I know that most of the time you visit my blog you are looking for the humour that usually abounds. However, today I wanted to write about the heritage that I have and just how proud I am of that heritage.
I am a 4th generation Pentecostal on my dad’s side and 4th generation on my mother’s. I am also a 4th generation UPCI preacher. My great-grandmother, Alice Anderson, was the first preacher (I believe) to be licensed with the UPCI. I know that my grandpa Hurst’s uncles were ministers but I don’t know if they were with the UPCI or not. My great, great uncles on the Varnum’s side of the family actually received the Holy Ghost in a service with William Seymour. I’ve laid it out there and now I want to tell you about my heritage.
I’ll start with my great-grandparents. Great-grandma Hurst was one of the first converts to the Jesus name truth in central Florida. In fact, it was on of her brothers who brought the message home with him (he was a Varnum). I really want to get everybody in here but I may miss someone or get a few things wrong. My great-grandma Alice Anderson was by all accounts a great preacher. She pastored in Rialto, CA for many years. Her sermon, The Midnight Cry, is still talked about today. Her first converts in Rialto were my great grandpa and grandma Pound. My great grandparents Layne were also in the church for many years.
My grandparents on both sides of my family have been and were involved in ministry for many years. Grandpa Murray Layne and Grandma Lila Layne pastored in several locations and built several great churches. Rialto, CA, Fresno, CA and Mesquite, TX come immediately to mind. They also pastored in north Houston for several years. Grandpa Layne also served as the Western District Youth President and as Director of Lighthouse Ranch for Boys. Unfortunately, both of my mom’s parents have gone on to their reward. They were incredible people and examples to thousands of people throughout there long and fruitful life. All of their children are involved in ministry. My Uncle Keith Layne passed away several years ago but he was the pastor of the church in Mesquite, TX for many years. All three of the “Layne daughters” are pastors wives. Aunt Linda in Wichita Falls, TX; Aunt Karla in Austin, TX and my mother Ronda in Hollister, CA. All of my uncles and two of my cousins are full time ministers. Jonathan Elms pastors in Beaumont, TX and Andrew Elms is with his father in Wichita Falls.
Grandpa and Grandma Hurst pastored in Kennewick, WA for 41 1/2 years before retiring in 2006 and moving here to Hollister to be with my parents. My grandad Hurst has served on the Foreign Missions board for over 30 years. They built a great church in Kennewick that was truly a great revival church in the NorthWest for many years and still is to this day. It is a great pleasure to be able to sit next to my Grandpa on the platform every time we have service. He loves to worship and even though he may not know all of the words to the songs that we sing he always has his hands in the air worshipping God. There are very few altar services that you won’t see my Grandma in the altar praying on her knees. After all of these years they still love God with all of their heart.
My parents have been true examples for years. My dad and mom pastored in Texarkana, TX for over 20 years. In the process they built a great church that is pastored today by Bro. Jason Calhoun. It was truly incredible to see the transformation over the years of Landmark. From a church set off the Boulevard to a place that everyone in the city knew! Now they are in Hollister, CA where the same transformation is taking place. It is amazing what God has done in just 3 1/2 years.
Why am I writing this? I felt like it was important for me to state how proud I am of my heritage. I love the UPCI. I love truth and am committed to it. So many things have happened in my life that have only reaffirmed how much I believe in the message that we preach and teach. It is no different now. My heritage is deep and rich. It would be awfully foolish for me to walk away now. No matter what anyone says. I believe just like my grandfathers and my uncles and my father! Nothing has changed and nothing will change. To say so is foolish! I love my heritage and would not trade it for anything in the world!
