Mt. Pisgah UPC - Lucedale
In the late summer of 1932, Brother Robert Crocker was preaching a revival in Lucedale, Mississippi, on a Saturday afternoon. While preaching on the street in Lucedale, Brother Robert Crocker was approached by Mr. John Cooley and his brother, Dan Cooley, who asked Brother Crocker if he would come to the Mt. Pisgah community. Mt. Pisgah was known as a rough community. It was during the depression, and the people were poor. They did not have much food or money, and bootleg whiskey was the only thing that was plentiful. There was a Presbyterian and a Baptist Church already in the community, and it was in the Presbyterian Church that Brother Robert Crocker held his first service. In September 1932, Brother Robert Crocker and his brother, John Frank Crocker, with his family, started a revival in the Mt. Pisgah community that would last for six months and see approximately 130 people baptized in Jesus' name and receive the Holy Ghost. Until the church building was built and they obtained a baptistry, baptisms were carried out at Martin Creek and Thurman Duiett’s pond.
After a few services at the Presbyterian church, the services were moved to Mr. John Crocker’s home and then moved to different homes in the area. Brother Robert Crocker and some of the men decided to build a church and Mr. M.L. Davis donated the land and enough timber to build the first church on the same spot the church is still located today. The men of the community cut the timber, then it was taken to Luke Brown's sawmill where Claude Brown, who later became an apostolic preacher, and Oscar Brown sawed the timber into lumber. During a records check it was discovered that Mt. Pisgah United Pentecostal Church had two other names in the past. One was Pentecostal Assembly of Jesus Christ and the other was Mt. Zion Holiness Church. Brother Robert Crocker stayed in this area until 1934. During his time in the Mt. Pisgah community, he met and married Pearlean Duiett who had received the Holy Ghost during his revival. He left in the spring of 1934.
After the departure of Brother Crocker, the church elected Reverend and Mrs. George Hicks as pastor. They were at Mt. Pisgah for a year and built the first parsonage. The men listed below came at different intervals to help establish the church, but no one is sure of the order in which they came or the length of time they stayed. Reverend John Frank Crocker, Reverend Alva Chapel, Reverend Phillips, Reverend Booth, Reverend W.W. Page, and Reverend Willie McNeal. Reverend McNeal was pastor for about a year and a half during the late 30s.
After Bro. McNeal resigned, Brother Page was overseeing the church until Reverend Stafford Brooks was elected pastor in August 1941. Brother Brooks resigned as pastor and Reverend Reeves was elected pastor. Brother Reeves pastored for six months, and then Reverend Page was elected pastor. Brother Page and the men of the church built the second church which consisted of an auditorium and two Sunday school rooms. Brother Page pastored for approximately three years. Reverend Brooks was elected pastor for a second time and stayed another two years. During this time, the church had a nine-week revival with Reverend McVay, and a great increase was added to the church. Bro. Brooks resigned and Reverend McVay was elected pastor.
Brother McVay pastored for one year, and Reverend Clayborn Holiday was elected pastor. During the time Brother Holiday pastored, Sunday school rooms were added to the old church. Brother Holiday left and Reverend Willie B. Miller was elected pastor. He pastored for one year.
Reverend J.E. Anderson was elected pastor, and he stayed for 11 months. After Brother Anderson, Reverend A.L. Allen was elected pastor. He pastored for four years, and the church was remodeled during this time. Bro. Allen resigned in 1959, and Reverend Lee Broadhead was elected pastor and pastored until 1962.
In the fall of 1962, Reverend C.E. Killingsworth was elected as pastor. He pastored for six years before resigning to move to Cleveland, Mississippi, to start a new work. Reverend Benny Hayes was elected pastor in 1969, and pastored for one year.
Reverend Bill Moore was elected pastor in 1970, and he pastored for nine years. There was a great increase in the church during this time. Reverend L.J. Edwards was elected pastor in August 1979, and pastored until May 1981. Reverend Mac Sterling was elected pastor in August 1981 and resigned in the fall of 1984.
Reverend M.L. Dykes was elected pastor on November 20, 1984 and pastored for 17 years, during which time there was a great increase to the church and a new fellowship hall was built. Brother Dykes resigned December 5, 2001. Reverend Michael Ulmer was elected pastor February 16, 2002, and pastored until 2008.
Brother Karl and Sister Anita Causey had been evangelizing for 18 years, of which six years he spent pastoring a church in Louisiana. He was asked to be one of the ministers whose name was to be a part of the vote by the Mt. Pisgah congregation for a new pastor, and the congregation elected him as their new pastor. His first service was June 1, 2008.
On November 18, 2016, Brother Causey’s wife of 33 years passed away due to a heart procedure. July 17, 2020 Brother Causey married his current wife, Sister Ginger Causey. During Brother Causey’s time at Mt. Pisgah, he has worked tirelessly engaging with the community and many have been baptized and received the Holy Ghost. Under his leadership and guidance, Mt. Pisgah United Pentecostal church has produced local licensed and ordained ministers, sent out Aimers to the foreign missions field, grown a thriving jail and prison ministry and ACTS program.