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Rev. Alton L. O'Brien

 Apostolic Ministers Fellowship

 1939 ~ 1991

Reverend A.L. O'Brien was born in Pickering, in Vernon Parish  Louisiana. He graduated from Montrose High School in 1939, and attended Louisiana School Institute in Natchitoches. He lived in Lake Charles, Louisiana for a number of years. Alton and Emalie Donahue were married in 1941. In 1960 their only one child, Roger Glenn, died at an early age from leukemia. Brother O'Biren was saved at the age of (17) under the ministry of J.W. Evans, and worked with him in Lake Charles, Louisiana as his assistant for (12) years. He and Sister O'Brien evangelized across the country for one year before settling down to pastor.

His first pastorate was in Indian Village, Louisiana. Then, while still pastoring in that town, he also became pastor in Topsy, Louisiana. In 1953 he resigned the Indian Village Church and in 1954 became the pastor of the First Pentecostal Church in Starks, Louisiana. Under his administration the congregation grew to about 450 members.

Brother O'Brien was an active community leader in the Starks area, and also served Southwest Louisiana as the second presbyter of the Louisiana district of the United Pentecostal Church International. In 1968 he became part of the newly founded Apostolic Ministers Fellowship. In the early years of the AMF he was elected general chairman, but did not finish his term before resigning. His ministry left a positive impact on the lives of many people. He was known to be rather reclusive in his personal life, but was powerful and forthright under the anointing. Brother O'Brien past away on Monday, February 4, 1991. He left behind an unforgettable legacy. He will forever be remembered as a true legend and defender of the oneness message. Audio Recordings of Elder A.L.O'Brien are available in our Resource Department.

Rev. Lee Roy Ooton

United Pentecostal Church International

1896 ~1975

Reverend L.R. Ooton was born June 18, 1896 in Frankton, Indiana, the son of Wallace and Hattie Antrum Ooton. He was married in June of 1922, to Edith Neal. Two children were born to this union, Thomas and Polly Ooton.

At the age of fifteen, his mother, realizing that the hand of God was upon him, dedicated her front parlor to him to be used for his devotions and Bible study. So great was his fervor in the things of God that he prayed earnestly night and day for a considerable length of time. Of this period of time he wrote, "My studies began with an open Bible in my mother's front room where I spent many hours a week, most of which were upon my knees. I simply opened the Bible and let God speak to me, and I closed it and talked to Him. Upon a number of occasions the Lord spoke verbally to me, and afterward I found it in the Bible. I most certainly have heard His voice many times, and once I looked upon the Master in person (hanging) on Calvary."

Consecration such as this, inevitably led to a life of service, and sometime later Brother Ooton left the comforts of home for the work of the ministry. "It was quite a battle of faith," he wrote, "For a boy of seventeen to leave father, mother, the grocery store and home to launch forth by faith, singing and preaching the gospel to all the world."

Thus began the marvelous ministry of this man of God, which covered more than half a century, extending through all the States of the Union, the greater part of Canada and sections of Mexico. His gift of song was equal to his preaching. Brother Ooton was ordained to the ministry as a young man. He pastored a number of churches including, Midway Tabernacle in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1924 to 1927.

He was a renowned Bible teacher and evangelist for many years. He was known and in great demand as a speaker from coast to coast. Brother Ooton was elected to serve as Secretary of the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance in November, 1925. He resigned from that position in October, 1928. In 1930, he was elected Secretary of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ.

He became the first Treasurer of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ. Concerning the (PA of JC) Brother Ooton stated, "I know of nothing during the past two decades that has been more blessed of God." Concerning the merger that produced the United Pentecostal Church in 1945, Brother Ooton remarked, "There is no greater need among the Spirit-filled children of God today, than the unity of the Spirit. There are entirely too many divisions or organizations seperating Oneness brethren, and the eternal God is viewing this situation today. If we preach Oneness, it is also necessary for us to practice the same."

Brother Ooton was General Secretary of the Apostolic Ministerial Alliance for (50) years. Brother Ooton was a composer and author of many beautiful songs. One of the best known is, "To Be Like Him," which he composed during a severe test of faith while in Ft. Smith, Arkansas in the year 1923. He is also the author of many wonderful books.

On December 31, 1975 at 11:45 P.M. at the age of 79, Brother Ooton of Tipton, Indiana, went home to be with the Lord. It was a cold snow-covered and wind swept cemetary called "Fairview" located near Tipton, Indiana that Brother Ooton was laid to rest. Medical records indicated that he died of a heart attack at Tipton County Memorial Hospital. The funeral service was conducted at 2:00 P.M. Monday, January 5, 1976 by Elder W.A. Kessinger of Bloomington, Illinois, and Elder Carl Nave of Peoria, Illinois.

Rev. Daniel Charles Owen Opperman 

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

 1872 ~ 1926

Reverend D.C.O. Opperman was born July, 13, 1872 in Clinton Township, Elkhart County, Indiana. He was an evangelist and educator. His family moved to nevada, Missouri in 1881, and later settled in Florida in 1884.

In 1884 Opperman had a conversion experience. He was a member of the German Baptist Brethren. After his father's death in 1887, his family returned to Indiana settling in Goshen.

Brother Opperman did farm work and studied. In 1893 he enrolled in the Brethren College in Mount Morris, Illinois. He later studied for one year at Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana. From May 23 until Julty 6, 1899 he was enrolled at Moody Bible Institute.

While a student at Moody Bible Institute, Brother Opperman began attending John A. Dowie's Zion Church. He joined Dowie's Christian Catholic Apostolic Church and eventually directed Zion City's education program. On March 10, 1900, Opperman married Ella Syler. Their son, Daniel Paul, was born on January 22, 1901. Ella died a week later. A bout with tuberculosis resulted in Opperman's move to Texas, where he met Charles Parham in 1906. Opperman became a Pentecostal evangelist before experiencing Spirit baptism (which he did on January 13, 1908, in Belton, Texas.). He married Hattie Ruth Allen near Rogers, Texas, on July 22, 1907. A son Josepg, was born to this union.

Opperman's prior teaching experience prompted his recognition as an educator, and he conducted numerous short-term Bible institutes that served early Pentecostal needs. A founding member of the Assemblies of God and an executive presbyter (Nov. 1914-15), Opperman withdrew in 1916 to become chairman of a fledgling Oneness association, the General Assembly of the Apostolic Assemblies, with headquarters in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. During his years in Oneness Pentecostal ledership, Opperman edited The Blessed Truth and became a pastor in Lodi, California. In 1916, he opened the first "Oneness" Pentecostal Bible School in modern times located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. He died in a car/train accident in Baldwin park, California, on September 15, 1926.