Ralph Cook received the revelation of baptism in Jesus' name, and of the Oneness of God. He went from a church of about four hundred members into a little church of about twenty-five members. This was at Hyde Park, Massachuetts. While attending this church, he met and married Miss Hattie Lowell. They had been married about one year and two weeks when the dreadful scourge of influenza hit the country. His wife lived just three days after falling ill, and he had the sad experience of burying her and a premature baby together. Brother Cook felt the call to the ministry, and was ordained in Boston by N. Alexander. He went to Indianapolis in 1919, where he attended G.T. Haywood's church. Afterwards, he went to Bloomington, Indiana and pastored a small group. Leaving loomington, he traveled through Indiana and Sourthern Illinois in evangelistic work. During this time, he met a young evangelist by the name of Nellie Reppond, and they were married July 3, 1920. Ralph Cook's next pastorate was in Carrolton, Illinois. Following that, he went to Louisiana, and then to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and remained there for about three years. In November, 1922 the Southern Bible Conference was held in this church. He resigned the pastorate in 1923, turning the work over to the late G.H. Brown, who had been assisting him. He founded the church in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and served as pastor for twenty-one years. Ralph Cook held several official positions. He was a District Elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. He was a member of the Apostolic Church of Jesus christ, which he left to become affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus christ. In 1938 he was chosen to serve on the General Board of that organization, and held that position until the merger in 1945. He was then elected District Superintendent of the Ohio District (United Pentecostal Church), and served until 1954. In 1963 he was elected Assistant General Superintendent of the United Pentecostal Church, serving until 1971. On September 28, 1981, after more than sixty years of dedicated service to the kingdom of God, Ralph Cook departed this life.

Bishop William Crossley Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1908 ~ 1981  Bishop William Crossley was born in Eufala, Alabama, on August 9, 1908, the third of four children parented by William, Sr., and Mamie Snead Crossley. While still a teenager he was baptized in Jesus' Name and received the Holy Ghost at Greater Bethlehem Temple, in Detroit, Michigan, under the pastorate of the late Bishop Samuel N. Hancock. He was united in matrimony to Emma Hughley on December 22, 1928, and was called to the ministry three months later. after serving in his home church and evangelizing throughout the area, he accepted his first pastorate in the year 1934, when he was called to Richmond, Indiana. He became pastor of Emmanuel Temple, Buffalo, New York, on September 9, 1939, and some three years later dedicated his first church home at 603 Clinton Street in December, 1942. The congregation, under his leadership, purchased property at 361 N. Oak Street in the year 1953. It was in December, 1967, that the parish moved to its new location, and at that time became the Greater Emmanuel Temple. Appointed as District Elder of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World in 1940, and being elected to the Executive Board as a Director  in 1950, Bishop Crossley received his elevation to the Bishopric in August, 1959. He was a member of the Northern District Council for 30 years and served as its treasurer for 26 years. His first diocese after becoming a Bishop was the Pacific Northwest District Council and Alaska, where he served for 3 years. He organized and served the Western New York and Ontario Council for 15 years, his diocese later being enlarged to include the entire State of New york and Eastern Canada, now the 1st Episcopal District of the P.A.W. He held this post until his demise. Bishop Crossley was the directing Bishop of the National Usher Board, as well as the Nurses guild, for a number of years, He continued to serve the nursing unit until his death. Warm and benevolent in his nature, this man of God and his wife fell heir to a niece and three nephews in August, 1948, when their mother, who was his sister, demised. They became the children;s parents indeed. Their home was also opened to 9 other children who have comprised their family. After a life filled with service unto his God, Bishop Crossley weakened in health, his strength declining until he succumbed to a heart attack on Sunday, May 10, 1981, at the age of 72 years, 9 months, and 1 day. He left to cherish a legacy of memories: his many friends within the household of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Audio Recordings of Bishop William Crossley are available in our Audio Library.

