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This historic narrative of the Pentecostal Church of God is an overview of influential leaders and their contributions to a rich and storied fellowship. What started as a loosely connected, cooperative fellowship of ministers in the beginning years has transitioned into a more tightly connected and committed fellowship of churches in the present years.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ERA (1919-1926)

On December 29-30, 1919 a small group of dedicated individuals met in Chicago, Illinois in an attempt to unite their efforts for evangelism. Among those present for this meeting were: John C. Sinclair, pastor of the Christian Apostolic Assembly, Chicago, Illinois; George C. Brinkman, who edited his own independent monthly paper, The Pentecostal Herald; J. A. Bell, an associate to Sinclair; Eli Jackson DePriest, an evangelist from Black Rock, Arkansas; Edward Matthews; Wilmer Artis; Thomas R. O’Reilly, an evangelist from Indianapolis, Indiana; R.E. McAlister, general secretary/treasurer of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada; Ida Tribbett, an evangelist from Sturgis, Michigan, who was also the first person ordained by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the USA; Elder W. C. Thompson, pastor of Chicago’s Church of God in Christ; and Watson Emet Tubbs, an evangelist from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

At this organizational meeting the following officers were chosen: John C. Sinclair, moderator; George C. Brinkman, secretary; and J. A. Bell, treasurer. This newly-formed group also heartily accepted Brinkman’s offer and adopted The Pentecostal Herald as the official publication of the fellowship.

At the 1921 convention Edward Matthews was elected chairman and W. W. Pelton treasurer. Due to growing dissatisfaction with the decisions and actions of the new leadership, a reorganization meeting was held on February 15, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois. J. D. Snowden was chosen as the temporary chairman for the meeting. New officers were elected and the name of the organization was changed from Pentecostal Assemblies of the USA to the Pentecostal Church of God. John B. Huffman was elected general chairman, George C. Brinkman, secretary, and James Gillespie, treasurer.

Although this new fellowship experienced growth during the Chicago era, the growth was hampered because the men in leadership positions were also involved in other activities. John B. Huffman continued to pastor the church in Blytheville, Arkansas throughout his tenure as general chairman from 1922 to 1924.

Osborn V. Gilliland, who was elected general chairman in 1925, was not even present to call the 1926 Convention to order. Rick Field, acting chairman of the 1926 Convention, was elected general chairman in that convention and continued to serve until 1931. He proved to be a valuable leader, giving stability to the general program. Records view him as a fresh new breed of leadership. He served in Chicago and helped move the General Office to Ottumwa, Iowa. During his five years as chairman (1926-1931), he traveled extensively and did much to promote fellowship and Bible holiness.

The Department of Youth Ministries—known as the Pentecostal Young People’s Association—was the first ministry department organized on a national level. It was created to be a vibrant force for reaching and ministering to the youth.

Information of Note
• The Pentecostal Assemblies of the USA was birthed on December 29-30, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois with John C. Sinclair as the first overseer.
• The Pentecostal Herald with George C. Brinkman as editor was adopted as the official publication.
• In 1922 the official name of the organization changed from the Pentecostal Assemblies of the USA to the Pentecostal Church of God.
• Early leadership in the Pentecostal Church of God was involved in pastoral ministry and other ministerial responsibilities.
• The Pentecostal Young People’s Association was the first ministry department organized on a national level.

OTTUMWA, IOWA ERA (1927–1932)

In the 1927 Convention A. D. McClure was elected general secretary and his wife general treasurer. Since the McClures had been pastoring in Ottumwa, Iowa since 1923, they chose to retain that position. The offices were moved to Ottumwa making their continued support possible. In 1927 The Pentecostal Messenger became the official publication of the Church with A. D. McClure as the editor. In addition to his local pastoral ministry (1923-1949), McClure freely served as general secretary (1927-1931), editor of The Messenger (1927-1933) and general moderator (1931-1933). Some progress was experienced during the Ottumwa era; one of the major accomplishments was the organization of districts.

Although missions had been a vital part of the movement since its inception, the World Missions Department was not organized until 1929. Today, through its World Missions Department, the Pentecostal Church of God ministers to people in approximately 58 nations and maintains ministers’ training schools in many of these regions.

Information of Note
• The name of the official publication changed from The Pentecostal Herald to The Pentecostal Messenger in 1927.
• A. D. McClure served as general moderator, general secretary, editor of The Pentecostal Messenger, and pastor at the same time.
• The organization of districts was established during the Ottumwa Era.
• The World Missions Department was officially organized in 1929.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI ERA (1933-1950)

After G. F. C. Fons was elected moderator in 1933, the General Offices were moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Frank Lindblade served as vice-moderator (1931-1935) and general secretary (1935-1937). He had considerable authority since McClure pastored a growing church in Ottumwa. The new moderator elected in the 1933 Convention, as well as the general superintendent elected in 1935, also chose to continue their previous ministries in addition to serving in the General Office. (G. F. C. Fons pastored in Fort Smith, Arkansas; M. D. Townsend continued to serve as district superintendent in California.)

