First Pentecostal Church - North Jackson

After graduating from Pentecostal Bible Institute (PBI) in 1975, John William (Bill) Chatham attended First Pentecostal Church (FPC) in Jackson pastored by Rev. T.L. Craft. During his tenure there, he taught Sunday school, worked in the bus ministry, visited hospitals and nursing homes, participated in jail/prison ministry, taught home Bible studies, worked as Outreach Director, taught new convert classes, and taught outreach seminars.

In 1992, FPC made plans to open a daughter work in Flowood, Mississippi. However, that same year, a tornado destroyed the UPC in Brandon, pastored by Rev. Lloyd Adcock. Jackson FPC allowed Brandon UPC to use the FPC North church building. This delay lasted for about 18 months while the church in Brandon was rebuilt.

In January 1994, the Chathams moved into the Flowood building to start a church. During his tenure at FPC North, Bro. Chatham became a volunteer prison chaplain for the Central Mississippi Corrections Facility in Flowood and Pearl. During that time, over 100 ladies received the Holy Spirit and were baptized in the name of Jesus at the facility in Flowood. Conversions happened because of teaching the ACTS alcohol and drug program, along with regular church services. He was a volunteer chaplain with River Oaks Hospital in Flowood for 10 years. Later, Bro. Chatham served for 12 years as a hospice chaplain in a seven-county area. He worked at the V.A. Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, as a resident chaplain for one year, specializing in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). Previously, he became the Central Mississippi coordinator for the District Prayer Ministry and is currently the District Administrator, at this writing, for Purpose Institute, an endorsed ministry of the UPCI.

In February of 2020, floodwaters from the Pearl River inundated the FPC North church building. Many volunteers completed the inside remodeling of the church in June 2020. The list is long of those who could be named that have helped in Bro. Chatham's ministry through the years. Suffice it to say that the body of Christ is what holds the worldwide church together, which makes the United Pentecostal Church International what it is today.