 

Rev. Franklin Emerson Curts United Pentecostal Church International 1889 ~ 1969 F.E. Curts was born September 16, 1889 to Joseph and Isabelle Curts. He was the youngest of six children with one older brother and four older sisters, and first attended public school in Mincie, Indiana. On May 10, 1913, Franklin E. Curts and Helen Waring, also from Muncie, were united in marriage. They had two daughters: Evelyn Curts Tyson and Frances Curts Hanks. Soon, the young couple began a life of service to those around them. In the year 1917, Herman Basore, a member of Calvary Tabernacle, Indianapolis, Indiana, witnessed to Frank about the plan of salvation as they rode a streetcar. That testimony captured Frank and Helen's attention. While attending church at Oak Hill Tabernacle, Indianapolis, he received the Holy Ghost as well as his anointed call to preach and teach. Three years later, in 1920, he began preaching in Greensburg, Indiana, the home of his first pastorate from 1920 to 1925. Curts worked as metal polisher and employee in a bakery to support his family. Pastor Curts grew in knowledge of the scriptures and developed a teaching ministry that was much in demand. He soon became skilled in other areas of leadership as well. In 1925, the Curts family moved to Cincinnait, Ohio. Ministers and teachers alike were drawn by his wit and biblical knowledge. As a member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, he represented that organization in a 1931 unity conference held in Columbus, Ohio. He served on an alternating basis as chairman of the Tri-State Council, one of the earliest Apostolic alliances in Ohio. On June 1, 1955, the Ohio District elected Curts to serve as district superintendent, which office he filled for fourteen years. Curts' ministry was service-oriented, and he developed his pastoral ministry by teaching and preaching. He served the fellowship of ministers as a Bible teacher and mentor. For forty-eight years he shared the message that he once received while riding a streetcar in the city of Indianapolis. On May 13, 1969, F.E. Curts went to be with the Lord. Audio Recordings of Bro. Curts are available in our Audio Library.

 

Rev. William Allen Cranford Apostolic Ministers Fellowship 1910 ~ 1974 Reverend William Allen Cranford was born October 21, 1910, in a small community near Kinder, Louisiana. While still a young man, he received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and was baptized in the Name of Jesus in the First Pentecostal Church of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It was in this church that he served faithfully as a layman for more than nine years. Brother Cranford began his preaching ministry as an evangelist in Southwest Louisiana. After a brief period of evangelism, he assumed the pastorate of a small church at Pitkin, Louisiana. Beginning in 1947, and in the four years that followed, a new church building was erected, and membership was greatly increased. With the call and blessing of God, Brother Cranford went to the small town of Merryville, Louisiana, in 1951. Here winning the respect and confidence of the community, he again built a church building and founded a good group of worshippers in sound biblical doctrine. In 1956, Brother Cranford felt a divine beckoning to build a work in Sulphur, Louisiana. Here with a rented building, he labored for thirteen fruitful years. A nice sanctuary was built, and numbers were added to the church, and the Word of God was preached in its fullness and power. In May 1969, several good prayerful ministers ruched to the hospital bedside of Brother Cranford. He had suffered a stroke while working in the church building in Sulphur. God worked a miracle of healing, and only four months later he again went into pastoral work. This time the church was located in Franklin, Louisiana. Here for four years he was a kind and gentle shepherd to the membership. After searching for the will of God, Brother Cranford resigned from pastoral work and began a teaching ministry. He was engaged in this type of ministerial work at the time of his death. Brother William A. Cranford ended his natural life at 12:30 p.m., on January 16, 1974.

 

Elder George Cooke Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1885 ~ 1974 Elder George Cooke was born in Seaford, Delaware, March  16th, 1885. moved to Philadelphia as a very young man. He was saved in his early twenties, baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in new tongues as the Spirit of God gave utterance. Elder Cooke was called to the ministry in the year 1914; he became Pastor of the Pentecostal Assembly Church, 1720 South St; after the late Elder Henry Prentiss took to the Evangelistic field. He became the first treasurer for the Eastern District Council when it was first organized; Elder Cooke was a gifted and anointed Bible teacher, his favorite subjects was Law and Grace. Elder Cooke laboured in the vineyard for the Lord for more than fifty years, many souls have been saved through Elder Cooke's ministry. Many of the PAW ministers were either taught by or influenced by his life and work as an inspired servant of the Lord. During his last few hours he was heard to say, "I am so tired Lord, take me home," Amen, Amen, Amen. Due to his long illness, Elder Cooke gave up pastoring and became a member of Zion Apostolic Church under the pastorate of District Elder Stephen Bright. After a long and useful life as a servant for the Lord, God called him home. He departed this life, June 23rd, 1974.