The words "of America" were added to the name of the organization in 1934 after it was discovered that another group was operating under the name Pentecostal Church of God. The 30s and 40s were decades of growth, although they were punctuated with times of severe financial difficulties.

For a short period of time in 1938 and 1939, the General Offices were located in Fort Worth, Texas. However, while in Kansas City, the General Offices were located in rented facilities in the Schukert building on Troost Street. Later, for the first time in its history, the Pentecostal Church of God was able to purchase property (1101 Prospect Avenue) to house the General Headquarters.

According to The Pentecostal Messenger K. R. Camp, general secretary/treasurer (1946-1955), stated concerning those years:

"For some two years the ground floor was used as the General Office and the upper floor as living quarters for both the general superintendent and the general secretary. In the year of 1943 printing equipment was purchased and the offices moved upstairs, the lower floor being used for the printing department. It was then that we first started to print our own literature. Our printing had been farmed out before, so this was a forward step.”

"At this time the office staff consisted of the general secretary with an elderly lady as his assistant and the printing department employed two full-time men and one part-time pressman."

Marion D. Townsend was the first man officially titled general superintendent; he served from 1935 to 1937. During this time he continued in his position as the California district superintendent. When the Convention insisted that the general superintendent move to the Headquarters city, Townsend chose to remain in California. Therefore, the 1937 Convention elected Harold M. Collins as general superintendent. He served capably from 1937-1942. During his term the Pentecostal Church of God began publishing Sunday school literature.

In the 1942 convention J. W. May emerged as the general superintendent. His term (1942-1947) was a time of tremendous growth. May reported that during his tenure as general superintendent, "The number of districts doubled and the churches and ministers more than doubled." When J. W. May resigned in 1947, H. T. Owens was elected to serve the Pentecostal Church of God as general superintendent. He served effectively from 1947 to 1949. During this time plans were made to move the General Offices to Joplin, Missouri.

Information of Note
• The name was changed from the Pentecostal Church of God to the Pentecostal Church of God of America in 1934.

• The General Offices were located in Fort Worth, Texas for a short time from 1938-1939.
• The Pentecostal Church of God purchased property in Kansas City for the first time to house the General Offices.
• Through the leadership of General Superintendent J. W. May from 1942-1947, the number of districts doubled and the number of churches and ministers more than doubled.

JOPLIN, MISSOURI ERA (1951-Present)

M. F. Coughran Years (1949-1953)

M. F. Coughran served as general superintendent from 1949 to 1953. Coughran was a man of dynamic and effective leadership. During his tenure the General Office faced and conquered seemingly insurmountable financial difficulties. In 1951 the Offices were moved to Joplin, Missouri, where they have remained to the present time. When Coughran resigned in 1953, practically all the indebtedness for the new Headquarters located at 1601 Maiden Lane in Joplin had been eliminated.

In 1949 the Indian Missions Department was established to reach the "first Americans" for Christ. James James was the first director of Indian Missions and was followed in 1955 by Albert Neal, whose dedicated and sacrificial service brought great progress in evangelism to the hidden people of America, the first Americans.

R. Dennis Heard Years (1953-1974)

In 1953 R. Dennis Heard was called upon to accept the responsibilities of general superintendent and served with distinction for 22 years. During this time the Pentecostal Church of God continued to grow and God opened new doors of opportunities and ministries.

In 1953 the Department of Christian Education was established. The department was created to assist in the publication of curriculum and other study materials and conduct training programs around the nation to inspire and help teachers. In 2005 the General Convention voted to change the name of the Department of Christian Education to the Department of Discipleship Ministries.

By 1957 the facilities on Maiden Lane were considered inadequate for needed expansion, and a four-story office building located at 312-316 South Joplin Avenue was purchased. Later an adjacent building, located on Wall Avenue, was secured for the expansion of the printing plant. The printing plant was again moved in 1972 to the five-story Newman Building located at 602 Main Street, and the General Offices were moved to the new executive center at Third and Main in downtown Joplin. In addition, the organization built a 13-story retirement center—Messenger Towers.

In 1957 the Pentecostal Ladies Auxiliary became a nationally organized department. Ladies’ groups were previously established in many districts; however, the national program opened up many new fields of labor. The name of this department was changed to Department of Women’s Ministries in the 1997 General Convention.

In 1964 C. Don Burke was called upon to assist Albert Neal in Indian Missions, and in the 1965 General Convention was elected as director of Indian Missions. Currently, there are over 70 missionaries, 53 churches, 51 outstations, and 45 Schools of Christ reaching 100 tribes with the Pentecostal message for the glory of God.

In 1975 R. Dennis Heard asked not to be considered for another term.

Roy M. Chappell Years (1975-1987)

Roy M. Chappell was elected to serve as general superintendent in 1975 and did so with excellence for 12 years. During his tenure much time and effort were spent restructuring and placing the organization in a sound financial position. Property was purchased and a new Headquarters facility was built at 50th and Pennsylvania. The administrative offices were dedicated at the 1985 General Convention. A new facility for Messenger Publishing House was constructed in 1987. The International Headquarters of the Pentecostal Church of God now enjoys lovely, spacious, and functional facilities.

