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Elder Henry Essick

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

Elder Henry Essick grew up in Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church in Dayton, Ohio under the late, Bishop Ralph Bass, followed by the late, District Elder Henry Jones. Elder Essick attended Aenon Bible College when it was located in Columbus, Ohio and was a member of Living Faith Apostolic Church under Bishop Edgar A. Posey.

Elder Essick is a former Sgt at arms for the Ohio District Council (O.D.C.) Southwest Regional Men's Ministry. He currently is the Asst. Treasurer of the O.D.C. State Men's Ministry and the President of the O.D.C. Southwest Regional men's Minsitry. He has spent the last 12 years growing under the ministry of, Elder Robert Dewberry, Pastor, Bethel Pentecostal Temple, Dayton, Ohio.

Sister Essick was witnessed to by Elder Essick and was propmtly baptized in the name of Jesus by Elder Essick and Elder Earl Hayes at Bethesda Temple, receiving the Holy Ghost just days later in the home of Evangelist, Betty Abney. Preferring to assume a support role Sister Essick supports Elder Essick while maintaining a position as an officer of the court for the Montgomery County Court System. She is a devoted wife maintaining her home in the manner of the women of old. Together, they have two children, Camille and Henry III. Audio recordings of Elder Essick are available in the audio library of the Apostolic Archives International.

Bishop David Lee Ellis

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

1935 ~ 1996

 Bishop David L. Ellis a native of Chicago, was endowed at birth October 4, 1935, with a tremendous Christian heritage. His parents, the late Elder Charles H. and Florence Lucille Ellis, was the founding pastor of Chicago's Indiana Avenue Pentecostal Church of God, established in 1934.

Bishop David Ellis the eleventh child of their union was born October 4, 1935, and was to mature in an environment of close knit family harmony with deep admiration and respect for his parents. He witnessed his father's relentless pursuits in establishing the Indiana Avenue church and shepherdizing it through the post depression years of the 30's, the turbulent war years of the 40's and the post war era. He marveled at his mother's ability to manage the care and comfort of her home and family and at the same time share her husband's struggle in building his church. He learned some of his most valuable life lessons from from these saintly parents, lessons that served him well in the years ahead when he began his pastorate.

Following elementary and secondary education in Chicago, he studied at the Moody Bible institute in Chicago. He ws filled with the Holy Ghost on January 26, 1948. He preached his initial sermon at Indiana Avenues Pentecostal Church in June, 1953. From his marriage on September 9, 1954 to Wilma Ruth Bardwell, there are four daughters and three sons. Two of his sons are ministers. Elected as Pastor of New Bethel Temple (now known as Greater Grace Temple of the Apostolic Faith) in May, 1962, he ultimately moved to Detroit, Michigan to assume full time pastoral obligations. As its history relates, Greater Grace Temple's remarkable progress is unparalleled in today's history of Black apostolic churches. 

Bishop Ellis was honored in 1975 with his Doctor of Divinity Degree; in 1977 with a Doctor of Humanities Degree and in 1982 he was ordained as Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Diocesan of the 30th Episcopal District of the Georiga State Council. He also served as the Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Bishop Ellis' life can be summed up in in his theme song, "Down through the years...GOD's been good to me." On March 19, 1996 Bishop David L. Ellis went home to his eternal reward. Audio Recordings of Bishop David Ellis are available in our Audio Library.

Rev. John A. Eckstadt

United Pentecostal Church International

1934 ~ 1978

Rev. John Eckstadt was born on November 10, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York. He received the Holy Ghost at the early age of 18 while attending an Assembly of God Church in Brooklyn. He was an alumni of Zion Bible College, Providence, Rhode Island. He served as pastor at the Assembly of God Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He began his teaching ministry at the Faith School of Theology in Old Orchard, Maine. He later pastored a church in Naugatuck, Connecticut, and opened a new church in Waterbury, Connecticut.

In October of 1963, he received the revelation of Jesus' name. He became the pastor at Bristol, Connecticut. Following this, he taught at the Pentecostal Bible Institute, Tupelo, Mississippi. Later he pastored the First United Pentecostal Church, Richmond, Virginia. He taught at the Jackson College of Ministries, Jackson, Mississippi; and later at the  Wide World of Ministries school in Fort Worth, Texas. His latest pastorate was at the High Point Pentecostal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.

He was in demand as a camp meeting speaker and a Bible teacher. He traveled extensively in evangelistic work. Thousands of people were baptized in Jesus' Name and received the Holy Ghost as a result of his dynamic ministry.

After an illustrious ministry, Brother John Eckstadt was called home from this earthly labor on March 13, 1978. He is still greatly missed by his many friends and relatives. Audio recordings of Brother John Eckstadt are available in the audio library of the Apostolic Archives International.