 

Elder John T. Chandler Pentecostal Assemblies of the World 1918 ~ 2000 Elder John T. Chandler was born June 25, 1918 in Trimble County, Kentucky. He attended school in Trimble County School systems where during his high school years be became an outstanding basketball player with a bright future in the sport of basketball. In the year of 1936, God began to deal with him and the destiny that the Lord had purposed in him. It was in this same year of 1936, that he was born again and felt the power of God in his life. He was baptized in Jesus' Name August 6, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost on August 9. He was saved under the teaching and ministry of the late Bishop S.R. Burrow. Three days after receivinf the Holy Ghost God called him into the ministry. called out of the basketball court  into Gos's soul winning arena at the very early age of eighteen years. After the passing of the late Bishop Borrow he was installed as pastor of the Bedford Pentecostal Church on July 10, 1952 officiated by District Elder Aldridge and Bishop Shulzt. Married on September 14, 1952 to Juanita K. McCane together they raised three sons and one daughter. He became District Elder of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World; Elenevth District First Apostolic Council of JKentucky and Tennessee area number three and received status of District Elder Emeritus July 16, 1997. August 10, 1980 the ground was broken to build a new church to worship God and serve the community of Bedford. October 9, 1988 Bishop M.E. Golder officiated this building's mortgage burning service. The building and land were completely paid for in less than seven years! District Elder Chandler remained in service as Pastor for forty-seven years at which time he retired from the pastorate on April 4, 2000. We have to acknowledge and give "honor to whom honor is due" for District Elder Chandler exemplified godliness both before the church and the public. He truly was sanctified to the Lord Jesus Christ, even his enemies respected him as the man of God.   In 2000, Elder Chandler finished his earthly course. He fought  good fight and kept the faith!

 

