Bishop J. T. and Sister Pugh Gone to Glory!

We wish to announce the passing of J. T. and Bessie Pugh from this mortal life to a greater one. 

Visitation for J.T. and Bessie Pugh was on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 6-9PM at First United Pentecostal Church, Odessa, TX.    The Funeral Service was also at First United Pentecostal Church, Odessa, TX, 1700 N Texas Ave  Odessa, TX 79761 http://www.firstupc.com on Friday, March, 26, 2010 under the direction of Hubbard Kelly Funeral Home. Our District Superintendent and Secretary were able to travel to and attend the funeral.

Last year at District Campmeeting, we were blessed by the unique ministry of this great man of God.  

Sister Nona Freeman Promoted to Glory!!

Promotion to Glory --  Sis. Nona B. Freeman (1916-2009)
 
On Saturday evening, December 26th at 10:45 PM, a treasure was called home.  Sis. Nona Freeman, veteran missionary to Africa and one of the best-loved writers in Pentecost, at the age of 93, passed from this life peacefully at home with her family around her. 

Sister Freeman and her husband, Rev, E. L. (Bug) Freeman, began their life in missions work in 1948 in South Africa. They left the United States with their five children ranging in ages from nine years to six months, and spent the next forty-one years in Africa. 

Even after Brother Freeman's death in 1999, Sister Freeman continued to travel, preach and speak. She served the Lord in ministry for seventy years and has touched thousands of lives.  Only eternity will truly know the far-reaching impact this great lady had.

Please be in prayer for the Freeman family during this difficult time.

We will all miss this great warrior for Truth, Faith, and the Moving of the Spirit of God (Stay in the Flow), Sister Nona Freeman, now promoted to "Glory!"   And now Heaven is all the sweeter!!

Please see also http://www.apostolicnews.org/sister-nona-freeman-passed-away-at-93/

New General Superintendent Elected

Press Release: St Louis - October 5, 2009.           

The United Pentecostal Church International announces the election of the Reverend Doctor David K. Bernard as General Superintendent of the 3-million-member church.  The ministers of the organization selected Reverend Bernard at their 85^th annual General Conference held in St Louis last week.

David K. Bernard is the founder and senior pastor of New Life Church in Austin, Texas. He is also District Superintendent of the South Texas District of the United Pentecostal Church International and president of Urshan Graduate School of Theology, located in St Louis. He has earned a doctor of jurisprudence with honors from the University of Texas, a master of theology from the University of South Africa, and a bachelor of arts in mathematical sciences and managerial studies with high honors from Rice University. He is currently a doctor of theology candidate in New Testament at the University of South Africa.

In addition to his ministry in Austin and throughout the United States, he has ministered in forty-five countries on six continents. Bernard is also a prolific writer who has written extensively on the Bible, theology, the history of doctrine, and Christian living. To date, he has written thirty books, with a circulation of about 750,000. He has been published in thirty-six languages. In addition to his books, he has produced debates and teaching series on CD and DVD and other preaching and teaching helps on CD-ROM.

David Bernard and his wife, Connie, have three children, Jonathan (married to Sara), Daniel, and Lindsey, and one grandchild, Elijah.

The United Pentecostal Church International, headquartered in St Louis, has 30,000 churches in 192 nations around the world and a ministerial membership of 27,000.  It was formed in 1945 from the merger of two previously established organizations.  The UPCI emerged out of the Pentecostal movement that began in Topeka, Kansas, in 1901. It traces its organizational roots to October 1916, when a large group of ministers withdrew from the Assemblies of God over the doctrinal issues of the oneness of God and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

For the past eight years, Reverend Kenneth F. Haney has served as the General Superintendent of the church.  Reverend Bernard is the 7^th General Superintendent in the church's history.