MS District Pentecostal Historical Society

10/19/2026

Born in Prentiss, Mississippi, Rev. Nicholes Robbins moved to New Hebron at the age of two and was raised there. He received the Holy Ghost at age nine and felt the call to preach at 12. At 14, he preached his first youth service and later served as Assistant Youth Pastor and Youth Pastor at New Hebron Pentecostal Church.

In 2003, Nicholes moved to Tupelo to attend Cedar Grove United Pentecostal Church under Pastor Danny Robbins. During his time there, he served in various ministries and leadership roles, received his ministerial credentials and ordination, and served as lead pastor of a Spanish daughter work.

In 2014, he and his wife, Amelia, became the lead pastors of LifePoint Apostolic Church. What began as a preaching point grew into a daughter work and, in 2017, became a self-governing church plant. In 2019, LifePoint purchased its first building, where the church continues to worship today.

Rev. Robbins has also served extensively in Christian Prison Ministry and North American Missions. Since 2018, he has served as Mississippi North American Missions Director and General Christian Prison Ministry Chaplain for the UPCI.

Through pastoral ministry, missions, and prison ministry, Rev. Robbins continues to dedicate his life to reaching souls and building the Kingdom of God.

To read the full bio of Rev. Nicholes Robbins, visit our website.

10/15/2026

Rev. Terry Hugh Ballard’s journey into ministry began with the legacy of his grandparents, who helped establish what was first known as Ballard’s Chapel in Lawrence County, Mississippi—now Calvary United Pentecostal Church in Jayess. His grandmother’s prayer life and his family’s passion for the work of God deeply influenced his calling.

At 13, Terry began to feel a call to ministry, and at 15, he shared that calling with his pastor, Rev. D.L. Spears. He preached his first sermon on May 15, 1982, at the age of 16.

A passion for missions was instilled in Terry through his pastor, and in 1984 he made his first overseas missions trip, traveling through six Central American countries. Since then, he and his family have ministered across five continents and in many nations and cultures.

Terry married the love of his life, Constance “Connie” Barrier, in February 1987. Together, they began full-time ministry in 1988, serving as evangelists, missionaries, and pastors. They have pastored churches in Poplarville, Mississippi; Mount Hermon, Louisiana; Jayess, Mississippi; and, for the past 23 years, First United Pentecostal Church in McComb, Mississippi.

Terry received his local license in 1987 and was ordained in 1997. In 2005, he was elected Presbyter of Section 11, a position he continues to hold.

His life and ministry are marked by a passion for souls, missions, preaching, and serving the people of God.

“When He called me, I brought nothing to the table, and He brought everything.”

To read the full bio of Rev. Terry Ballard, visit our website.

10/13/2026

10/09/2026

📖 Explore Our Heritage

Discover the people, churches, stories, and history that have helped shape Apostolic Pentecost in Mississippi.

Visit our website to explore our archives, learn more about our history, and discover the legacy of those who have gone before us.

🌐 MSUPCIHERITAGE.COM

10/07/2026

Reverend Jerry E. Sawyer was a fourth-generation Apostolic Pentecostal who devoted his life to the ministry and to reaching souls around the world.

Born in Amory, Mississippi, Jerry was raised in the church under the ministry of Rev. G.H. Hill. At the age of ten, he received the Holy Ghost and was baptized. It was also during his childhood that he first felt the call of God to the foreign mission field.
After receiving his ministry credentials in 1977 and being ordained in 1983, he pastored, taught, preached in jails, and helped plant churches. In 1989, he was appointed as a Global Missionary to Honduras. After serving in Costa Rica, he eventually entered Honduras in 1993, where he served in national leadership and helped establish a Bible school built in honor of Rev. G.H. Hill.

In 1997, he was appointed to Belize, where he served as Superintendent, pastor, and Bible school teacher. During his time there, he helped establish the national church organization and oversee the construction of the Bible school and national offices. Under his ministry, the work in Belize grew from nine churches and 11 ministers to 28 churches and 30 ministers.

