Oak Grove Pentecostal church - Jayess

Johnny Magee received the Holy Ghost in Morgantown, Mississippi, on January 27, 1920, at age 18. Johnny married Ardith (Sis) Sartin, and their early ministry took them to the Mississippi Delta, where they pastored a small group at Inverness, and Roxie Clarady, a teenager, attended a meeting. She became convicted of her sins, repented, was baptized, and received the Holy Ghost. Soon Roxie began going to revivals preached by Johnny Magee and riding with them. She was attending an outdoor revival a few weeks after receiving the Holy Ghost, and Johnny Magee’s brother-in-law, Felix Sartin, came to visit his sister, who was Johnny Magee’s wife.

When Roxie and Felix met, it was love at first sight. Soon they were married, and Roxie went to Sartinville area where Felix lived.

Roxie yearned to know more about God and continued to read her Bible and attend prayer meetings every chance she had. Her love for God and His Word prompted her to tell others about God’s Love.

She started the Pine Grove Pentecostal church near Sartinville. Earl Carney began attending Pine Grove and received the Holy Ghost.

Earl Carney moved to near Jayess and began having services on his front porch. Roxie and folk from the Pine Grove Church would come, and she would preach, as Earl was not a preacher at that time.

The interest was so great that Roxie contacted her brother-in-law, Johnny Magee, to come preach a revival under a brush arbor in 1940. From this revival, Powell’s Grove Church began. Johnny Magee and the congregation built the first Powell’s Grove church, and he pastored for one year.

The second pastor of Powell’s Grove was Hiram Holland in the years 1941-1943. During the time Hiram pastored Powell’s Grove, he also preached in the area where the Oak Grove Pentecostal Church currently stands. In 1943, Hiram Holland founded the Oak Grove Pentecostal Church. That location for Hiram to preach in the Oak Grove area could have been that many families had received the Holy Ghost in the Powell’s Grove revival but lived in the Oak Grove area. Documents in the Powell’s Grove history reveals the revival of 1940 yielded over 100 new converts, and it is reasonable that some of the new converts lived in the Oak Grove area.

Elnora Lambert Givens recalls, “Carl Wallace donated land for the church.” Men of the area donated trees for building materials. Betty Howell King stated, “My Grandpa Percy Howell had cut logs and made lumber to build a new house. Instead, he gave the lumber to build a church. So, my grandmother Edna never got a new house, but I never heard her complaining. She also knew where evangelists would be—at her house,”

Most men and their families worked on farms, and there was not much money to donate to the church to support a pastor. Therefore, it was common for preachers to come and only stay for a short time. No one seemed to remember who those early preachers were.

The next pastor was Matilda Barnett, who came and was pastor about 1948-1949. Following her as pastor was Walter Givens, who pastored 1949-1951. About 1951, Earl Crawford was elected pastor. During his tenure, the church flourished. He advertised a revival with Walter Bailes, who preached an outdoor revival. Walter and Johnny Bailes sang on the radio, and one of their favorite songs was “Dust on the Bible.” Because Walter was so well known, folk came to hear him sing and preach. So many attended that the church would not hold them. So, the men built a platform outside the church for the preacher and a few to sit. The pews were removed from the church and placed outside on the grass for folk to sit. Others stood or sat on the ground during the singing and preaching. Many found salvation during this revival. Earl Crawford resigned about 1954, and Lonnie Nations became pastor. He pastored until 1955.

Beginning in 1955, several pastors only pastored for a short time. Some include Elijah Crawford, Johnny Burgess, Louis Richie, Bobbie Richie, Cliff Raymer, and Johnny Campbell.

In 1966, Morris Fuller was elected as pastor. He and his family were also excellent singers, and the church began to grow again. He resigned in 1973. In 1973, Ted Fuller, the son of Morris Fuller, was elected and pastored until his untimely death in 1976. Following are the pastors: Johnny Hamilton 1977-1978, Matilda Barnett 1978-1991, Alan Lehmann 1991–1993, Samuel Fulton 1993–1995, Billy Davidson 1995–1997, Daniel Jordan 1997–1999, Michael Trosclair 1999–2008, and Bobby Ratcliff, 2009–2020. During the tenure of Bobby Ratcliff, Oak Grove celebrated its 75th Anniversary.

Oak Grove Pentecostal Church is currently under the leadership of Pastor Andrew Merriman and his wife, Angela Merriman. Oak Grove remains in the process of reaching the lost and caring for the needy. Continue to expect great things from Oak Grove.