Rev. William H. "Billy" Cole United Pentecostal Church International 1934 ~ 2009 William H. "Billy" Cole was born to Reverend Jewel C. and Reverend Mary S. Cole in Newark, Ohio, on July 28, 1934. He was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ at 7 years of age and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the age of 12 at the Buckeye Lake Camp in Ohio. Nathaniel Urshan was the evangelist and S.G. Norris was the daytime teacher. At the age of 19, Billy married Shirley Ann Kelbaugh in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on December 22, 1953. After moving to Weirton, West Virginia, for work in the laboratory at Weirton Steel, he recognized that God was calling him to preach. God revealed this to his wife while Billy was away working the night shift. One night God awoke shirley and she heard an audible voice ask, "Are you willing to sacrafice if I call your husband into the ministry?"  She was frightened and didn't answer. The second night it happened again, and she responded in the same way. Thr third night it happened, God's voice came to her three times, very loud and strong. Shirley leaped out of bed and told the Lord, "If this is really You and I am not having some kind of illusion, cause Billy to say something to me this morning when he comes in." Sure enough he did, and she was convinced. They began their ministry by going door to door witnessing. Pastor Allen Cayton came to them  after Sunday morning service and asked, "Why haven't you told me God has called you to preach?" Later, without notice, Pastor Cayton called upon Billy to preach. After his first sermon, a catholic lady, whom the Coles had brought to church, received the Holy Ghost. Brother and Sister Cole's first major effort was to open a new church in Ravenswood, West Virginia. Not a single Pentecostal of any sort resided in the whole county. They began by pitching a small tent and preaching every night for a month, resulting in 16 adults being baptized in Jesus' name. In Ravenswood, they saw their first great healing miracle. One day they received a call that Sister Barnes, who had been baptized and had received the Holy Ghost, was dying, and the doctor was on the way to the house. Rushing there, praying all the way, Billy believed God had promised to heal her. However, when he got there, the house was filled with people. The doctor had already closed  her eyes and covered her with a sheet. The doctor said, "You're too late, Preacher; she's gone!" But Billy, believing God to heal her, told the family he would pray for her anyway if they wanted him to. Pulling the sheet down to her shoulders, he prayed. nothing happened. He prayed louder, but still nothing happened. Then he got angry and shouted, "Sister Barnes, get up!" She sat straight up in bed and was healed. Reverned Ziegler, her former United Brethren pastor who was there, fell face down on the floor. After pastoring in Ravenswood a few years, Brother and Sister Cole traveled as evangelists. A number of people received the Holy Ghost and were baptized. During this time they also witnessed several notable apostolic events. Then they pastored a church in Spencer, West Virginia, with a congregation of one hundred people. The church was debt free when the Coles moved on. The Coles were invited to Elyeria, Pennsylvania, to preach for their former pastor, Brother Cayton, who was starting a new home missions church. one day while Brother Cayton was at work and Sister Cayton and Sister Cole were shopping, Brother Cole was studying the book of Esther in the Cayton's apartment. Brother Cole's answered a knock on the door to find a visitor holding a note with the address of the Cayton's apartment.  He said, "I am Reverened Boon Mark Gittisan, the general secretary for the Presbyterian Church of Thailand. I have been in Detroit, New York City, and Toronto, Canada. I don't know who gave me this note or for what reason." Brother Cole was afraid of him but invited him in anyway, thinking about the verse of Scripture, "Some have entertained angels unawares." Brother Cole checked to see if Pastor Cayton's address was in the church directory, but it was so new it was not listed at all. Brother Cole then asked Brother Gittisan, "Have you ever heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues?" Brother Gittisan said, "Yes, I speak with tongues; there are six of us in Thailand who do." Brother Cole then intended to ask, "Have you ever heard of being baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus?" But Brother gittisan interrupted Brother Cole and said, "Oh yes, I have been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost." Brother cole asked, "Reverend Gittisan, what is the name of the Son?" Reverend Gittisan was stunned. As tears filled Brother Gittisan's eyes, Brother Cole asked, "Are you having a heart attack?" Brother Gittisan answered, "No. You see I can quote the entire New Testament. When you asked me that question, all the scriptures finally came together. Like a curtain being rolled back, I could see Jesus Christ as He really is." Reverened Gittisan was baptized the next day. This miraculous visit led to the Coles' being sent to Thailand as missionaries. in seven years they baptized nearly 6,000 Buddists and witnessed a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost. One of their first converts, Reverend Chalyong Wattanchant, has been superintendent of the Thailand churches for more then 35 years. While in Thailand, Brother Cole suffered a stroke, which paralyzed his left arm. teh Coles returned to the USA. However, upon his being healed, they returned to Asia as evangelists. Thousands were baptized ad filled with the Holy Ghost. When Sister Cole became sick, they returned to the USA again. When her health improved, they went to Wheeling, West Virginia. They gathered together six people who were baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost, and in four years they baptized another 450 people and prayed them through to the Holy Ghost. After leaving Wheeling, the Cole's returned to evangelizing overseas. When Brother Cole's father asked him to come home to help build a new building in Parkersburg, West Virginia, he did. When this building was finished, the Cole's moved to Charleston, West Virginia, in 1981 to pastor the North Charleston Apostolic Church. They remained in Charleston for over 23 years. Brother Cole's grandson, reverend Anthony Moss, took over the church upon Brother Cole's retirement. Brother Cole preached many camp meetings and revival services, seeing many filled with the Holy Ghost. The last ten years of his ministry, he preached crusades at home and overseas. sisteen times, more than 3,000 received the Holy Ghost in a single service. The Cole's preached for 50 years and were just short of seeing one million people receive the Holy Ghost. They were dilligent in training many young men, too numerous to mention, to carry on their ministry. Brother Cole served on the Executive Board for two terms, and he aslo served on the Foreign Missions Board, where he was an honorary member. On July 27, 2009, Brother Billy Cole was called home to be with the Lord.