His life was marked by numerous miracles, including healing from blindness, paralysis, Hepatitis C, and liver cancer. In 2012, he received a liver transplant after being told that, because of his age, he was unlikely to qualify.

After retiring from Global Missions in 2011, Jerry returned to Mississippi, where he enjoyed time with his family and attended LifePoint Church in Saltillo.

On March 6, 2022, after spending the day with his family, Reverend Jerry E. Sawyer passed away, leaving behind a legacy of faith, perseverance, missions, and a passion for souls.

His life was a testimony of God's faithfulness and the impact one surrendered life can have around the world.

To read the full bio of Rev. Jerry Sawyer, visit https://www.msupciheritage.com/pioneers-heroes-of-the-faith/jerry-sawyer

10/05/2026

10/02/2026

🎥 Watch This Interview!

Hear from our historian, Rev. James Nations, as he shares a small portion of the history of the Mississippi District UPC.

Watch the full interview here: https://www.msupciheritage.com/media

09/25/2026

Rev. Bennie Randolph was born October 10, 1950, in Nettleton, MS. As a child, he attended Bro. G.H. Hill’s church as a bus kid. Although he never dreamed of becoming a minister, his grandmother often prayed that he would one day become the little preacher of the family.

After years of hard work in farming and construction, Rev. Randolph received his call to ministry in the late 1970s. He began evangelizing across multiple states before being asked to help at the church in Pontotoc in 1991. What began with just 11 people eventually became Pontotoc Apostolic Church—a growing campus with remodeled facilities, a family center, additional buildings, and, most importantly, a revived church.

Throughout his ministry, Pastor Randolph has witnessed countless miracles and has mentored approximately 12–15 ministers each year. He believes the future of the church depends on ministers who are passionate about God and committed to serving.

Through seasons of great joy and deep personal loss, his faith has remained steadfast.

After 35 years of pastoral ministry, Rev. Randolph continues to believe for revival and remains committed to his greatest goal: “To influence someone for Jesus.”

We are honored to preserve the story and ministry of Rev. Bennie Randolph as part of our Pentecostal heritage.

To read the full biography for Bro. Randolph, please visit https://www.msupciheritage.com/ministers-of-the-ms-district/bennie-randolph

09/23/2026

Bro. Danny Robbins’ life is a powerful testimony of redemption, obedience, and commitment to the call of God.

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1959, Danny grew up working on his grandfather’s farm and surrounded by a family with deep roots of faith. After years of struggling with alcohol and drugs, he experienced a life-changing transformation in 1988 when he received the Holy Ghost at New Hebron Pentecostal Church. Two years later, he surrendered to the call of ministry.

Since then, Bro. Robbins has faithfully served in pastoral ministry, evangelism, youth ministry, prison ministry, missions, and leadership throughout Mississippi and the Southeast. In 2000, he became pastor of Cedar Grove UPC in Tupelo, now known as Apostolic Life Church, where he continues to serve.

Under his leadership, the church has developed a strong outreach and jail ministry. Through its Life Recovery Ministries, more than 2,100 inmates have been baptized, with hundreds receiving the Holy Ghost.

Bro. Robbins has also invested deeply in the next generation of ministers and continues to serve in leadership throughout the UPCI.

After the passing of his beloved wife and ministry partner, Sis. Rita Robbins, in 2020, God brought a new chapter to his life when he married Sis. Debbie Akers in 2023.

Today, Bro. Danny Robbins and Sis. Debbie remain committed to proclaiming the gospel, discipling believers, and leading a church anchored in revival.

From humble beginnings to a lifetime of ministry, his story is a testimony of the faithfulness of God.

To God be the glory—for the journey, the victories, and the souls still to be reached.

To read the full biography of Bro. Robbins, please visit https://www.msupciheritage.com/ministers-of-the-ms-district/danny-robbins