During Chappell's term the King’s Men Fellowship, Senior Christian Fellowship, Home Missions and Evangelist ministries were established. Also, in the fall of 1983 the decision was made to merge the denomination’s two colleges, Southern Bible College in Houston, Texas and Evangelical Christian College in Fresno, California. The formation of a new nationally-sponsored learning center known as Messenger College, located in Joplin, Missouri, became the outgrowth of this merger. The campus is located directly across the street from the General Headquarters facility.

In 1987 Roy M. Chappell accepted a pastorate in California and the convention called on James D. Gee to assume the leadership as general superintendent.

James D. Gee Years (1987-2001)

James D Gee served very capably until the 2001 General Convention. Among his significant accomplishments were the establishment of the office of the business manager and the improved financial position of the organization, including paying off the mortgage of the Headquarters building and the purchase of the 8.2 acres adjoining the Headquarters property. Most of the buildings on the Messenger College campus were constructed during his term. "Strategy 2000" and "Project Paraclete" were two of the significant initiatives of his administration. The impact of his 14 years of leadership will long be remembered.

In 1999 the name of the Pentecostal Young People’s Association was changed to the Department of Youth Ministries.

Phil L. Redding Years (2001-2005)

In 2001 Phil L. Redding, Arkansas District secretary-treasurer, was elected general superintendent/bishop (a new title); he was re-elected in 2003 and served until 2005. Action was taken at the 2003 General Convention that provided for several monumental changes. The title of the general superintendent/bishop was changed to general bishop. A death benefit program was adopted to replace the insurance provision for ministers. A First Fruits (tithing) program replaced the 5% Church Participation Program, and the Pentecostal Church of God updated her position concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage, adopting a position paper on the subject.

Charles R. Mosier Term (2005-2006)

At the 2005 General Convention in Addison, Texas, Charles R. Mosier of Flint, Michigan was elected general bishop. Mosier served as Michigan District superintendent on two separate occasions, as national World Missions director from 1989 to 1999 and as the assistant general bishop for the Northeastern Division. Charles G. Scott, Pentecostal Church of God Stewardship Ministries director, was elected as the general secretary. Ministry directors included: Loyd Naten, World Missions; C. Don Burke, Indian Missions; Reggie Powers, Youth Ministries; Pat Wilson, Home Missions; Billie Palumbo, Discipleship Ministries; and Barbara Mosier, Women’s Ministries.

The denomination also approved a structural change that reformed the name, personnel, and function of the existing Executive Committee, which was comprised of the corporate officers, assistant general bishops, and ministry directors. The name of the Executive Committee was changed to the General Council and the members included the general bishop, general secretary, and six assistant general bishops—C. W. Goforth, Thomas Branham, Leon McDowell, Jan Lake, Donald Johnson and Wayman C. Ming, Jr.

The 2005 Convention also placed a renewed emphasis on multi-cultural ministries, discipleship ministries, and stewardship ministries.

On July 8, 2006 Charles R. Mosier went home to be with the Lord after serving as general bishop for 11 months. Although this was a circumstance the Pentecostal Church of God had never faced, God comforted and blessed during this difficult time.

Charles G. Scott Years (2007-Present)

At the 2007 General Convention in Joplin, Missouri, General Secretary Charles G. Scott was elected general bishop and Assistant General Bishop Wayman C. Ming, Jr. was elected as general secretary. Those chosen to serve on the General Council as assistant general bishops were: C. W. Goforth, Thomas Branham, Leon McDowell, Jan Lake, Donald Manning and Joseph G. Skiles.

Ministry Directors appointed by the General Board were: Loyd Naten, World Missions; C. Don Burke, Indian Missions; Harry O. "Pat" Wilson, Home Missions; Joseph E. Skiles, Youth Ministries; and Janice L. Scott, Women’s Ministries.

Significant changes at the 2007 General Convention included appointing the general bishop as the editor-in-chief of The Pentecostal Messenger and providing the benevolent death benefit to only the current gratis ministers.

The Pentecostal Church of God presently has 15 active duty chaplains, 27 candidates for chaplain, and one VA Chaplain ministering to the men and women in the military.

Information of Note
• The ministry departments of Indian Missions, Home Missions, Women’s Ministries, King’s Men, Discipleship, and the Chaplaincy were all established.
• Property was purchased and a new Headquarters facility was built at 50th and Pennsylvania in Joplin, Missouri.
• The formation of a new nationally-sponsored learning center known as Messenger College, located in Joplin, Missouri, became the outgrowth of a merger of Southern Bible College in Houston, Texas and Evangelical Christian College in Fresno, California.
• The title of general superintendent was changed to general bishop in 2003.
• A structural change was initiated that established the General Council, reforming the existing Executive Committee in name, personnel, and function.