Life at Tupelo

The First Pentecostal Church of Tupelo has a rich history spanning more than a century. The earliest known Jesus’ name preaching in Lee County dates back to 1917, when E.L. Parte and T.C. Montgomery invited Johnny Higginbotham to hold a revival in the area.

In 1933, G.H. Hill came to Tupelo to conduct a tent revival and was even jailed for holding services and “raising hell” late into the night. During the early 1930s, the first known Pentecostal church in Tupelo was established in the Mill Village, located in the working-class center of town. This church was eventually led by Frank Wilson. However, in 1936, a devastating tornado destroyed Mill Village, scattering its residents and effectively ending that early work.

It was not until 1945 that a more established Pentecostal presence began to take shape. C.D. Soper moved to Tupelo to found Pentecostal Bible Institute (PBI), which would go on to produce countless ministers and leaders. For many years, PBI also served as the Mississippi District campground and became a launching point for numerous daughter works and preaching points.

Around 1959, one of those works was relocated from Shannon to Tupelo by C.D. Soper, becoming known as the First Pentecostal Church of Tupelo. The church’s history is deeply intertwined with PBI, the state’s first Bible college, which played a vital role in spreading the gospel throughout the region.

Around 1963, the church was disbanded, and many members joined another PBI-related work under Fred Foster. However, at the request of former members, Kenneth Dyson returned to Tupelo and reestablished First Pentecostal Church. The congregation eventually built a facility on Hutchinson Street in the heart of the city.

Dyson was followed by several pastors, including former Alabama superintendent D.J. Whitten, Carl Varnell, T.M. Roberts, Gary Larson, Mack Sterling, and Gerard Roberts. During this period, PBI relocated to Jackson, and its Tupelo property was sold. In the early 1970s, Carl Varnell purchased the former PBI chapel and educational wing, preserving a significant part of the church’s heritage. Throughout these years, FPC Tupelo was blessed with many anointed ministers, many of whom were connected to PBI.

In 1988, C.D. Soper contacted Larry Hill about coming to pastor in Tupelo. Around the same time, Jimmy and Cindy Hicks had established a mission work in the area. That same year, the two congregations merged, and Hicks became pastor of First Pentecostal Church. In 1996, Hicks resigned, and Larry Hill, Sr. was elected pastor.

In 1998, the original PBI building was sold to Inspirational Community Baptist Church. To this day, a strong relationship remains, with both congregations occasionally sharing holidays and special services in the historic chapel. By 1999, FPC completed and moved into a new sanctuary, though construction continued for an additional two years.

In 2012, Larry Hill, Jr. was elected pastor but resigned two years later to pursue ministry elsewhere. In 2016, Larry Hill, Sr. reached out to Jay Carney about coming to Tupelo to pastor. By the end of that year, Jay Carney and his wife, Demetra, were elected as pastors, officially beginning their leadership in January 2017. Larry Hill, Sr. continues to serve faithfully as Bishop.

In recent years, the church has experienced tremendous growth, expanding to multiple services to accommodate its growing congregation. The harvest being seen today is the result of seeds planted by generations of faithful ministers and saints. Those years of labor have helped shape a thriving, multiracial, and multigenerational church.

Now known as Life At Tupelo, the congregation continues to build on its strong foundation. In January 2025, the church held its first service in its new location at 1195 South Gloster in Tupelo—marking a new chapter of growth, vision, and continued impact.

With a heart for both regional influence and global outreach, Life Church remains committed to carrying the gospel forward for generations to come.